Brighton is a seaside town located in the unitary authority area of Brighton and Hove, in East Sussex, England. It is 47 miles (76 kilometers) south of London. Evidence of people living in the area dates back to the Bronze Age, Roman, and Anglo-Saxon times. The town was called "Brighthelmstone" and was recorded in the Domesday Book in 1086. Brighton became more important during the Middle Ages as the Old Town grew, but it struggled during the early modern period because of attacks, storms, a weak economy, and a smaller population. More visitors came to Brighton after better roads to London were built and because it became a stop for boats traveling to France. The town also became popular as a place for people to visit the beach, which was believed to help with health problems.

During the Georgian era, Brighton became a fashionable seaside town. Prince Regent, who later became King George IV, spent much time there and built the Royal Pavilion. Brighton grew even more when the railways arrived in 1841, making it a popular place for people from London to visit. Many famous attractions were built during the Victorian era, including the Grand Hotel, the Hilton Brighton Metropole, the Palace Pier, and the West Pier. The town kept growing into the 20th century, adding more areas to its boundaries before joining Hove to form the unitary authority of Brighton and Hove in 1997. This area was given city status in 2000. Today, the Brighton and Hove district has about 283,870 residents, and the larger area around Brighton and Hove has a population of 474,485 (based on the 2011 census).

Brighton's location has made it a popular place for tourists. It is known for its diverse communities, shopping areas, and a lively cultural, music, and arts scene. Brighton is also recognized as the "unofficial gay capital of the UK." According to the 2021 census, 10.7% of people aged 18 and older in Brighton and Hove identify as gay, lesbian, or bisexual, the highest percentage in the UK. Brighton has been called the UK's "hippest city" and "the happiest place to live in the UK."

Toponymy

The earliest recorded use of Brighton's name was "Bristelmestune," found in the Domesday Book. More than 40 different versions of the name have been noted, but "Brighthelmstone" (or "Brighthelmston") was the most commonly used form from the 14th to the 18th centuries.

The name "Brighton" first appeared as a shortened version in 1660. Over time, it became more widely used, replacing the longer name by the late 18th century. However, "Brighthelmstone" remained the town's official name until 1810. The name has Anglo-Saxon origins. Most experts believe it comes from "Beorthelm" + "tūn," meaning the homestead or settlement of Beorthelm, a common name in Old English. The "tūn" part was often used in Sussex, especially along the coast, though it was rare to pair it with a personal name. Another explanation, suggesting the name means "stony valley" in Old English, is less widely accepted. The name "Brighthelm" is also used for places like a church, a pub, and student housing at the University of Sussex. In 1950, historian Antony Dale mentioned that some experts thought the name might include the Old English word "brist" or "briz," meaning "divided," because the town was once split in two by the Wellesbourne, a stream that was covered over and buried in the 18th century.

Brighton has many nicknames. Poet Horace Smith called it "The Queen of Watering Places" and "Old Ocean's Bauble." Novelist William Makepeace Thackeray referred to it as "Doctor Brighton," saying the town was "one of the best of Physicians." The nickname "London-by-the-Sea" reflects how popular Brighton was with people from London who visited for short trips, lived there as commuters, or moved there to escape the city. Another nickname, "The Queen of Slaughtering Places," was a play on Smith's words and became common after the Brighton trunk murders were widely known in the 1930s. In the mid-1800s, Brighton was called "School Town" because it had many boarding, charity, and church schools at that time.

History

The first settlement in the Brighton area was Whitehawk Camp, a Neolithic encampment on Whitehawk Hill. This site dates back to between 3500 BC and 2700 BC. It is one of six causewayed enclosures in Sussex. Archaeologists have only explored part of it, but they have found burial mounds, tools, and bones, which suggest the site was important. A Bronze Age settlement also existed at Coldean. Brythonic Celts arrived in Britain in the 7th century BC. An important Brythonic settlement was at Hollingbury Castle on Hollingbury Hill. This Celtic Iron Age encampment dates from the 3rd or 2nd century BC. It is surrounded by large earthwork walls and has a diameter of about 1,000 feet (300 meters). Cissbury Ring, about 10 miles (16 kilometers) from Hollingbury, is believed to have been the tribal "capital."

Later, a Roman villa was located at Preston Village. A Roman road from London ran nearby, and many signs of Roman occupation have been found in the area. Starting in the 1st century AD, the Romans built several villas in Brighton. Romano-British Brythonic Celts formed farming settlements there. After the Romans left in the early 4th century AD, the Brighton area was controlled by native Celts. Anglo-Saxons invaded the region in the late 5th century AD, and the area became part of the Kingdom of Sussex, which was founded in 477 AD by King Ælle.

Anthony Seldon identified five phases of development in Brighton before the 20th century. The village of Bristelmestune was founded by Anglo-Saxon invaders, likely during the early Saxon period. These settlers were drawn to Brighton because of its access to boats, raised land for building, and better conditions than the damp and cold Weald to the north. By 1086, during the Domesday survey, Bristelmestune was a fishing and agricultural settlement. A rent of 4,000 herring was recorded, and the population was about 400. By the 14th century, the area had a parish church, a market, and rudimentary law enforcement, including the first town constable elected in 1285. Brighton was attacked and burned by French invaders in the early 16th century. A painting from around 1520 shows Admiral Pregent de Bidoux’s attack in 1514. After the attack, the town recovered due to a thriving mackerel-fishing industry. The grid of streets in the Old Town (now the Lanes area) was well developed, and the population grew from about 1,500 in 1600 to about 4,000 in the 1640s. By that time, Brighton was the most populous and important town in Sussex.

However, events in the following decades hurt Brighton’s local and national standing. By 1730, it was described as a "forlorn town decidedly down on its luck." Foreign attacks, storms like the Great Storm of 1703, a declining fishing industry, and the rise of Shoreham as a major port caused economic problems. By 1708, other parishes in Sussex had to help Brighton with poverty relief. Daniel Defoe wrote that the cost of building sea defenses, expected to be £8,000, was "more than the whole town was worth." The population dropped to 2,000 in the early 18th century.

From the 1730s, Brighton entered a new phase of development that improved its fortunes. At the time, drinking and bathing in seawater was believed to cure illnesses. Richard Russell from nearby Lewes encouraged this practice and sent patients to Brighton. He wrote a popular book on the subject and later moved to the town. Others had already visited Brighton for recreation before Russell became famous. His efforts coincided with other developments that made Brighton more attractive to visitors. From the 1760s, Brighton became a stop for boats traveling to France. Road transport to London improved when the main road via Crawley was turnpiked in 1770. Spas and indoor baths were also opened by other doctors, such as Sake Dean Mahomed and Anthony Relhan, who wrote the town’s first guidebook.

Starting in 1780, the development of Georgian terraces began, and Brighton grew into a fashionable resort. The town’s growth was further helped by the patronage of the Prince Regent (later King George IV) after his first visit in 1783. He spent much of his free time in Brighton and built the Royal Pavilion during his Regency period. The modern name "Brighton" became common during this time. A permanent military presence was established with the completion of Preston Barracks in 1793. The barracks were rebuilt in 1830.

Brighton’s population grew rapidly during the 19th century, from 7,339 in 1801 to 46,661 in 1841. By 1901, the population reached over 120,000. The arrival of the London and Brighton Railway in 1841 made Brighton accessible to day-trippers from London. Many major attractions were built during the Victorian era, such as the Grand Hotel (1864), the West Pier (1866), and the Palace Pier (1899). Before these, the Royal Suspension Chain Pier was built in 1823 by Captain Samuel Brown. It lasted until 1896 and is shown in paintings by Turner and Constable.

Due to boundary changes, Brighton’s land area expanded from 1,640 acres (7 km²) in 1854 to 14,347 acres (58 km²) in 1952. New housing areas were created in places like Moulsecoomb, Bevendean, Coldean, and Whitehawk. The major expansion of 1928 included the villages of Patcham, Ovingdean, and Rottingdean. Council housing was built in parts of Woodingdean after World War II. By the 1970s, Brighton was known as a retirement destination with an older population. This changed in the 1990s, as Brighton regained its fashionable status from earlier centuries.

In 1997, the town of Brighton and its neighboring town Hove were joined to form the unitary authority of

Demography

As of 2017, the Brighton and Hove district, with Brighton being the largest area, had an estimated population of 283,870 people. It was ranked as the 60th most populous district in England. Compared to the national average, Brighton has fewer children and older people, but a larger number of adults aged 20–44.

Brighton has a long history of being friendly to people who identify as lesbian, gay, or bisexual. In 2014, it was estimated that 11–15% of the city’s population aged 16 or older identified as lesbian, gay, or bisexual. In 2004, Brighton had the highest percentage of same-sex households in the UK. In 2013, it had the largest number of civil partnership registrations outside London. The 2021 census, the first to measure sexual orientation, found that 11% of people identified as lesbian, gay, or bisexual, which is higher than the national and regional averages of 3%.

Brighton is known as one of the least religious places in the UK. According to the 2021 census, 55% of the population in Brighton & Hove said they have no religion, which is much higher than the national average of 37%. Only three other local areas in the UK have higher rates of people who say they have no religion: Caerphilly, Blaenau Gwent, and Rhondda Cynon Taf. This trend has continued since the 2011 census, and Brighton has been called the UK’s most “Godless” city.

The largest religion in Brighton is Christianity, with 30.9% of people reporting an affiliation. The second-largest religion is Islam, with 3.1% of people reporting an affiliation.

In 2001, as part of a phenomenon called the Jedi census, 2.6% of people in Brighton claimed their religion was “Jedi Knight,” the highest percentage in the UK.

In December 2021, data from Shelter showed that one in 78 people in Brighton and Hove are homeless. The report also noted that Brighton has the third-highest rate of homelessness in England, after London and Luton. A 2016 charity report found that three areas in Brighton & Hove—East Brighton, Queen’s Park, and Moulsecoomb & Bevendean—were among the top 10% nationally for deprivation.

Although deprivation is spread throughout the city, it is more concentrated in certain areas. The highest levels are found in Whitehawk, Moulsecoomb, and Hollingbury, as well as near St. James’s Street and Eastern Road. A 2015 government report identified the area around Brighton’s Palace Pier roundabout and St. James’s Street in Kemptown as the seventh-worst living environment in England. In January 2017, Brighton council announced plans to address rising homelessness and open temporary housing for homeless people. A 2018 report by Crisis showed that homelessness in the UK reached a record high, with Brighton and Hove in Sussex having high rates.

On 25 March 2021, Brighton and Hove became the first city in the UK to adopt the Homeless Bill of Rights. The bill was approved by 31 votes to 11, with 7 members abstaining.

Geography

Brighton is located between the South Downs to the north and the English Channel to the south. The Sussex coast forms a wide, shallow bay between the headlands of Selsey Bill and Beachy Head. Brighton developed near the center of this bay around a seasonal river called the Wellesbourne (or Whalesbone), which flowed from the South Downs above Patcham. This river emptied into the English Channel at the beach near the East Cliff, creating "the natural drainage point for Brighton."

Behind the estuary was a stagnant pond called the Pool or Poole, a name used since the medieval era. This area was covered with houses and shops starting in 1793, when the Wellesbourne was redirected underground to prevent flooding. Only the name of the road (Pool Valley, originally Pool Lane) remains to mark its location. One original house from the time the pool was filled still stands. Behind Pool Valley is Old Steine (historically The Steyne), a flat and marshy area where fishermen dried their nets. The Wellesbourne occasionally appears during heavy rains. Author Mark Antony Lower described an early 19th-century drawing of the Royal Pavilion showing "quite a pool of water across the Steyne."

Although 16th-century writer Andrew Boorde claimed "Bryght-Hempston [is] among the noble ports and havens of the realm," Brighton never became a major port. Instead, it was considered part of Shoreham. However, the terms "Port of Brighthelmston" or "Port of Brighton" were sometimes used between the 14th and 19th centuries, such as in 1766 when its notional limits were defined for customs purposes.

The East Cliff stretches for several miles from Pool Valley toward Rottingdean and Saltdean, reaching 24 meters (80 feet) above sea level. The soil beneath the cliff is a mix of alluvium, clay, flint, and chalk rubble. This area has experienced erosion for many years. The cliff itself, like much of Brighton's soil, is chalk. Below the chalk are thin layers of Upper and Lower Greensand, separated by a thicker band of Gault clay. The land slopes gradually upward from south to north toward the top of the South Downs.

Main transport routes developed along the floor of the Wellesbourne valley, where the land rises steeply, especially on the east side. The earliest settlement was near the beach at the valley's bottom, which was partly protected from erosion by an underwater sandbar. Changes in sea level affected the shoreline multiple times. For example, 40 acres (16 hectares) disappeared in the first half of the 14th century, and the Great Storm of 1703 caused widespread damage. The first sea defenses were built in 1723, and a long sea wall was constructed a century later.

Brighton has a temperate climate, classified as Cfb. This means it has cool summers and cool winters with frequent cloudy and rainy periods. Average rainfall increases as the land rises: the 1958–1990 mean was 740 mm (29 inches) on the seafront and about 1,000 mm (39 inches) at the top of the South Downs above Brighton. Storms caused serious damage in 1703, 1806, 1824, 1836, 1848, 1850, 1896, 1910, and 1987. Heavy snow is rare, but severe snowfalls were recorded in 1881 and 1967.

At the time of the Domesday survey in 1086, Brighton was in the Rape of Lewes and the Hundred of Welesmere. A new Hundred called Whalesbone, covering the parishes of Brighton, West Blatchington, Preston, and Hove, was formed in 1296. Parishes changed over time, and by 1801, only Brighton and West Blatchington remained in the Hundred.

Originally, Brighton parish covered about 1,640 acres (660 hectares) between the English Channel, Hove, Preston, Ovingdean, and Rottingdean. The borough (but not the civil parish) was first expanded on 31 October 1873, when 905 acres (366 hectares) were added from Preston civil parish. In 1894, the area outside the borough became Preston Rural civil parish, while Preston civil parish remained in the borough. On 1 April 1889, Brighton became a county borough.

On 1 October 1923, 94 acres (38 hectares) were added to Brighton borough and Preston civil parish from Patcham parish, as Brighton Corporation was developing the Moulsecoomb estate there. On 1 April 1928, Brighton civil parish was expanded to include Preston civil parish. On the same date, the borough grew nearly five times by adding Ovingdean and Rottingdean parishes in full and parts of Falmer, Patcham, and West Blatchington. It also exchanged small areas with Hove municipal borough. All added areas became part of Brighton civil parish. From 1 April 1952, more of Falmer and part of Stanmer parish were added. Twenty years later, land and marine territory for the Brighton Marina development became part of Brighton. Except for a small addition of rural land in 1993 (from Pyecombe parish), Brighton Borough's boundaries remained unchanged until it merged with Hove Borough in 1997 to form the unitary authority of Brighton and Hove.

The old boundary between Brighton and Hove is most visible on the seafront, where the King Edward Peace Statue (1912) crosses the border, and in a passageway called Boundary Passage, which runs north from Western Road to Montpelier Place. A Grade II-listed parish boundary marker stone is located in this passageway. Between Western Road and the seafront, the boundary runs up Little Western Street (pavement on the eastern side, in Brighton), but it is not visible. North of Western Road, the boundary runs to the west of Norfolk Road, Norfolk Terrace, Windlesham Road, and Windlesham Gardens in the Montpelier area. It then follows the south side of Davigdor Road to Seven Dials. From there, it runs along the west side of Dyke Road to Withdean Road in Withdean, where it crosses Dyke Road so that the area north of the road is part of Hove parish. The boundary continues along Dyke Road toward Devil's Dyke on the South Downs.

Governance and politics

Brighton is part of two voting areas in the United Kingdom Parliament: Brighton Kemptown and Peacehaven and Brighton Pavilion. In the 2024 general election, Chris Ward from the Labour Party was elected as the representative for Brighton Kemptown, and Siân Berry from the Green Party was elected for Brighton Pavilion.

The city of Brighton and Hove has 21 voting areas, 12 of which are in Brighton. The following areas are part of the Brighton Pavilion voting area: Regency, St Peter's & North Laine, Preston Park, Withdean, Patcham, Hollingdean & Stanmer, and Hanover & Elm Grove. The Brighton Kemptown voting area includes Moulsecoomb & Bevendean, Queen's Park, East Brighton, Woodingdean, and Rottingdean Coastal.

In 1854, the newly formed Borough of Brighton had six voting areas: St Nicholas, St Peter, Pier, Park, Pavilion, and West. In 1873, the borough expanded to include part of Preston parish, creating a seventh voting area called Preston. These seven areas were split into 14 in 1894, with names such as Hanover, Kemp Town (later renamed King's Cliff in 1908), Lewes Road, Montpelier, Pavilion, Pier, Preston, Preston Park, Queen's Park, Regency, St John, St Nicholas, St Peter, and West. In 1923, the Preston voting area was expanded to include land from Patcham parish for the Moulsecoomb estate. In 1928, Preston was divided into four areas: Hollingbury, Moulsecoomb, Preston, and Preston Park. Elm Grove and Patcham voting areas were also created at this time, increasing the total to 19. Further changes occurred in 1952, 1955, and 1983, resulting in 16 voting areas. This changed on April 1, 1997, when Hove and its voting areas were merged with Brighton to form the new unitary authority of Brighton and Hove.

Brighton Town Hall is located in the Lanes area. In medieval times, the town had a building called the Townhouse, which was more like a market hall. A later building, completed in 1727, was used as a workhouse. Construction of the first purpose-built town hall began in 1830. Thomas Read Kemp laid the first stone, and Thomas Cooper designed the building for the Brighton Town Commissioners (of which he was a member). In 1897–99, Brighton Corporation spent £40,000 to expand the building in a style called Classical, designed by Brighton Borough Surveyor Francis May. By the mid-20th century, the building was too small for the city’s needs, so additional council buildings were built in different parts of the borough. The most recent additions, Bartholomew House and Priory House, were completed in 1987 near the town hall. When Brighton and Hove merged in 1997, the town hall no longer handled all of Brighton’s affairs, but it is still used by Brighton & Hove City Council, especially for weddings and civil partnerships.

A British branch of the U.S. arms company EDO Corporation, located on the Home Farm Industrial Estate in Moulsecoomb, has caused protests since 2004. The building was seriously damaged in January 2009 when protesters entered the premises.

Economy

In 1985, the Borough Council talked about three common beliefs about Brighton's economy. People often thought most workers in Brighton traveled to London daily, that tourism was the main source of jobs and income, or that Brighton’s residents were only wealthy artists and retired business people instead of regular workers. Brighton has been a place where people work and businesses operate since the 1800s. It is home to many large companies that employ thousands of people locally. As a shopping area, Brighton is important for the region. Creative, digital, and new media businesses are growing in importance. Although Brighton was never a major industrial center, its railway works helped build steam locomotives in Britain during the 1800s and 1900s.

After Brighton and Hove merged, economic and retail data is now reported for the entire city. For example, Brighton and Hove’s tourism industry adds 380 million pounds to the economy and provides jobs for 20,000 people. The city has 9,600 registered companies. A 2001 report called Brighton one of five "supercities for the future." During the Coronavirus pandemic, tourist numbers dropped to 9 million from a 2019 high of 12.4 million, but they are slowly increasing, with 11.4 million visitors in 2024.

The biggest private employer in Brighton is American Express, which has its European headquarters in John Street. Around 3,000 people worked there in 2012. In 2009, permission was given to tear down the old offices and build a new one, and construction began in March 2010. Other major employers include Lloyds Bank, Legal & General, Asda (with stores in Hollingbury and Brighton Marina), Brighton & Hove Bus and Coach Company, and call-center company Inkfish. In 2012, it was reported that about 1,500 of Gatwick Airport’s 21,000 workers lived in Brighton and Hove.

Brighton is a popular place for conferences, exhibitions, and trade fairs. The Brighton Centre, a purpose-built conference hall, has been open since 1977. It hosts about 160 events each year, bringing in 8 million pounds directly and 50 million pounds indirectly from visitors spending money. Events include political meetings and concerts.

The Hollingbury Industrial Estate is one of the largest industrial areas in Brighton. In the past, about 6,000 people worked there, mostly in factories. However, in the late 1900s and early 2000s, the focus changed to commercial and retail uses, which limited Brighton’s ability to grow industrially. Brighton Corporation created the estate in 1950 on 18 acres of land near Crowhurst Road. By 1956, large factories, such as a bakery, typewriter factory, and machine tools manufacturer, provided jobs. Most factories closed during the 1980s and 1990s, and employment dropped to 1,000. In the mid-1980s, the area shifted to small industrial units and later to retail warehouses. Asda’s superstore opened in 1987, followed by MFI in 1989. Other retail spaces were built in the 1990s. Two large buildings were vacated quickly when British Bookshops left in 2011 and The Argus newspaper moved out in 2012. However, Brighton & Hove Bus and Coach Company later moved its 1,250 employees into one of these buildings.

Brighton has many businesses in the media sector, especially digital or "new media" companies. Since the 1990s, Brighton has been called "Silicon Beach." By 2007, over 250 new media companies had been started in Brighton. Brandwatch, a company that monitors social media, is based near Brighton station. Black Rock Studio, a video game company founded in 1998, was bought by Disney Interactive Studios and closed in 2011. The Gamer Network, which runs websites about video games and creative industries, was started in 1999 and is based in Brighton.

By the early 2000s, the market for office space in Brighton had uneven demand and few high-quality buildings. For example, the Trafalgar Place development (built around 1990), now considered a prime office location, was mostly empty for a decade. Exion 27, a modern, energy-efficient office building built in 2001 at Hollingbury, was empty for years and is still not used for business. It now houses some university departments. Exion 27 was Brighton’s first very modern commercial building and was meant for both business and industry, but its completion happened during a time when demand for such spaces dropped.

Brighton is famous for having many independent shops, which help make the city unique.

Walking from Brighton station toward the seafront, the North Laine area is near Trafalgar Street, Kensington Gardens, Sydney Street, Gardner Street, and Bond Street. It is mostly for walking and includes a mix of shops, cafes, bars, theaters, and over 400 independent stores, including an adult shop and a flea market.

The Lanes is a maze of narrow streets near the seafront, following the layout of the original fishing village. It is known for clothing stores, jewelry shops, antique stores, restaurants, and pubs.

Churchill Square is a shopping center with 470,000 square feet of space, over 80 shops, several restaurants, and 1,600 parking spots. It was built in the 1960s as an open-air, multi-level shopping area but was rebuilt and expanded in 1998 and is no longer open-air. Other shopping areas include Western Road and London Road, where London Road is being developed with new homes and businesses.

Brighton has two weekly flea markets on Sunday mornings: one at Brighton Marina on the top level of the carpark and another at Brighton Racecourse.

Landmarks

The Royal Pavilion is a Grade I listed building, meaning it is a very important historical site. It was built in the early 1800s as a home for the Prince Regent, designed by architect John Nash. The building is known for its Indo-Saracenic style, which combines elements of Indian and Middle Eastern architecture, and its Oriental-style interior. Other buildings in Brighton with similar Indo-Saracenic design include the Sassoon Mausoleum, now used as a popular dining spot after the remains were moved elsewhere.

The first pier in Brighton was the Chain Pier, built in the 1800s. It was destroyed by a storm in 1896. Only small pieces of wood and stone remain, visible only during low tide. The pier was mainly used for small ships traveling to Dieppe, France, and had attractions like a camera obscura, a special viewing device.

Brighton Marine Palace and Pier, also called Palace Pier, opened in 1899. It was built to replace the Chain Pier but became a fun place with rides, restaurants, and games. The West Pier, built in 1866, is one of only two Grade I listed piers in the UK. It has been closed since 1975, and plans to restore it were stopped after fires in 2003. However, materials from the Brighton i360 observation tower project claimed the tower would not harm future restoration efforts.

The Brighton i360 is an observation tower near the West Pier, opened in 2016. It is 162 meters (about 531 feet) tall, with a glass viewing area reaching 138 meters (about 453 feet). It is the tallest tower in the UK outside London and the thinnest tower in the world, with a height-to-width ratio of 41.15 to 1.

Brighton Clock Tower, built in 1888 to celebrate Queen Victoria’s jubilee, stands at the busiest intersection in the city.

Volk’s Electric Railway, created in 1883, runs along the beach from Palace Pier to Black Rock and Brighton Marina. It is the world’s oldest working electric railway.

The Grand Hotel, built in 1864, is where the Brighton hotel bombing occurred. Its blue lights are visible along the shore.

St Nicholas Church may be the oldest building in Brighton, with records from the Domesday Book showing an Anglo-Saxon church existed there. Other notable churches include St Bartholomew’s, the tallest church in Britain; St Peter’s; and St Martin’s, known for its detailed interior. Brighton also has a Quaker meeting house, a Unitarian community, and six Roman Catholic churches, including St John the Baptist’s, the oldest surviving one in the city.

Brighton and Hove have five synagogues, including the Middle Street Synagogue, a Grade II listed building built in 1874–75 and being restored. There are also mosques and Buddhist centers.

Brighton has a 5.4-mile (8.7-kilometer) shingle beach, part of a larger stretch within the city. At low tide, a flat sandy area is exposed. The seafront has restaurants, sports facilities, games arcades, nightclubs, and bars. Near Black Rock, a wildlife habitat was created with a 600-meter boardwalk. The Palace Pier section of the beach has a blue flag status, meaning it is clean and safe.

The city council owns all beaches, divided into named sections by groynes, first built in 1724. Sections include Boundary, Norfolk, Bedford, Metropole, Grand, Centre, King’s, Old Ship, Volk’s, Albion, Palace Pier, Aquarium, Athina, Paston, Banjo, Duke’s, Cliff, Crescent, and Black Rock. Cliff Beach is a nudist beach. Beyond Black Rock, cliffs rise over 100 feet (30 meters), with small beaches at Ovingdean Gap, Rottingdean Gap, and Saltdean Gap, connected by the Undercliff Walk, which has suffered from cliff collapses since 2000.

A section of beach near Madeira Drive was developed in 2007 with a playground, mini-golf, saunas, and volleyball courts. Madeira Terrace, a Grade II listed seafront structure, was closed in 2014 due to safety issues and is being restored. A new outdoor swimming pool and shops have been built nearby.

After the Black Rock lido was demolished in 1978, the area became a large marina. The pool site remains empty except for a skate park and graffiti wall. Since 2003

Culture

Brighton is known for having many small restaurants and independent coffee shops. The city has around 250 restaurants. It is famous for having a large number of vegan and vegetarian restaurants. A study in 2022 showed Brighton has the most vegan restaurants in the UK.

Brighton has a local television channel called Latest TV, which shows local news and entertainment programs. Local radio stations include BBC Radio Sussex, Heart South, Capital Brighton, Radio Reverb, and Gaydio, which is a radio station for the city's LGBTQ+ community. The local newspaper is called The Argus.

Brighton has appeared in many popular movies, such as Carry on at Your Convenience (1971), Quadrophenia (1979), The End of the Affair (1999), Wimbledon (2004), MirrorMask (2005), Angus, Thongs and Perfect Snogging (2008), The Young Victoria (2009), Brighton Rock (2010 and 1947), and The Boat that Rocked (2009).

The Duke of York's Picturehouse, built in 1910, was opened by Violet Melnotte-Wyatt. It is the oldest cinema in the UK designed specifically for showing films and was Brighton's first electric cinema. It still operates as an arthouse cinema. In 2012, the cinema expanded by adding two more screens in a different location. Today, it is located on the upstairs of Komedia on Gardner Street in central Brighton. Other cinemas in the city include the Odeon on North Street and Cineworld in the Marina.

On April 6, 1974, Brighton was the host city for the 19th Eurovision Song Contest, where the band ABBA won with their song Waterloo at the Brighton Dome. The DJ and producer Fatboy Slim, who lives in Brighton, has held concerts on Brighton Beach in 2002, 2006, and 2008. The 2002 event, called Big Beach Boutique II, was the largest outdoor party ever held in the UK and had 250,000 attendees.

An arts festival called White Nights (Nuit Blanche) took place in Brighton for the first time in October 2008. The festival continued for four years but was postponed in 2012 because of a lack of European funding. The Brighton Zine Fest, which celebrates zine and DIY culture, took place in 2009.

Each May, Brighton hosts the Brighton Festival, which is the second-largest arts festival in the UK after Edinburgh. The festival includes events like the Children's Parade, outdoor shows with fireworks, and performances in theaters, music venues, and art spaces across the city. Some venues are used only during the festival. The Artists' Open Houses, where artists and craftspeople open their homes to the public as galleries, were part of the festival since its beginning. Since 2002, these events have been organized separately from the official festival and fringe events.

Brighton Fringe runs alongside the Brighton Festival and has grown to be one of the largest fringe festivals in the world. Together with street performances from the Brighton Festival's "Streets of Brighton" events and outdoor shows called "Fringe City," the number of events more than doubles during May.

Brighton has two major film festivals and several smaller ones:

• CINECITY: The Brighton Film Festival was started in 2003 and is funded by the British Film Institute. It happens every November and focuses on world cinema, previews, and old films. It gives awards for short films made by young local filmmakers, short films made by local filmmakers, and feature films from the UK and other countries.
• Brighton Rocks International Film Festival (BRIFF): This is Brighton's main event for independent films and happens every June. It has many awards, including special ones for young filmmakers. Starting in 2025, the festival will be held at the Manchester Street Arts Club and Dukes at Komedia.
• Brighton International Animation Festival (BIAF): This festival focuses on animated films and started in 2022. It became a BAFTA-qualifying event in 2024 and happens every April.
• Oska Bright Film Festival: This festival shows films made by people with learning disabilities, autism, or Asperger's syndrome. It was started in 2004 by people with disabilities and happens every other year. In years when it is

Education

The University of Brighton has been part of Brighton since 1859. It began as an art school in the kitchens of the Royal Pavilion. The university received its official status in 1992 and now has about 18,000 students. Of these, 79% are undergraduate students. The university operates on four campuses: City campus in the center of Brighton; Falmer campus in the South Downs; Moulsecoomb campus on Lewes Road; and Eastbourne campus.

The University of Sussex was founded in 1961 as one of the first plate-glass universities. It is a research-focused university located between Stanmer Park and Falmer, four miles (about 6 kilometers) from the city center. The university is home to the Institute of Development Studies and the Science Policy Research Unit, along with over 40 other research centers. It has been ranked first in the world for Development studies by the World University Rankings. The university is near Falmer railway station and has 24-hour bus service. It has about 20,000 students, of which about a quarter are postgraduates. In 2022, it was ranked 41st in the UK by the Complete University Guide and 246th in the world by the World University Rankings in 2021.

In 2001, a music college called BIMM (British and Irish Modern Music Institute) opened in Brighton under the name The Brighton Institute of Modern Music. The college has about 1,500 students in Brighton. Its degree programs are approved by the University of Sussex, and its diploma programs are taught at Brighton Aldridge Community Academy. Notable graduates include James Bay, The Kooks, and Tom Odell. Since opening, the college has grown to become Europe’s largest music college, with 6,500 students across eight campuses in cities such as Bristol, London, Manchester, Berlin, Dublin, Hamburg, and Birmingham.

In 2003, the universities of Brighton and Sussex created a medical school called Brighton and Sussex Medical School. This school was one of four new medical schools started as part of a government plan to increase the number of NHS doctors. The school is located on the University of Sussex campus and works closely with the Brighton and Sussex University Hospitals NHS Trust.

Brighton & Hove City Council manages 80 schools, 54 of which are in Brighton.

A variety of non-university courses for students over 16, mainly in vocational subjects, are offered at the further education college, Greater Brighton Metropolitan College (previously called City College and Brighton Technical College). Students aged 16 to 19 can study more academic subjects at Brighton Hove & Sussex Sixth Form College (BHASVIC) in the Seven Dials area. Varndean College in North Brighton is known for its historic 1920s building with its famous façade and internal courtyards. The college offers A levels, the International Baccalaureate, and vocational courses like BTECs.

Brighton is also home to private colleges, such as Hove College, which is near the County Cricket Ground. Hove College was founded in 1977 and offers courses like vocational training, certificates, professional qualifications, diplomas, and Advanced Diplomas. It has a partnership with the University of Brighton.

There are state schools and some faith-based schools in Brighton. Notable state secondary schools include Longhill High School, Varndean School, Patcham High School, Dorothy Stringer School, Blatchington Mill School, Hove Park School, Brighton Aldridge Community Academy, and King’s School.

Special education schools include Downs View and Downs View Link College, which serve people over 16. There are also Pupil Referral Units (PRUs).

Independent schools in Brighton include Brighton College, Roedean School, Steiner School, Brighton Girls (formerly Brighton and Hove High School), and a Montessori school. Some independent schools are faith-based. Torah Academy, the last Jewish primary school, became a Nursery School at the end of 2007. The Brighton Institute of Modern Music, a fully accredited music college, opened in 2001 and has expanded to five locations in Britain.

Brighton has been ranked as one of the top 10 student cities in the UK by QS rankings.

Sport

Brighton & Hove Albion Football Club is the city's professional association football team. The club played at the Goldstone Ground for 95 years before moving to Gillingham F.C.'s stadium for 2 years. It then returned to Brighton as tenants of the Withdean Stadium. In the 2011–12 season, the club moved permanently to Falmer Stadium, a Premier League-level stadium known as "the Amex." The club achieved promotion to the Football League First Division in 1979 and remained there for four seasons. They reached the 1983 FA Cup Final, where they tied 2–2 with Manchester United but lost the replay five days later. In the 2017–18 season, Brighton earned promotion to the Premier League after defeating Wigan Athletic.

Whitehawk Football Club is a semi-professional team based in a suburb of east Brighton. They compete in the Isthmian League Premier Division and play their home games at The Enclosed Ground, located near Brighton Marina on the South Downs.

Brighton Football Club (RFU) is one of the oldest rugby clubs in England, founded in 1868 before the establishment of the Rugby Football Union. The club currently plays in the Premier Division of the London and South-East RFU League.

Brighton was selected as one of the 13 host cities for the 2015 Rugby World Cup. Two matches were held at Falmer Stadium, which was called the "Brighton Community Stadium" during the event for sponsorship reasons. One match featured Japan defeating South Africa 34–32 in a last-minute try, a major upset. The other match was between Samoa and the United States.

Brighton & Hove Hockey Club trains and plays at Blatchington Mill School. The men's 1XI team was promoted to the England Hockey League system, Conference East, in 2013.

Sussex County Cricket Club plays at the County Cricket Ground in Hove. The ground hosted a men's One Day International during the 1999 Cricket World Cup, where South Africa defeated India by 4 wickets. It also hosted two Test matches in the Women's Ashes in 1987 and 2005, as well as two One Day Internationals in the 2013 Women's Ashes. As of 2017, the ground has hosted five Women's ODIs and four Women's T20Is.

Motoring events occur on Madeira Drive, a road on Brighton's seafront. The area was originally built to host the Brighton Speed Trials, a motor race considered the world's oldest, which ran from 1905 to 2023. The event was organized by the Brighton and Hove Motor Club.

Brighton has a horse racing course called Brighton Racecourse. When the full track is used, part of the course is built on Wilson Avenue, a public road that must be closed during races. A greyhound racing track, the Brighton & Hove Greyhound Stadium, is located in Hove and operated by Coral.

Brighton Sailing Club has been active since the 1870s.

The Brighton and Hove Pétanque Club hosts annual competitions, including triples, doubles, and singles events, as well as informal knockout tournaments, winter and summer leagues, and open competitions with other clubs. The club is affiliated with Sussex Pétanque, allowing participation in regional and national events. The Peace Statue area on the seafront near the West Pier is the official pétanque playing field.

Brighton has two competitive swimming clubs: Brighton SC, founded in 1860 and claiming to be the oldest swimming club in England, and Brighton Dolphin SC, established in 1891 as Brighton Ladies Swimming. Casual sea swimming is also popular in Brighton, especially since the start of the COVID-19 pandemic.

Amateur track cycling takes place at the Preston Park Velodrome, the oldest velodrome in the UK, built in 1877.

Brighton has three recognized surfing spots near the city: East of the Marina, near the West Pier, and at Shoreham Harbour.

Transport

Brighton has several railway stations, many bus routes, long-distance bus services, and taxi services. A plan for a faster transport system has been discussed for many years. Trolleybuses, trams, ferries, and hydrofoil services were used in the past.

Brighton is connected to major roads by the A23 (London Road) heading north, and by two east-west routes: the A259 along the coast and the A27 inland, which connects to the M27 motorway near Portsmouth. The A23 links to the M23 motorway near Gatwick Airport. The A27 originally passed through Brighton’s city center but now follows the Brighton Bypass, which opened in 1992. The old route became the A270. A bypass was first proposed in 1932. In 1973, six route designs were submitted, and the Department of the Environment chose a route in 1980. Public meetings happened in 1983 and 1987. Construction began in 1989, and the first part of the bypass opened in 1991.

By 1985, there were about 5,000 parking spaces in Brighton’s city center. The largest parking areas are at London Road, King Street, and the Churchill Square/Regency Road/Russell Road complex. In 1969, a multi-level car park with 520 spaces was built under Regency Square’s central gardens.

Frequent trains run from Brighton railway station. Many residents travel to London, with destinations including London Victoria, London Bridge, and St Pancras. Most trains stop at Gatwick Airport, and some continue to St Albans City, Luton, Luton Airport Parkway, Bedford, and Cambridge. The fastest train from London Victoria takes 51 minutes. The West Coastway Line connects to Portsmouth and Southampton. The East Coastway Line runs through Lewes to Newhaven, Eastbourne, and Hastings, passing over the London Road viaduct, which offers a high view of Brighton. More long-distance train services were available until 2007–08, when changes reduced options to cities like Birmingham, Manchester, and Edinburgh.

Before 1986, bus services in Brighton were managed by Southdown Motor Services and Brighton Borough Transport under a shared system called Brighton Area Transport Services. Southdown was part of a national group and based in Kemptown. Brighton Borough Transport was run by the local government and used a former tram depot in Lewes Road. Joint tickets and shared revenue were used. Now, the Brighton & Hove Bus Company, owned by Go-Ahead Group since 1993, operates most bus services. It has about 280 buses. Other companies, including Compass Travel, The Big Lemon, Metrobus, and Stagecoach South, also provide services to central Brighton. In 2012, there were 1,184 bus stops in Brighton, with 456 having shelters. Many stops have real-time travel information displays.

The only park-and-ride facility in Brighton is at the Withdean Stadium. It does not have a dedicated shuttle bus. Passengers must take Brighton & Hove Bus Company’s route 27 to Saltdean, which stops at Brighton railway station, the Clock Tower, and Old Steine, and pay regular fares. A 20-year city plan from 2013 said park-and-ride facilities would not be built, calling them inefficient. Some areas, like Woodingdean and Rottingdean, have unofficial park-and-ride spots where drivers park for free and take buses to the city center.

Shoreham Airport, which offers flights using small planes, is 9 miles west of Brighton near Shoreham-by-Sea. In 1971, local councils bought the airport and operated it together. It has been privately owned since 2006. Gatwick Airport, one of the UK’s major international airports, is 30 miles north on the A23. Regular coach and train services connect Brighton to Gatwick.