What to do in Brighton while house and pet sitting

Tucked on England’s southern coast, Brighton rose to prominence as a favoured seaside resort for holidaying Victorians, and it still retains much of that 19th-century charm in buildings like the Royal Pavilion and Booth Museum. But nowadays the city is much more well known for its vibrant alternative scene, hosting a wonderfully eclectic selection of independent shops and restaurants, while acting as the UK’s unofficial LGBTQ+ capital. And if you’re looking for things to do in Brighton while house and pet sitting, then look no further.

Brighton attractions

1. The Royal Pavilion: One of the UK’s most striking and unusual buildings, the Royal Pavilion was commissioned as a seaside pleasure palace in the early 1800s for Prince George, who would later become King George IV. He was fascinated by the Orient, hence the building’s striking Indo-Islamic design, while the interior is filled with opulent objects, walls and ceilings influenced by Chinese and Indian heritage. The building operated as a hospital during the First World War, but has since been restored to its Regency glory.

2. Brighton Museum: Located in the gardens of the Royal Pavilion, Brighton Museum contains a wonderfully curious mixture of treasured artefacts and eclectic artworks. The fashion collection features clothes worn by King George IV as well as renegade alternative styles, while other exhibits run the gamut from 20th century furniture to artefacts from Ancient Egypt. The art gallery contains works from the 17th century to the present day, with regularly changing temporary exhibitions on everything from rock photography to Fabergé.

3. Sea Life Centre: Down by the pier you’ll find Brighton’s famous Sea Life Centre, the world’s oldest operating aquarium. Built in 1872, the building has had a fascinating history, briefly hosting a music venue in the 50s and 60s and seeing regular performances from star acts like The Who. It was bought by the aquarium chain Sea Life in 1991, and is now home to over 5,000 creatures, including sharks, rays, starfish and seahorses. There’s even a glass-bottomed boat you can ride.

Free things to do in Brighton

1. Brighton Palace Pier: Constructed in 1899, Brighton Palace Pier was the city’s third pier, but is now the only one remaining after the others were destroyed by storms and fires (the skeletal remains of West Pier can still be seen further down the beach). The Palace Pier remains hugely popular, attracting millions of tourists every year, and the seaward end features a traditional fairground with a carousel, helter-skelter and haunted house. But simply promenading above the waves, candy floss in hand, is entertainment enough.  

2. The Lanes: Between the Royal Pavilion in the north and Bartholomew Square in the south, you’ll find a network of narrow alleyways collectively referred to as The Lanes, where every twist and turn reveals a treasure. Packed with independent shops and restaurants, you’ll find everything from rare vinyl to quirky jewellery, mixed in with oodles of artisan coffee shops and vintage book stores.

3. North Laine: Not to be confused with The Lanes, North Laine is the shopping area east of Queens Road. Exit Brighton station and turn left, and you’ll find a wonderland of boutiques, quirky cafés and theatres. Snoopers Paradise is like a bric-a-brac superstore packed with unusual finds, while vintage clothing shops like Beyond Retro and To Be Worn Again hide untold sartorial treasures.

Fun things to do in Brighton

1. British Airways i360 Viewing Tower: Down by the old West Pier, towering some 150 metres in the air, the British Airways i360 Viewing Tower provides sublime views of the southern coastline – on a clear day you can even see the Isle of Wight, some 70 kilometres away. Visitors file on to the glass viewing pod, which rises slowly into the air – and you can even enjoy a locally sourced drink at the top, courtesy of the Nyetimber Sky Bar.

2. Booth Museum of Natural History: Situated in the northwest of the city, the Booth Museum is an endearingly quirky Victorian curiosity, packed with fascinating dioramas of stuffed birds and other animals. Naturalist and collector Edward Thomas Booth donated the museum to the city with the proviso that none of the 300 or so dioramas should be altered in any way, and in addition to the taxidermy displays, there are huge collections of butterflies, animal skeletons and ancient fossils.

3. The seafront: There’s immense pleasure to be had in simply strolling along Brighton seafront, taking in the sea air and the eclectic mix of people milling around on the beach. The arches along the sea wall are home to a range of businesses from art galleries to ice-cream stalls, and towards West Pier you’ll find colourful beach huts and a coterie of independent shops and restaurants. And if the sea looks inviting, why not hire a paddleboard or kayak to glide across the waves?

What to do in Brighton with pets

1. Take a walk on the beach: Between October and April, dogs are permitted on all beaches along the Brighton coastline, but during the summer high season, our furry friends are restricted to smaller sections of beach away from the main promenade by the pier. Rottingdean Beach to the east of the city is one of the largest dog-friendly beaches, and there’s also a long stretch of dog-friendly beach between the Peace Statue and Meeting Place Café in West Brighton.

2. Volk’s Electric Railway: This 1.6-kilometre narrow-gauge railway between the aquarium and Brighton marina is the oldest operating electric railway in the world. Built in 1883 by British inventor and electrical engineer Magnus Volk, it was one of the earliest railways powered by electricity – and at one point the track was even extended into the sea, with special rail cars carried on stilts to journey above the waves. Dogs are more than welcome with no additional charge, but note that the railway closes in the winter months.

3. Undercliff Walk: After you disembark from Volk’s Electric Railway at Brighton Marina, you and your canine pal might want to continue along the five-kilometre Undercliff Walk towards Saltdean. The walk is nice and flat, mostly consisting of a wide concrete path, so it’s ideal for cycling, and there are some spectacular sea views for you and your furry companion to enjoy along the way.

Best restaurants in Brighton

1. Rockwater: Along the beach in neighbouring Hove, you’ll find this achingly hip seafront restaurant. Its spacious roof terrace is ideal for sipping cocktails while the sun goes down, while the kitchen serves up a delicious selection of steaks and seafood. Best of all, Rockwater is dog friendly throughout, so feel free to bring your well-behaved canine chum.

2. Isaac At: Featuring menus inspired by the local produce of the Sussex Downs, the unusually named Isaac At offers truly exquisite fine dining. Expect sumptuous dishes like chicken liver parfait, walnut mille feuille and chalk stream trout with coriander, radish and bone marrow, all accompanied by fine English wine – in fact, the restaurant has an exclusively English wine list.

3. Food for Friends: Brighton has no shortage of excellent vegetarian eateries, and Food for Friends is one of the best. Picked out as one of The Sunday Times’ top vegan and vegetarian restaurants, it specialises in local veg, organic wines and beautifully presented dishes. Food for Friends is open daily for lunch and dinner, and it now has a sister restaurant, Botanique, in nearby Hove.

Wherever you end up going, we hope you (and your animal friends) have an awesome time exploring Brighton!

If you want to discover more travel guides for exciting cities across the world, head over to our blog, where you’ll also find plenty of fascinating articles about our animal friends. And speaking of animals, if you’re interested in finding out how to become a pet sitter (or you’re looking for a sitter yourself), head this way to find out how Trustedhousesitters works.