The Grand Brighton
Why we like it: The grand Victorian hotel on the seafront, open since 1864, with sea-view rooms, a spa with a thermal suite, the Cyan restaurant and tea on the terrace.
Duration1–2 nights
From London1 h by train
From Gatwick30 min by train
Best timeMay – September
Budget€260–420 pp
The plan
The plan, hour by hour
Designed for arriving on Friday evening by train and sleeping two nights in Brighton, without a car. Saturday is for the city; Sunday, for the cliff walk, setting off on the 12 Coaster bus.
Friday
- 119:00Arrival in Brighton
Train from Victoria, London Bridge or Gatwick. A walk along the seafront to the illuminated pier.
Saturday
- 110:00Royal Pavilion
George IV's Oriental palace, with its Chinese rooms. Buy online.
- 212:00The Lanes and oysters at English's
The alleys of the old fishing village and a seafood lunch on East Street.
- 315:00Palace Pier and i360
The Victorian pier with its rides and, at sunset, the i360 capsule at 138 metres.
Sunday
- 109:30Bus 12 to Seven Sisters and down to Cuckmere Haven
From the Exceat visitor centre, the Cuckmere valley down to the beach, with the cliffs ahead of you.
- 211:00Along the top of the Seven Sisters to Birling Gap
Two hours of ups and downs over the grass, well away from the edge. Lunch at the National Trust café and down to the beach by the stairs.
- 316:00Back to Brighton and train
Head back towards Exceat for the return bus, or call a taxi at Birling Gap, and take the train to London or Gatwick.
Brighton and the Seven Sisters can be strung together in a day from London, but at a run. With two nights, each gets its own day: Saturday for Brighton, which has nightlife too, and Sunday for the cliffs, walking from Cuckmere Haven to Birling Gap along the top of the seven chalk hills. From London it is an hour by train; if you fly into Gatwick, half an hour.
What does it cost?
| What | How much | Note |
|---|---|---|
| Royal Pavilion | £21.50 adult | One child free for families with two |
| Palace Pier | Free to stroll | Rides with wristband |
| Brighton i360 | Timed entry | Price on its website |
| Birling Gap car park | £2–8 | Free for National Trust members |
| Seven Sisters Country Park | Free | Bus 12 from Brighton |
Where to stay
The Grand Brighton, on the seafront, with sea views and a spa, and accepts dogs. Hotel du Vin Brighton, on Ship Street, right in The Lanes, to be in the middle of the restaurants. Premier Inn Brighton City Centre, on North Street, the budget option ten minutes from the station.
With children
Saturday works very well with children: the pier, the i360 and the Royal Pavilion, where in families with two children one does not pay. On Sunday, shorten the walk to Cuckmere Haven, 45 flat minutes, or drive straight to Birling Gap and go down to the rock pools at low tide.
Map
The stops, in order
What to do
Eat
88 €Stay
Services
Plan the trip
Brighton and the Seven Sisters, step by step
Each choice narrows the next: the season shapes how best to travel, and how you travel decides where you stay and where you eat.
When to go
When to go to Brighton and the Seven Sisters
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Best timeGood timeLow season
How you travel
The same break, your way
The plan stays the same. What changes is where you sleep, how you get there and how much you spend.
Fly to Gatwick, half an hour from Brighton
Gatwick, London's second airport, with direct flights from many Spanish cities, is on the same train line as Brighton: about 30 minutes without going through London. If you fly to Heathrow, Stansted or Luton, go through the centre and take the train at Victoria or London Bridge. For Brighton you do not need a car; for the Seven Sisters, the 12 bus solves it.
- Getting thereLondon Gatwick (LGW), the closest…
- Getting aroundOn foot in Brighton: from…
- Where to sleepPremier Inn Brighton City Centre…
- ServicesBrighton station, with trains to…
Getting there
- London Gatwick (LGW), the closest, with a direct train to Brighton in about 30 minutes
- Heathrow (LHR), Stansted (STN) and Luton (LTN), passing through central London
- From London Victoria or London Bridge, a train in about an hour
Getting around
- On foot in Brighton: from the station to the sea, 10–15 minutes
- Bus 12 Coaster to the Seven Sisters and Eastbourne
- A hire car at Gatwick, if you want to tour the Sussex coast
Where to sleep
- Premier Inn Brighton City Centre, ten minutes from the station
- Hotel du Vin Brighton, in The Lanes
Services
- Brighton station, with trains to Gatwick and London
- Bus 12 Coaster to the Seven Sisters
Train to Brighton and the coast bus to the cliffs
Brighton and the Seven Sisters are easy without a car: an hour by train from London, the town on foot and the 12 Coaster bus along the coast road to the Seven Sisters visitor centre. Parking in Brighton, on the other hand, is expensive.
110–200 €per person per day, approximate
- Where to sleepThe Grand Brighton, on the…
- Getting aroundTrain from London Victoria or…
- Where to eatEnglish's, oysters in The Lanes
- ServicesBrighton station
Where to sleep
- The Grand Brighton, on the seafront
- Hotel du Vin Brighton, in The Lanes
- Premier Inn Brighton City Centre, on North Street
Getting around
- Train from London Victoria or London Bridge, about an hour
- Bus 12, 12A or 12X to the Seven Sisters
- On foot along the seafront, The Lanes and North Laine
Where to eat
- English's, oysters in The Lanes
- Palm Court, fish and chips on the pier
- Birling Gap Café, at the end of the walk
Services
- Brighton station
- Bus 12 stop at the Seven Sisters visitor centre
How much does it cost?
People2
Nights2
Where to stay
Where to stay if you're flyingwithout a car
We show you what suits the way you travel.Change how you travel
Hotel du Vin Brighton
Why we like it: A boutique hotel in a restored 19th-century building on Ship Street, in the heart of The Lanes, a minute from the seafront. French bistro and wine cellar.
Hotel
Premier Inn Brighton City Centre (North Street)
Why we like it: A chain hotel on North Street, between the station and the sea, ten minutes from the Palace Pier and the beach, with a restaurant, breakfast and free wifi.
Services for this trip
Where to eat
Where to eat in Brighton and the Seven Sisters
English's of Brighton
What to order: half a dozen oysters at the bar and a fish of the day; if it is an occasion, the lobster.
Open every day from midday · book by phone, email or website
Palm Court, on Brighton Palace Pier
What to order: the classic fish and chips, at a table by the windows.
Opens with the pier's hours · you can book a table on the pier's website
Birling Gap Café (National Trust)
What to order: a tea and something to eat at the end of the cliff walk.
Questions
Frequently asked questions
How long does it take to get from London to Brighton?
About an hour by train from Victoria or London Bridge; from Gatwick, around 30 minutes.
How do I get to the Seven Sisters without a car?
On the 12, 12A or 12X Coaster buses from Brighton, which stop at the Exceat visitor centre.
Is the cliff walk hard?
Flat as far as Cuckmere Haven. From there to Birling Gap, two hours of short, steep climbs.
How much does the getaway cost?
With the train, two hotel nights, tickets and meals, about €260–420 per person.