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Brighton is about an hour from London by train, costs almost nothing to get to if you have a railcard and packs enough into one day that you’ll come home genuinely tired. We did it on a weekday in summer and it’s already one of our favourite days since moving to the UK.
Here’s exactly how the day went.
Getting There: Train Tickets and What It Actually Cost
We took the Thameslink from central London, direct to Brighton. The journey takes about an hour depending on which service you get — the fastest runs are just under 60 minutes.
We have a Two Together Railcard which gives you 1/3 off off-peak and super off-peak fares when both cardholders travel together. Two return tickets came to around £24 total. Without the railcard the same tickets would have been closer to £36. The railcard costs £35 for a full year so it pays for itself fast if you’re doing day trips regularly — which you should be.
The super off-peak restriction means you can’t travel before 9:30am on weekdays. For a day trip that’s completely fine. Leave around 10am and you’re in Brighton by 11.
Book through the Trainline app or nationalrail.co.uk. Buying in advance is almost always cheaper than walk-up on the day.
One thing we didn’t know until after the trip: your train ticket to Brighton qualifies for a 2-for-1 entry deal at the Royal Pavilion through the National Rail 2FOR1 promotion. More on that below. Don’t make our mistake.
First Stop: Focaccia and Iced Coffee Near the Station
We didn’t rush straight to the seafront. When you come out of Brighton station walk into town and find a cafe first. We had focaccia and iced coffee and just settled into the day before doing anything.
Brighton has genuinely good cafes. Independent, a bit creative, not a chain in sight if you walk slightly off the main road. It set the pace for the whole day and I’d recommend doing the same — arriving from London and immediately trying to tick off a list is the wrong approach. Give yourself 30 minutes to land first.
The Lanes: The Best Part of Brighton
Before the pier, before the beach — go to The Lanes.
The Lanes is a cluster of narrow winding streets in the heart of Brighton. They date back to the 17th century when this area was a small fishing village. The streets are lined with independent shops, jewellers, vintage clothing, antiques and cafes. There’s street art on the walls. It feels completely unlike anywhere else in the UK.
We spent longer here than anywhere else on the day. The shops are genuinely interesting — not tourist tat. You keep turning corners into new little sections you didn’t know were there. If you like wandering without a plan this is where to do it.
Right next to The Lanes is the North Laine — same energy, more market stalls, more colour, more wall paintings. The two areas blend into each other. Just wander between them without worrying which one you’re in.
Brighton Palace Pier
You can’t not do the pier. It’s the thing people picture when they think of Brighton and it delivers.
Entry is £1 per person — basically nothing. Walk the whole length. At the far end there’s a full carnival: rides, arcade games, stalls. We played the carnival games and I came home with a rubber duck. Not ashamed.
It’s one of those places that’s genuinely fun regardless of your age. Budget around £10 for games if you’re competitive about winning things.
One genuine warning: watch your food. We watched someone’s lunch get stolen clean out of their hands by a seagull. No hesitation, no warning — just gone. Brighton seagulls are bold and they’ve done this before. Eat inside or keep your food covered when you’re on the seafront.
From the end of the pier the views back towards the city are worth the walk alone. On a clear day you can see the whole sweep of the beach and the town from out over the water.
Fish and Chips at The Captain’s Table
Fish and chips on the Brighton seafront is mandatory. We went to The Captain’s Table which is well known locally. We had it with a cold beer and ate looking out at the water.
Honest take: the fish was excellent. The chips were good but different to what we’re used to back home. Coming from Australia where chips have a particular flavour and texture, British chips taste noticeably different. Not worse — just different. It’s one of those small things you notice when you’ve grown up eating a certain version of something and then try another country’s take on it.
Worth going. Worth ordering. Just know your expectations might be shaped by twenty years of Aussie fish and chips.
Blaker Street: Brighton’s Most Colourful Street
If you grew up watching Angus Thongs and Perfect Snogging, Brighton will feel oddly familiar — most of it was filmed here. And Blaker Street looks exactly like the kind of street Georgia Nicholson would have lived on.
It’s a terraced street of rainbow-painted houses on a hill, every house a different colour, the whole street looking almost too cheerful to be real. And when you get to the top and turn around there’s Brighton Palace Pier sitting below you with the sea behind it. One of those views you don’t expect.
My wife made a beeline for this street — non-negotiable stop on the itinerary. I get it now.
Fair warning: the hill is brutal. We went in the middle of a heatwave and it was a proper workout. Wear comfortable shoes and maybe don’t schedule it immediately after fish and chips.
The Royal Pavilion
The Royal Pavilion sits in the middle of Brighton like something from a completely different country. It has a Mughal-inspired exterior — domes and minarets — and a Chinese-style interior. It was built by architect John Nash between 1815 and 1822 as a pleasure palace for Prince George, who later became George IV. It started as a farmhouse. George IV had opinions.
We didn’t go inside. Instead we sat at the cafe directly in front of it with a cold fizzy drink and just looked at it. People were lying in the gardens around it, the sun was out and it was one of those genuinely lovely moments where you think this is why we moved here.
That said — we found out afterwards that your train ticket qualifies for 2-for-1 entry through the National Rail 2FOR1 promotion. Standard entry is around £22 per adult so two tickets with the offer costs £22 instead of £44. We’ll go inside next time. Check daysoutguide.co.uk before you go and don’t make our mistake.
What It Cost for the Day
| Activity | Cost |
|---|---|
| Train return for two (Two Together Railcard) | ~£24 |
| Cafe near the station (focaccia and iced coffees) | ~£20 |
| Pier entry | £2 (£1 each) |
| Carnival games | ~£10 |
| Fish and chips and a beer | ~£25 |
| Drinks at the cafe by the palace | ~£10 |
| Total for two | ~£91 |
A full day out for two people for under £100. For London that’s a bargain.
What We’d Do Differently
Go inside the Royal Pavilion. The 2-for-1 deal makes it easy to justify and from what I’ve read since, the interior is extraordinary. We’ll do it next time.
Start in The Lanes even earlier. We felt slightly rushed by the time we got there and could easily have spent another hour.
Go on a weekday if you can. Brighton on a weekend in summer is packed. We went mid-week and it was busy but manageable.
Is Brighton Worth It as a Day Trip from London?
Yes. Easily.
It’s close enough that it doesn’t feel like a big commitment but different enough from London that it genuinely feels like you’ve gone somewhere. The Lanes alone are worth the trip. Add the pier, the colourful streets and the Royal Pavilion and you’ve got a full day that costs almost nothing compared to what a similar day in London would run you.
If you’re an Australian living in London and trying to make the most of being on this side of the world — Brighton is the obvious first day trip. Do it early.
We’ll keep adding day trip guides as we do them — next up we’re looking at Bath and the Cotswolds.
For everything else you need to know about settling into life in the UK as an Australian, start with our guide to banking in the UK — the order you do things in matters more than you’d think.
Frequently Asked Questions
How do I get from London to Brighton?
Take the Thameslink direct from central London stations including St Pancras, Blackfriars and London Bridge. The journey takes about an hour. Trains run frequently throughout the day.
How much does the London to Brighton train cost?
Super off-peak return tickets start from around £17-18 per person booked in advance. With a Two Together Railcard you get 1/3 off — two returns came to around £24 for us. Book through Trainline or nationalrail.co.uk.
What is the Two Together Railcard?
A Two Together Railcard gives two named adults 1/3 off off-peak and super off-peak fares across the UK when travelling together. It costs £35 for a full year — £17.50 each. It pays for itself quickly if you’re planning regular day trips.
Is Brighton worth a day trip from London?
Yes. It’s about an hour from central London, easy to get to and has enough to fill a full day comfortably. The Lanes, the pier, Blaker Street and the Royal Pavilion alone justify the trip.
What is the Royal Pavilion in Brighton?
The Royal Pavilion is a former royal palace in the heart of Brighton with a Mughal-inspired exterior and Chinese-style interior. Built for Prince George (later George IV) between 1815 and 1822. Entry is around £22 per adult but your train ticket qualifies for a 2-for-1 deal through the National Rail 2FOR1 promotion at daysoutguide.co.uk.
What is Blaker Street in Brighton?
Blaker Street is a residential street of rainbow-painted terraced houses on a hill in Brighton. It’s one of the most photographed streets in the city and from the top you get a great view back down to Brighton Palace Pier and the sea.
When is the best time to visit Brighton from London?
Weekdays in summer are the sweet spot — warm enough to enjoy the seafront but much less crowded than weekends. Avoid weekend afternoons in July and August if you don’t like crowds.
Is the fish and chips in Brighton good?
Yes — the fish especially. The chips are good but different to what Australians are used to back home. Still worth ordering. The Captain’s Table on the seafront is the one most locals point you to.
This article reflects our personal experience visiting Brighton in summer 2026. Train prices are approximate and change depending on when you book and travel. Always check current fares on nationalrail.co.uk or the Trainline app. Royal Pavilion entry prices and 2FOR1 offers should be verified at daysoutguide.co.uk before visiting. This article is for general informational purposes only.