Roaming with Red

Brighton – the classic UK beach side town. Or so it’s known to those who live outside the UK! We did this day trip in the middle of Summer and got so incredibly lucky with the wether. The sun was shining, there wasn’t a cloud in the sky and the UK was well and truly turning on the heat! If you’re looking for an easy day trip from London, Brighton is a great choice. It has this Summer lethargy that makes you want to sit by the waterfront, sipping an Aperol Spritz simply enjoying life. You can easily see why this place became so popular as a Summer getaway in the 18th and 19th Centuries!

Take a Walk on the Wild Side…. Or Just the Foreshore

Unsurprisingly, one of Brighton’s main attractions is its beach. Now, as an Aussie, I am truly spoilt to have grown up in a country filled with incredible beaches. For me, the beach at Brighton wasn’t the best beach I’ve ever seen (it’s rather pebbly and uncomfortable to walk on). But, the promenade was an extremely nice walk. A long stretch of open pathway, it is well worth a wander, especially if you’ve managed to choose a day where the sun is shining. You can absolutely imagine 19^th century ladies promenading along this stretch, umbrella in hand to keep the sun away. You can walk majority of the main beach this way and it really is a lovely way to see one of Brighton’s major attractions.

Take a Carnival Ride at Brighton Pier

Imagine classic carnival games and peeling paint. Walk to the end of Brighton Pier and you’ll find yourself transported to a time of travelling shows and carnival rides. Everything at Brighton Pier looks slightly old and slightly rusty but it simply adds to its charm. You can get your heart racing on a rollercoaster, try your luck at a carnival game or enjoy a fried treat as you imagine what Brighton was like decades ago and embrace your inner child.

Enjoy the City Streets

While the foreshore is lovely, the city streets are honestly just as nice. Venture into some of the smaller alleyways and you’ll find yourself in a foodie heaven, with restaurant choices galore. There’s also heaps of interesting clothing stores and antique shops if you’re more that way inclined. I was genuinely surprised at how nice the actual city of Brighton was. We managed to stumble across the Royal Pavilion, an Indian inspired palace built for King George IV. The gardens here were really beautiful, creating a lovely little oasis away from the hustle and bustle of the main streets.

This trip actually become more of a ‘foodie trip’ in the end so there’s quite an extensive list of places to eat and drink.

Where to Eat and Drink

• Riddle and Finns – Brighton Foreshore
  This restaurant is a speciality fish restaurant, which feels appropriate when you’re sitting by the ocean. The restaurant itself is on the foreshore and gives you a beautiful view out to the beach and beyond as you sip at your champagne. Enjoy a plate of Spaghetti Marinara or an oyster or two while you look out over the ocean.

• Zip Bar – Brighton Foreshore
  This is a very chilled bar on the foreshore, just past the Brighton Pier. The two level building means you can choose what view you want to enjoy and, with all the seating outside (with cover), it’s definitely one to visit when the weather is nice. Nothing special, but a nice, relaxed bar when you’re in need of a beer. It does also have a zip line for all you more adventurous people out there.

• Plotting Parlour – Kemptown
  This swanky bar sits just back from the main beach in a little alleyway. Blink and you’ll miss the entrance. The bar setting was really nice and the team do some incredible and innovative cocktails. A great place for a pre dinner cocktail before the rush of people arrive.

• Med – Little East Street
  Once again slightly hidden and more difficult to find, Med serves Mediterranean inspired small plates. The food here was seriously delicious especially if, like me, you’re a sucker for sharing a bunch of small plates. It’s nice and relaxed as well so sit back, enjoy some yum food and a good glass of wine. Would seriously recommend the sweet chilli glazed eggplant!

• The Pond – Gloucester Road
  Closer to the station, this craft pub is definitely worth including on your itinerary! They specialise in craft beer so come here ready to try something new. However, the real winner are the Bao Buns. While not cheap, they are INCREDIBLE! The first bao we had was a beef cheek bao and the meat was so tender and melt in your mouth we just had to go back for a second one. So we did – we tried the pork belly bao as well which was just as good. Seriously, make sure you leave some room for these bad boys because you do not want to miss out!