Brighton is a real British seaside treasure that offers visitors a bustling city filled with shops, bars, restaurants, seafront attractions, and a nightlife that is often considered unrivalled. Whether you are headed to Brighton for a family holiday by the sea, a weekend getaway with a loved one, or for a business trip, this city is the number one stop for beauty, culture, and excitement!
Discover what Brighton has to offer and book a city break.
If you’re exploring beyond the city, there are lots of places to visit just a short drive from our Brighton seafront hotel. Here are a few of our top things to do beyond Brighton Waterfront.
For some extra ideas and top tips, make sure you have a chat with our friendly front of house staff who will be only too happy to help.
Brighton is an excellent place for a family getaway, boasting plenty of fun activities and attractions that both kids and adults can enjoy. Here are our top things to do in Brighton for the kids:
If you’re travelling onward to other towns and cities after your stay at our Brighton seafront hotel, here’s a quick rundown of journey times to top onward destinations.
London: one hour 45 minutes by car, or one hour by train
Dover: two hours by car, two hours 30 minutes by train with one change at Ashford International
Portsmouth: one hour 10 minutes by car, or one hour 20 minutes by train
Southampton: one hour 30 minutes by car, or one hour 50 minutes by train
From the whole team at Leonardo Royal Hotel Brighton Waterfront, we can’t wait to welcome you here soon.
Best Shopping: Famous for their decadent and extravagant chocolates and cakes, Choccywoccydoodah is a ‘must’ for any chocolate lover’s trip to Brighton.
Best Kept Secret: Devil’s Dyke is the largest chalkland dry combe in Britain, where you can enjoy the best views of Brighton city and the sea beyond.
Best Bar: Ye Olde King & Queen Pub takes you back in time to enjoy a beverage in a traditional setting. Housed in a Tudor building, this bar blends new and old, offering a great selection of real ales, cocktails, and wine, as well as a beer garden.
Ambience Gallery
In the heart of Brighton's historic lanes, Ambience Gallery of Fine Art sells some of the best works from publisher Washington Green, as well as a range of art styles, from landscapes to contemporary. The gallery offers a welcoming environment with knowledgeable and friendly staff, ready to guide visitors in finding the perfect piece of art.
Located on Meeting House Lane, Ambience Gallery is just a short 15 minute walk from Leonardo Hotel Brighton.
Brighton Museum & Art Gallery
Dynamic and innovative, Brighton Museum and Art Gallery is the perfect stop for those hoping to soak up some culture in this exciting and diverse city. Located in the Royal Pavilion Gardens in Brighton’s cultural quarter, the museum and gallery offers a wide range of exciting exhibits and “rich” collections to explore – most notably the LGBTQ Museum Trail, Exploring Brighton, and the Fashion & Style Gallery displaying fashions from the Regency period to modern day.
Brighton Museum & Art Gallery is a 15 minute walk from our Brighton hotel and is open Tuesday-Sunday 10am -5pm, and costs £5.20 for adults and £3 for children.
St Paul's Church
Constructed in 1846-48 in Gothic Style, St Paul’s Church is one of the most impressive and beautiful Victorian Churches in Brighton. See the impressive Jesse Tree stained glass window, take in The Font and the impressive brass angel lectern, or visit the various shrines as you explore the church’s interior.
St Paul’s is very welcoming of all visitors and is situated on West Street, just a 15 Minute walk from Leonardo Hotel Brighton.
Brighton Fishing Museum
Located in the fishing quarter, which is bustling with activity and fresh produce, the Brighton Fishing Museum is perfectly placed to learn more about Brighton’s rich heritage as a key seaside town! This seafront museum depicts the unique and interesting history of the fishing industry and community, as well as its development into a prime seaside destination for visitors.
Admission is free and the museum is open seven days a week. Located on Kings Road, the Brighton Fishing Museum is an 18 minute walk from our hotel.
Royal Pavilion
The Royal Pavilion is a spectacular seaside ‘pleasure palace’ which was built for the Prince Regent, and embodies all that was fashionable in Regency society! The extravagant structure is a distinctive Brighton and Hove landmark, and without a doubt one of the most exotic buildings in the UK, making it a must-see attraction. Explore The Great Kitchen, Royal Bedrooms, Saloon & Reception Rooms, the garden and estate, and more.
The Royal Pavilion is open between9.30-10am and 5.15-5.45pm depending on season. Admission costs £12.30 for adults and £6.90 for children with family tickets available. Situated next to Brighton Dome, the Royal Pavilion is a short 15 minute walk from Leonardo Hotel.
Booth Museum of Natural History
The Booth Museum of Natural History offers a fantastic day out for all. With over half a million specimens, and natural history literature and data dating back three centuries, there is plenty to explore. The museum offers a myriad of displays, activities, and exhibitions, including British birds recreated in natural settings, butterflies, skeletons, a whale and dinosaur bones, and more.
The Booth Museum of Natural History is open Friday to Wednesday 10am- 5pm, with reduced hours (2-5pm) on Sunday. The museum offers free admission and is a leisurely 20 minute walk from our Brighton hotel.
Old Police Cells Museum
The Old Police Cells Museum offers something a little different for those looking for a Brighton hidden gem. The free guided tour is both informative and funny with friendly, enthusiastic, and knowledgeable guides. Found in the basement under the town hall, there are plenty of artefacts to see, from old police uniforms to equipment, chains, and latrines!
Leonardo Royal Hotel Brighton Waterfront is a short two-minute walk from the Old Police Cell Museum.
Artist’s Quarter
A fantastic 200m long stretch of the lower esplanade, the Artist’s Quarter is a fantastic place to explore a range of art from sculptures and mirrors to paintings, ceramics, jewellery, and more.
The Artist’s Quarter is a ten-minute stroll from our Waterfront hotel.
Brighton Pier
Brighton's famous pier includes an array of fun activities for all. Whether you love arcade games, enjoy thrill rides (Booster), or simply want to get stuck in with dodgems, the pier is the perfect day out by the sea. Brighton Pier also offers a range of bustling bars and takeaways, as well as the Palm Court restaurant for those wanting a sit down meal.
Opening times vary depending on the activity, are weather permitting, and may be subject to slight variations. But don’t let this deter you from visiting the pier as there are plenty of attractions nearby, or you can admire the pier from Leonardo Royal Hotel Brighton Waterfront across the road.
Brighton Beach
Take a walk along the promenade and pop into a cafe for a refreshing drink before strolling along Brighton’s famous pebble beach. If you’re feeling brave, take a dip in the water, try out some watersports, or simply sit on the beach and watch the world go by.
We recommend: checking out the paintings in the Artists’ Quarter, beneath the seafront arches.
South Downs National Park
Under a half hour drive from Brighton’s coast, the South Downs National Park offers an impressive landscape for adventure lovers to explore. Whether walking, cycling, horse riding, or driving the country lanes, footpaths or fields, the South Downs is home to a myriad of wildlife, visitor attractions and activities, tranquil scenery, quaint market towns, lakes, rivers, and more.
Browse the South Downs attractions map to plan a visit.
Sea Life Brighton
Travel under the water with a trip to Sea Life Brighton! Home of a myriad of underwater creatures, Sea Life lets you explore the world of turtles, rays, octopus, a shark, and more. There’s an interactive rockpool allowing visitors to touch a crab or starfish, a ‘behind the scenes tour’, a Rainforest Adventure area, as well as talks and feeding demonstrations to learn more about the fascinating sea life, making this a great day out for all the family.
The centre is open 10am-5pm and ticket prices vary for ‘on the door’ and ‘online’. Sea Life Brighton is a seven-minute walk from our waterfront hotel.
Arundel Castle
With nearly 1,000 years of history, this impressive castle has many tales to tell! Situated on a hill, Arundel Castle affords breath-taking views of the South Downs National Park and the River Arun, as well as being home to beautiful walled gardens, glass houses, rose garden, organic kitchen garden, and more. Exploring the interior offers fine examples of its history in the décor, artwork, armoury collection, intricate Regency design of the library, and more.
Open March to October, Arundel Castle is a great summer day out exploring beyond Brighton. Most of the attractions are open 10am-5pm but check times before visiting, and ticket prices depend on which castle attractions you would like to see. The castle is a 40-minute drive from Leonardo Hotel Brighton.
Kipling Gardens, Rottingdean
Named after the village's most famous resident "Jungle Book" writer Rudyard Kipling, these tranquil gardens are the perfect place escape to. Considered one of the best parks in England and Wales, the Kipling Gardens are a picturesque oasis that includes a Rose Garden, Herb Garden, and Wild Garden.
The gardens are open seven days a week and are free entry. Rottingdean is a 15 minute drive from Brighton or a 30 minute bus journey.
Preston Manor
Explore more than twenty rooms in this delightful old manor house dating back to 1250. The grand décor and original exhibits transport you back in time to Edwardian living. Preston Manor also has beautiful walled gardens to discover as well as a fascinating pets' cemetery.
The Manor is open April to September on Tuesday – Saturday, 10am – 5pm, with reduced hours (2-5pm) on Sundays. Admission costs £6.60 for adults and £3.50 for children (5-15 years). Preston Manor is a leisurely 23 minute walk from Leonardo Hotel Brighton and sits next to the beautiful Preston Park.
Brighton Toy and Model Museum
The Museum is an Aladdin's cave of the finest toys and models, situated under Brighton Station. This ‘treasure trove’ museum specialises in collections of model trains from the 1860s to the present day.
Alongside model trains, the Brighton Toy and Model Museum houses mechanical toys and models; dolls house furniture, puppets and theatres, as well as social, educational and domestic artefacts which date back to the 1790s.
The museum opens Tuesday-Saturday 10am-5pm (Saturdays open at 11am) with last admissions at 4.15pm. Admission costs £6.50 per adult, £4 per child (ages 4-15) or a family ticket (two adults and three children) for £14. It is a short six minute walk from Leonardo Hotel Brighton to the Toy and Model Museum..
Volks Electric Railway
Unfortunately Volks Railway is closed until the summer 2017 due to heritage lottery works.
Volks Railway is Britain's oldest electric railway built in 1883, and remains today an iconic Brighton attraction that is a ‘must-see’ for visitors. The railway runs for one and a quarter miles along the top of the beach from the Aquarium Station (near Brighton Pier) down to the Marina. The trains run every 15 minutes and a single journey ticket costs £2.90 for an adult and £1.80 for children. There is a cafe and toilets opposite the Aquarium Station and public toilets at the Marina Station.
Volks Railway is open Easter to September, and trains start around 10.15am with the last train at around 5pm, both times vary (by about an hour) depending on the day of the week.
British Airways i360
To get panoramic views of Brighton and across the English Channel, make sure you brave the heights of British Airways i360. The giant glass pod is part of the tallest moving observation tower in the world, and is described as a ‘vertical cable car’.
We recommend: going for an evening drink at the Sky Bar for a magical night time experience.
The Lanes
Brighton historic quarter’s ‘The Lanes’ are a twisting maze of narrow alleyways situated in the heart of the old fishing town. The Lanes are bursting at the seams with a mixture of beautiful independent boutiques, antique shops, restaurants, bistros, and pubs making it the perfect day out for those who want to soak up some architectural heritage and enjoy a unique shopping experience!
The Lanes (boarded by West Street and North Street) is a brief 15 minute walk from our Brighton hotel.
North Laine
Situated near The Lanes, North Laine is the destination for shopping. Bursting with boutique stores, design, fashion, vintage, and specialist shops, North Laine is a unique retail experience set amongst historical streets.
North Laine is a leisurely ten-minute walk from Leonardo Hotel Brighton.
Churchill Square Shopping Centre
Filled with your favourite big brand stores, from Lego to Monsoon and Levi’s, Churchill Square Shopping Centre is perfect for a little window shopping or ‘me time’ shopping spree!
Churchill Square Shopping Centre is a ten-minute walk from our Brighton Waterfront Hotel.