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The traditional seaside town turned modern haven first gained popularity as a Victorian seaside resort, but today its main appeal is its artistic and laid-back atmosphere. The city enjoys a sunnier climate than the rest of the country and an idyllic location on the Sussex coast, on the edge of the South Downs National Park.
Southern England at its best
Start your journey in this vibrant city before heading in either direction along the beautiful south coast, you won’t be disappointed with the beautiful scenery and rich history of this fascinating region. Our car rental team is waiting to welcome you.
Things to see and do
Even though the city’s creative, funky reputation may have taken over, there are still plenty of opportunities to experience a proper English seaside holiday. The Palace Pier is the place for some old-school family fun. Have a go on the dodgems, bet your last pennies on the fruit machines, and experience that unique sugar high that only the combination of candy floss, rock, ice cream and toffee apples can provide.
If it’s the fun, bohemian atmosphere you came for, you’ll have no trouble finding it. The city’s nightlife is considered second only to London. Fatboy Slim has made this his home after all! The Hanover area has the most pubs, but there’s bound to be a club for even the most obscure of tastes.
Komedia Club in the North Laines is something of an institution for fringe comedy, Indie bands and surreal stand-up. The beach area around West Street attracts a considerably younger crowd and hen nights.
Other must-sees include the narrow shopping streets of the North Laines, sunset over the now-decrepit West Pier, and the Regency calm of the Royal Pavilion Gardens. The Sea Life Centre is a state-of-the art aquarium that was originally built in the Victorian period. Admire the beautiful architecture before you walk through the underwater ocean tunnel to be among the sharks and other fascinating sea creatures.
An annual event that always attracts plenty of visitors is the Brighton and Hove Food Festival. It runs for ten days every April and September. It’s all about keeping it local, and celebrates everything food-related in the city and surrounding Sussex area. But the biggest weekend of all is probably Pride. Revellers come from all over the world to be out and proud in one of the UK’s most gay-friendly cities.
Explore surrounding Sussex with Avis car rental
Our car hire service is ideal for venturing further afield. Just a short drive outside of the city takes you into the stunning Sussex countryside and the South Downs National Park. This scenic world of down lands is perfect for walking and cycling. There are hiking trails galore, including the South Downs Way. Many are designed to take in interesting sights such as the Chattri war memorial dedicated to the Indian Soldiers who died in World War I, the Grade II listed Jack and Jill windmills overlooking the town of Clayton, and the Ashdown Forest llama park.
The soils and the climate around here are perfect for wine-making. Sussex is instrumental in the growing popularity of English wines and champagne. Many of the local vineyards offer tours. You can learn all about how wine is made, before moving on to sample the finished product. You can visit the UK’s longest-established organic vineyard near Robertsbridge.
For a little more sand than the city’s pebble beach has to offer, all you need to do is journey along the Sussex coast with your car rental. Camber Sands to the east is a popular sandy beach with miles of unspoilt sand dunes. The beach is close to the beautiful old port town of Rye. From here it’s also just a short drive to the iconic White Cliffs of Dover. The 5-mile beach in Worthing comes with an historic pier and palm-tree-lined promenade. Push on a little further to get to Littlehampton, home of the UK's longest bench. Yes: bench! It is over 1000 feet long and can sit over 300 adults.
If you would like to get an idea of how Brighton might have been before it acquired its cosmopolitan reputation, Eastbourne or Bournemouth that are scattered along the coast all within a short drive. Your fish and chips wrapped in newspaper will never have tasted better.