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Brighton is one of the most popular tourist destinations in the UK, but it’s also one of the priciest. That’s why we’ve put together a list of things you can do on a day out in Brighton that won’t cost you a penny.
Go To The Beach
Brighton beach has been a popular tourist destination since before Victorian times, despite it being a pebble beach and not a sand one. The best thing about Brighton beach is its 100% free to walk along, sit on, and enjoy.
And while you’re down on the beach, look out for Pasacaglia, a giant 20 tonne iron sculpture extruding from the pebbles. First erected by sculptor Charles Hadcock in 1998, local residents disagree as to whether it’s supposed to represent an abstract fish-shape or is instead meant to resemble a large cresting wave. One thing is for certain though, thanks to its similarity to a half pipe, it’s appreciated by local skaters as much as local art lovers.
With parades of shops below the promenade, there’s no shortage of places to stop for chips, ice cream, or a souvenir.
Take A Walk On The Palace Pier
While most activities on the pier cost money, the pier itself is completely free to enter. The Palace Pier (Brighton’s only remaining operating pier) is full of all the usual rides and amusements you would find on most local piers. However, standing on the end of the pier and looking back also gives a great vantage point to admire the entirety of Brighton’s seafront – for free!
Visit The West Pier
Just a short walk from the Palace Pier is The West Pier. Even though The West Pier was decommissioned in 1975, but it is still one of Brighton’s most well-known sights. The pier was the first in Britain to become Grade I listed, but it has sadly deteriorated over time due to damage from a fire and two major storms.
Despite the damage, Brighton’s West Pier still holds a special place in the hearts of the citizens, who have steadfastly fought efforts to remove the wreckage.
Visit Devil’s Dyke
Nearby to Brighton is Devil’s Dyke, an impressive 100-metre-deep valley on the South Downs that local folklore says was dug by the Devil himself in an attempt to flood Sussex by digging a trench all the way to the sea. Legend has it he was almost successful but was tricked by a local woman into finishing his task early.
Devil’s Dyke is free to ramble over and you can either walk there directly from Brighton centre by following Dyke Road from the clock tower (will take you about an hour) or hop on the number 77 bus to get there quicker.
A wonderful place to explore if you’re a nature lover, or if you are visiting Brighton with a dog and are looking for somewhere to walk them.
Visit The Booth Museum
Built in 1874 by Thomas Booth, The Booth Museum has one of the largest collections of Victorian taxidermy in the UK. You could spend several hours getting lost in its endless corridors of stuff birds and fossils.
The best thing about The Booth Museum is that it’s completely free. They even do occasional Booth Museum After Dark events where you can explore its morbid exhibits with only a flashlight to guide you. Not for the faint of heart!
Browse Snooper’s Paradise
Snooper’s Paradise is a shop in Kensigton Gardens, in the heart of Brighton’s trendy North Laine area. Well, we say “shop”, but most of the people you’ll see browsing treat it more like a museum.
It’s not uncommon to spend a hour in Snooper’s Paradise without buying anything, just marvelling at the odd and esoteric selection of items on display.
You never know what you’ll discover inside Snooper’s Paradise because various random sellers rent tables and display cases there. Visitors to Snooper’s Paradise will discover troves of antique action figures, retro gaming systems, and comic novels among the unending displays of faux-fur coats, vintage Playboy magazines, and 1970s decorations.
Brighton Museum & Art Gallery
One of the most diverse collections of art in the UK is housed in the Brighton Museum & Art Gallery. There is a sizable number of different artworks, artifacts, costumes and sculptures here that will appeal to audiences with a wide range of ages and interests.
You enter the building via the Brighton Pavilion, itself an impressive and exotic building which is also free to explore (but only if you can prove you are a Brighton resident).
Surrounding the museum and the Pavillion building is the Pavillion Gardens, a beautiful and well-maintained Regency-era garden.
The Rockery
Opposite the much more well-known Preston Park is “The Rockery” a densely packed municipal rock garden.
It is thought that the Chinese tale of the Willow Pattern served as the Rockery’s inspiration. It was constructed by Captain B Maclaren in 1935 from 1350 tonnes of Somerset Cheddar stone. Its bridge, stairs, and winding walks were made to blend in with the exotic vegetation and pond life which surrounds them.
Being just that little bit out of the way means that the gardens are free from the more unsavoury elements which tend to occupy some of the other, more well-known spots closer to the centre of town. This, combined a pond full of newts and frogspawn, makes the Rockery a perfect place to take children.
