a beach next to a city with tall buildings

Brighton & Hove

Two seaside towns on England's south coast, with a pier, a pebble beach and chalk downland rising to the north.

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Brighton and Hove is a city on England's south coast, ceremonially in East Sussex, made up of two seaside resorts. Brighton is the better known of the two and is the country's most popular seaside resort, with Brighton Pier as a major attraction. Hove is mainly residential, with its own seafront and a town centre around George Street. Locals say "Hove, actually" to show the separate identities of the two towns. They became a single city in 1997 and were granted city status on 31 January 2001.

The Royal Pavilion, a former royal palace with Indian-inspired domes, is Brighton's best-known sight. The Lanes is a area of narrow old streets, and Brighton Town Hall stands there. Kemp Town, east of central Brighton, has Grade I listed terraces. North of the city, the South Downs rise to chalk hills, with walks toward Devil's Dyke. Stay in Brighton for the seafront and amusements, or in Hove for a quieter base.

Brighton & Hove in five

Walk the Dyke Railway TrailThe trail uses the old Dyke Railway branch line over the downs, mostly on a hard surface. It starts at a bridge over the A27.
Use the undercliff path to SaltdeanThe path links Brighton Marina and Saltdean, with cafés at Ovingdean and Rottingdean. Walkers, runners and cyclists use it, away from the busy road above.
See glowworms at midsummerGlowworms show in Wild Park, a valley below Hollingbury Castle, and on Benfield Hill near Hangleton. Benfield Hill is known for its displays on midsummer evenings. Go in midsummer.
Visit the Chattri as a memorialThe Chattri stands on the downs north of Patcham, where Indian Sikh and Hindu soldiers who died in the First World War were cremated. Treat it as a solemn place.
Pick Brighton or Hove as your baseBrighton has Brighton Pier, The Lanes and amusements. Hove is mainly residential, with its own seafront and George Street, and locals say "Hove, actually" to mark the difference.Where to stay

Things to do in Brighton & Hove

See all attractions in Brighton & Hove

a long green fence next to a sandy beach

Sight · Brighton & Hovei360 Tower

Theme park · Brighton & HoveBrighton Palace PierWeekdays and off-peak hours are quieter than summer weekends and bank holidays.

Sight · Brighton & HoveBrighton Museum & Art Gallery

Free trip plannerPlan a trip to Brighton & HovePut the places you like in Brighton & Hove on a map, give them days, and let one button order each day. Free, with no account.Plan a trip

Need to know

Currency: Pound sterling (GBP)
Entry: Check your passport on the official GOV.UK checker Read more
Emergency: 999 police, fire and ambulance; 112 also works from any phone
Tipping: Check the bill for a service charge before adding a tip
Time: UTC+0, UTC+1 in summer (daylight saving)

Weather by month

Rainy days
Festival

Best
Good
Mixed
Poor

JanuaryRain13 rainy daysHigh8°Low4°Quiet, short days
FebruaryRain12 rainy daysHigh9°Low5°Quiet, winter
MarchRain13 rainy daysHigh10°Low5°Spring starts
AprilPartly cloudy10 rainy daysHigh12°Low6°Spring walks
MayPartly cloudy12 rainy daysHigh15°Low9°Spring, lilacs
JunePartly cloudy11 rainy daysHigh18°Low12°Glowworms, long days
JulyPartly cloudy12 rainy daysHigh20°Low15°Butterflies, long days
AugustPartly cloudy11 rainy daysHigh20°Low15°Summer, busy
SeptemberRain12 rainy daysHigh18°Low13°Warm, quieter
OctoberRain15 rainy daysHigh15°Low11°Autumn, quieter
NovemberRain13 rainy daysHigh11°Low8°Dark early
DecemberRain14 rainy daysHigh10°Low6°Quiet, short days

Average daily high and low in Brighton and Hove, 2016–2025. Rainy day: 1 mm of rain or more.

Festivals: May Glyndebourne Festival Opera, Brighton Festival · Jun Glyndebourne Festival Opera · Jul Glyndebourne Festival Opera · Aug Glyndebourne Festival Opera

Right now in Brighton & Hove

Local time, today's weather and the exchange rate, refreshed through the day.

Feels like: 6°
Humidity: 73%
Wind: 33 km/h
Chance of rain: 20%

Brighton & Hove

08:38 PM

Monday, November 2

GMT+0

Today12°8°20%Monday: Drizzle. High 12°, Low 8°. Chance of rain 20%.
Tue13°8°48%Tuesday: Drizzle. High 13°, Low 8°. Chance of rain 48%.
Wed9°7°2%Wednesday: Cloudy. High 9°, Low 7°. Chance of rain 2%.
Thu8°6°2%Thursday: Cloudy. High 8°, Low 6°. Chance of rain 2%.
Fri9°6°10%Friday: Cloudy. High 9°, Low 6°. Chance of rain 10%.
Sat9°7°23%Saturday: Drizzle. High 9°, Low 7°. Chance of rain 23%.
Sun10°4°13%Sunday: Drizzle. High 10°, Low 4°. Chance of rain 13%.

Updated 05:48 PM local time · Powered by WeatherAPI.com · Weather data by Open-Meteo.com

Money

Mid-market rate1 USD = 0.7469 GBP

Amount

Converted to

GBP · British Pound

Rates from Nov 2, 2026 · Rates By Exchange Rate API

What's on in Brighton & Hove

Concerts, festivals and big events in and around the city

Events calendar

Coming up

Every year

May–AugGlyndebourne Festival OperaBrighton & Hove
MayBrighton FestivalBrighton & Hove
JunIsle of Wight FestivalIsle of Wight, a day trip
JunMeltdownLondon, a day trip
Jul–SepBBC PromsLondon, a day trip
JulWireless FestivalLondon, a day trip
JulPride LondonLondon, a day trip
AugGreat British Beer FestivalLondon, a day trip

Day trips by train

LewesCheck train timesA county town with a castle and a steep high street.
LondonCheck train timesA big city trip for museums, shows and shopping.
ArundelCheck train timesA castle town on the River Arun, with a cathedral and river walks.

Before you go to Brighton & Hove

eSIM for Brighton and HoveMaps for downland paths and busesRead the guide

Insurance for downland walksCover for injuries on downland pathsRead the guide

Stays in Brighton or HoveSeafront, The Lanes and quiet HoveRead the guide

Getting around the two townsBuses and trains between the areasRead the guide

Rules for Brighton & Hove, checked

Check whether your passport needs a visa or an ETA before you travel, using the official GOV.UK checker.Source
Dial 999 for police, fire or an ambulance, or 112 from any phone.
The Chattri is a war memorial where Indian Sikh and Hindu soldiers were cremated, so keep quiet and respectful there.
Walkers are discouraged on Pangdean Bottom, a farm rented from Brighton and Hove City Council, so check access before you go.

Plan around Brighton & Hove

Entry rules for your passport

Which passports need a visa or an ETA before you fly or sail in.

Read the guide Getting around the two towns

Trains, buses and the routes to the downs and the Dyke.

Read the guide Where to sleep in Brighton

Stays on the seafront, in The Lanes and in quieter Hove streets.

Read the guide Money and typical costs

What a day here costs in pounds, from bed and food to sights.

Read the guide Phone plans and offline maps

Data and offline maps for the downland paths and bus routes.

Read the guide Festivals in the area

Local events and the months to check before you book.

Read the guide

Brighton & Hove FAQ

Is Brighton or Hove better to stay in?

Brighton suits visitors who want Brighton Pier, The Lanes and the amusements on the seafront. Hove is mainly residential, so it suits a quieter stay with its own seafront and George Street.

Are Brighton and Hove one city?

Yes. The two towns were joined into a single city in 1997, and the city was granted city status on 31 January 2001.

Where can you walk in a large park near Brighton?

Stanmer Park, north-east of Coldean, has woods and fields open to public access since 2007. Stanmer village has flint cottages and a church rebuilt in 1838.

Where are the best views over the downs?

Falmer Hill gives views across to Hollingbury Castle and Stanmer Park. Tegdown Hill near Patcham looks out to Ditchling Beacon and Devil's Dyke.

Is there a large park in east Brighton?

Yes. Sheepcote Valley is an open park of over 90 hectares, popular with birdwatchers, and East Brighton Park has a café.