Autumn might not seem like the best time to be out and about, but Brighton is a year-round city packed full of great things to do come rain or shine! Here are a few ideas to keep your occupied throughout the drearier days of the year.
Explore nature at the Booth Museum
One of Brighton’s hidden treasures, The Booth Museum is home to over half a million specimens! This museum is sure to inspire anyone with a love of natural history. Exhibits include hundreds of British birds and insects, each of which is showcased in their own, natural environment. There is even a killer whale skeleton and dinosaur bones too! Kids also have the opportunity to be hands on with history at the Discovery Lab .
Get lost in the North Laine (with an umbrella!)
Vintage clothes, homewares, comics, guitars and tattoo studios are just the tip of the iceberg when it comes to all the things you’ll find in Brighton’s famous North Laine. A huge range of shops along half a mile of lanes, full of hidden wonders. One of our favourite shops has to be Snoopers Paradise, 7000 sq ft and two floors packed with weird and wonderful second hand and vintage goodies which can definitely consume at least a few hours on a rainy day!
Get cosy with a roast
There’s nothing better than a good roast in a cosy pub. Brighton and Hove has lots of amazing pubs that are renowned for their exceptional roasts. Noteworthy places include; the iconic Lion and Lobster, a traditional pub with loads of nooks and crannies, The Sussex Yeoman, which serves up tasty locally and ethically sourced food just two minutes from Brighton Station and The Basketmakers Arms, an unfussy but homely pub in the heart of the North Laine.
Win big at the races
Horse racing has been a large part of Brighton life dating as far back as the 1700s! Brighton Racecourse has been in the same location for almost as long and is a great place to visit whatever the weather. The racecourse is home to 21 exciting flat racing fixtures between April and October. Yearly event highlights include the Season Opening Race Evening (21 April), Gentlemen’s Day (29 May), the popular 3 day Festival of Racing (5-7 August) and Family Fun Raceday (23 August). There’s also a free return shuttle bus from Brighton Train Station every raceday and under 18’s can go racing for free! Did you know, an estimated 16% of the UK bet on horse racing every single year, so why not give a go? You never know, you might win big!
Go under the sea at the Sealife Centre
Situated smack bang on the sea-front next to Brighton pier, Sea Life Brighton is the world’s oldest operating aquarium! One of the coolest things about the centre is the amazing Victorian architecture, the main halls tall stone arches make it unlike any aquarium in the world. The centre has over 3500 creatures including Sharks, Seahorses, Turtles and Rays along with two special exhibits; Jurassic Seas where you can discover the creatures that outlasted the dinosaurs and Rainforest Adventure which is full of fascinating, beautiful and sometimes dangerous animals. They also have their very own glass bottomed boat which goes across the main tank so you can see the sharks up close. A great day out for adults and kids alike.
*Header image by Andy Wilson. Image used under a Creative Commons License.
