Brighton is a lovely seaside resort that’s great for families, especially those with kids. It offers family-friendly attractions like traditional fairgrounds at Brighton Pier, Sea Life aquarium, Brighton Museum, and more. Both adults and kids will find plenty of fun activities to enjoy, from kite surfing to hiking, cycling, and more!
Here are the top 5 things to do in Brighton with the family.
- Spend Some Time at the Seaside
As one of the UK’s top beach destinations, Brighton has a gorgeous seaside area offering fun water sports, like stand-up paddle boarding, kayaking, volleyball, and frisbee. If you find that too hectic, you’ll find many places to lounge around and enjoy refreshing cocktail drinks as you soak up the views. The seaside of Brighton is also home to many great restaurants to indulge in delectable seafood dishes.
The seaside of Brighton is a destination in its own right. You will find fantastic galleries at the Artists Quarter by the Brighton Palace Pier. As you stroll along the promenade, you’ll see many more restaurants and bars serving everything, from fish and chips to delectable ice cream. Check out the arches at the West Pier, where you’ll find shops selling furniture, clothing, and more.
Don’t forget to visit the iconic Brighton Palace Pier, where kids can go wild at its fun rides and arcade games. Across the pier, you’ll find the Sea Life aquarium, which has interesting marine life, from seahorses to turtles and sharks. On the eastern side is the historic Volks Railway, the oldest electric railway in Britain.
- Visit Brighton Museum and Art Gallery
One of the top attractions of Brighton is the Brighton Museum & Art Gallery, which is part of the Royal Pavilion. The building that houses the museum was originally planned to be a tennis court. However, the plan did not materialise, and the space was instead used as a military barracks during the war.
In 1851, the first art exhibition took place in the Royal Pavilion, which houses the Brighton Museum and Art Gallery. Nowadays, the museum is one of the UK’s most visited art museums. Some of its most popular collections include the Decorative Art collection from the 17th century, consisting of glass, furniture, ceramics, and jewellery. There are also paintings, sculptures, drawings, and engravings dating back to the 15th century.
Kids will surely be delighted to check out the wooden Vietnamese water puppets. There’s also a fascinating display of the Hove Amber Cup, believed to be one of the most significant discoveries from the Bronze Age. The Kinemacolor camera from 1910 is another interesting thing you’ll find in the museum. It’s the first camera equipment with coloured film.
- Explore Brighton’s Sea Life Centre
Considered the world’s oldest aquarium in operation, Brighton’s Sea Life Centre is a must-visit for families. Housed in a building featuring Victorian architecture and constructed in 1872, the aquarium is home to more than 5,000 sea creatures, including turtles, sharks, and manta rays. Seeing these creatures up close is an experience you and your kids will surely enjoy.
One of the top things to do in the aquarium is ride a glass-bottomed boat, taking you on a fascinating journey of seeing remarkable ocean creatures up close. As the boat glides over the water, you’ll see inquisitive turtles, quirky sharks, and more! The best thing about the Sea Life Centre is that it’s open 24 hours, allowing you to admire the ocean’s fascinating wonders day and night!
With so many family-friendly attractions in Brighton, it may be worth taking a coach holiday with the family. A coach tour is a more convenient way of going around the UK, especially for families with kids. It allows you to see all the top sights of Brighton in one trip, which is easier and more comfortable for everyone, especially for families with little kids.
- Marvel Over the Upside-Down House
The Upside Down House is one of the top family-friendly attractions in Brighton. It’s right by the seafront and features an upside-down house with an open-plan layout, where visitors can move freely and take photos. Kids and adults are guaranteed to have a lot of fun exploring this one-of-a-kind attraction in Brighton.
If you’re looking for a unique and fun attraction, you should visit the Upside Down House. It’s a great place to spend quality time with the family, where adults and kids are guaranteed a wholesome, fun experience. Families who love to take photos should check out this place. You can walk along the ceiling, reach for the coffee table, or climb the kitchen cabinets! The only problem here is deciding what pose to take next.
You will find the Upside Down House between the i360 and Brighton Beach Club, and visits are only limited to 20 minutes. Staff at the house will be willing to take your photos. Since the house is made to look like it’s positioned upside down, others might experience motion sickness.
- Stroll on the Pier
One of the UK’s oldest and most impressive piers, the Brighton Pier is a fun place to stroll around. It’s a waterfront theme park featuring fun rides, shops, restaurants, game arcades, and all kinds of entertainment. Built in 1899, much of Brighton Pier remains intact. Nowadays, you will still find some old kiosks, ironwork arches, and a signal cannon.
Get your adrenaline flowing by trying one of the thrilling rides at the pier. Try your hand at one of the games at the amusement arcades and treat yourselves to delicious fish and chips at the Palm Court Fish Restaurant. Most of the fairground rides are at the tip of the pier, and a walk there takes you past the Palace of Fun amusement arcade and food stands.
There are rides suitable for all ages, including those well-suited for toddlers, such as carousels and teacup rides. But older kids will find thrilling roller coaster rides like Turbo Coaster and Crazy Mouse more exciting.
