Brighton with a teen

[swizzlestix]

I'm taking my 14 year old daughter and a friend for their first time for the day in a few weeks as a bday treat.
Are there any gems to visit shop wise other than The Lanes, any cool places to eat ( not fancy posh food). Any other gems we should know about that your teens have liked? Thank you

Snoopers in the North Laines is a gem. You've also got the i360 and the Sea Life Centre.

I visit my brother in Brighton twice a year for the last 20 years and I've never found long stay parking tricky, yes it's not cheap but it's not that bad.

Oh and yes as PPs have said, parking is extortionate. I saw a concert at the Brighton Centre and paid £25 for 3hrs. Get the train if you can, much cheaper.

If your DD likes Harry Potter, a trip to Olivers Brighton should be top of your list. You have to book - have a look at their website. It's near the train station so handy if you're in the Laines.

Brighton Pier, of course.

Brighton pedant here :) Ask people where the 'North Laine' is, not the North Lanes! There's no such place as the South Lanes - there's just The Lanes and North Laine. The latter is very much recommended for a teenage wander!

Park in Hove along the front and walk along to Brighton, it’s a lovely walk.

I was wondering what that scheme is where you can hire a parking space on someone's drive, is that worth looking into??

I'd say not as you'd be very hard pushed to find houses with drives central enough & if those schemes exist here at all, I'd guess they'd have been snapped up by hospital staff. Sorry, but parking here really is an expensive nightmare & if you have the option to avoid it, I really would recommend doing so.

Another option would be driving close by, parking there & taking a train a couple of stops into town

Where are you travelling from?

You could park in Portslade area and get a number 1 bus

@CountTessa Yes 😆 thank you, the Dorset. Brain fog 😶‍🌫️

Next question where is the best place to park to be central please?

You might have noticed when I left my comment I mentioned Brighton Station...you can park there for £14.10p per day during the week and Saturdays, it's £7.20p Sundays and Bank Holidays. Unsure if you can book a space in advance but it's a much cheaper option than the extortionate NCP's.

Here's a number you can try: 0189 526 2122 for Brighton Station parking.

I second the bubble tea place in the North Laine, the nearby gelato place is also fab. There are a couple of great shoe shops nearby, and shops full of fun/quirky/rude stuff, like This Is Not A Butcher's. If they like burgers & chips, and/or Mexican-style food, The Prince George has absolutely brilliant all-veggie food - it's at the bottom of Trafalgar Street (first left from the front of the station, down the hill), and it's child-friendly.

We were last in Brighton in Feb 2020, so glad we went then - I really miss it!

I'd park over towards the Marina and get the little train back to the pier end (or walk it). Wear really comfortable shoes, you can end up walking for miles in Brighton.

Do a walk from the pier along the sea front to the 360 BA viewing Tower.

The laines are lovely to wonder through and stop at a cafe or two. Lots of indi shops and every day names. I've always found going to the loo a bit of a pain.

Following as I want to take dd15

Can anyone recommend a Brighton hotel with parking?

I am taking DD just so we can go to Artbox cafe!

Second pp that Brighton station parking is usually cheapest. Put the times you want to go in justpark and it will compare prices.

North Laine definitely a winner, and the Pier is worth a wander along.

Great thread.

Wow thank you so much everyone for replying , some really helpful information. Hoping in a way the weather not too amazing so slightly less busy.
Travelling from Reading so if we got a train it's only one change at Gatwick but it's a bit of a pain to get from our house to the station but doable if needed.
Some fabulous recommendations too which we can't wait to try!

North Laines car park is brilliant as its right at the start of the Laines. Dad and I always used to park there.

@Inextremis

Brighton pedant here :) Ask people where the 'North Laine' is, not the North Lanes! There's no such place as the South Lanes - there's just The Lanes and North Laine. The latter is very much recommended for a teenage wander!

To me, it's always been 'posh lanes' and 'hippy lanes' 😂

There is a hotel on the seafront with a pool. Its next to Brighton Town Hall and I forget the name.

I can't imagine anyone living near town centre has a drive tbh, it's all highly competitive (even with a permit) on street parking.

@citycitycity

Can anyone recommend a Brighton hotel with parking?

I am taking DD just so we can go to Artbox cafe!

The Malmaison hotel at the marina is pretty decent and has free parking in the marina complex car park which is rare for Brighton. Its a little way from the main centre though.