Brighton Life and Travel Tips

(Brighton and Hove, East Sussex, England, UK)



Brighton Life and Travel TipsBrighton is a seaside destination with an interesting regal past, being occasionally known as 'London by the Sea'. The summer months are understandably a busy time for life in Brighton, when seemingly endless crowds of holiday makers descend, to relax on the beaches and enjoy the plentiful amusements.

Tourism is very much a mainstay of summer life and the local economy of Brighton, particularly around the popular area known as 'The Lanes'. Many shops, pubs and restaurants reside within The Lanes, where they are conveniently close to the seafront and made up of a series of narrow alleys. The shopping centre named Churchill Square arrived in the 1960s, and was extended and rebuilt in 1998, when it became fully enclosed.

The service industry in Brighton is accompanied by a number of significant employers, such as the American Express headquarters located next to John Street, where some 3,000 people now work. Towards the end of the 20th century, numerous media-related companies chose to base themselves here, earning Brighton its nickname of 'Silicon Beach'.





Tourism and Tourist Information

As of 30th September 2013 the Brighton Tourist and Visitor Information Centre situated on Bartholomew Square was closed. However, the Visitor Information Contact Centre will provide visitors with tourism details as will the ten Visitor Information Points that are dotted throughout the city.

Visitor Information Contact Centre Service
Tel: +44 (0)1273 290337
Email: visitor.info@visitbrighton.com
Open hours: Monday to Saturday - 10:00 to 16:00

Visitor Information Points

Best Western Brighton Hotel
Address: 143 to 145 Kings Road, Brighton, East Sussex, BN1 2PQ, England
Open hours: daily

Brighton Centre Box Office
Address: Brighton Centre, King's Road, Brighton, East Sussex, BN1 2GR, England
Open hours: Monday to Saturday - 10:00 to 16:00

Brighton Pier
Address: Madeira Drive, Brighton, East Sussex, BN2 1TW, England
Open hours: daily - 10.00 to 19.00

Brighton Toy and Model Museum
Address: 52 to 55 Trafalgar Street, Brighton, East Sussex, BN1 4EB, England
Open hours: Tuesday to Saturday - 11:00 to 17:00

Churchill Square
Address: Western Road, Brighton, East Sussex, BN1 2RG, England
Open hours: Monday to Wednesday - 09:00 to 18:00, Thursday - 09:00 to 20:00, Friday and Saturday - 09:00 to 19:00, Sunday - 11:00 to 17:00

Jubilee Library
Address: Jubilee Street, Brighton, East Sussex, BN1 1GE, England
Open hours: Monday, Tuesday and Thursday - 10:00 to 19:00, Wednesday, Thursday and Saturday - 10:00 to 17:00, Sunday - 11:00 to 17:00

Royal Pavilion Shop
Address: 5 Pavilion Buildings, Brighton, East Sussex, BN1 1EE, England
Open hours: October to March, daily - 11:00 to 17:00; April to September, daily - 09:30 to 17:30

St. Paul's Church
Address: West Street, Brighton, East Sussex, BN1 2RE, England
Open hours: January to April, June, September to December; Sunday to Tuesday, Thursday and Friday - 10:30 to 12:00, Wednesday and Saturday - 10:30 to 15:00; May, July and August; Monday to Saturday - 10:30 to 15:00, Sunday - 10:30 to 12:00

The Old Market
Address: Upper Market Street, Hove, East Sussex, BN3 1AS, England
Open hours: Monday to Friday - 13:00 to 17:00

Thistle Hotel
Address: King's Road, Brighton, East Sussex, BN1 2GS, England
Open hours: daily

Brighton Life and Travel Tips

Safety

Crime levels are fairly low in the Brighton and Hove area, although it is always sensible to maintain an awareness of your surroundings and try to blend in. When visiting this seaside city, be careful not to leave your valuables unattended in public places or on the beach while you have a swim, such as mobile phones, wallets, handbags and cameras.

Places of Worship

The diverse seaside resort of Brighton and Hove is home to various different cultures and most religions have a presence here. Many of the churches belong to the Church of England as places of worship for the Anglican faith, with some of the most notable including St. Bartholomew's Church on Ann Street, St. Helen's Church on Hangleton Way and St. Peter's Church on York Place.

Pharmacies and Chemists

Local pharmacies are generally open from around 09:00 until 18:00, while the biggest supermarkets in the Brighton and Hove area also often have in-store chemists. Drugstores usually remain open until at least 18:00 and often have a pharmacy counter for dispensing prescriptions. Of note, Boots the Chemist has stores located on both Boundary Road and George Street.

Tipping

Tipping is quite discretionary and certainly not essential. Many local taxi drivers are usually given a 10% tip, or thereabouts, while many restaurants choose to include service charges - otherwise a gratuity of around 10% is usually welcomed in recognition of good service. Hotel porters happily accept a tip of one or two pounds for carrying your bags to your room.

Smoking

In all of the offices, public buildings and on public transport in Brighton and Hove, rules now restrict smoking and this is usually indicated by no-smoking symbols positioned in prominent places. Following the anti-smoking law of July 2007, pubs, bars and restaurants no longer permit smoking and those wishing to drink with a cigarette should sit outside.

Invitations to Eat

Much business is done over the dinner table in Brighton and business lunches frequently take place at local restaurants, pubs or seaside bars. The most popular venues may require a table reservation during the busiest times, so do bear that in mind.

Social Drinking

The British love pubs for their informality and social atmosphere, and this seaside city is no exception. Local pubs and wine bars are most often places to meet and be seen, though each has its own standing within the Brighton community. Most bars are friendly places - if there is a good mix of people you can be sure that it will be a decent spot to enjoy a drink or two.