Brighton help

[FirsttimevisitortoBrighton]

Hi, as my username suggests I'm visiting Brighton for the 1st time this Fri for 2 nights, would anyone have any recommendations on where to stay please? Want to be central enough, near to the Lanes and the beach, I'm not a great walker!

Also if we get the bus from Gatwick Airport where does it stop in Brighton please? Would it stop at the train station?

Thanks very much

The gatwick express train stops at brighton station. Is there a reason you prefer the bus? The station is at the top of a hill which you walk down to get to the seafront
Theres a holiday inn and a jury’s inn along the front.

Thanks girls, just thought we would see more of the surrounding area from the bus and as far as I know there isn't much difference in the journey times.

Will Google those hotels, thanks very much

The journey from Gatwick to Brighton is the M23 and A23. There's not much to see! It's a dual carriageway with traffic.

Really nice restaurant called Rockwater on the front at Hove

Hotels in Brighton can be very hit and miss - expensive and a tad grotty. I would say MyHotel (best in terms of location in the middle of it all), The Grand (if you have the money), Brighton Harbour and hotel du vin are all nice.

The bus journey is not pretty at all, the train will take you through the surrounding areas but in slightly better style.

We had a super cheap room at the Grand last week. It isn't very grand any more but the service was exemplary and the views beautiful.

The buses used to stop at Pool Valley behind the Old Ship hotel on the seafront, right by the Palace pier, or Old Steine just behind near the Pavilion. Tbh the bus will go straight down A23 so you will see relatively little of interest compared to travelling by train.

Looks like we'll be travelling by train so 😀

Thanks for all the recommendations, will have a good Google later on

We're coming over from Dublin, normally stay in Central London so a bit out of my comfort zone and a bit nervous (no idea why!) 😅

Brighton Harbour and the Hilton are both nice if you can get a deal. It's a bit late though in half term. There are lots of b&bs in Kemp Town but read the reviews, some are awful.

The Albion and Queens aren't nice and I'd avoid.

Lots of nice restaurants in The Lanes so you don't need to rely on chains.

Don't use the Gatwick Express, it's more expensive than the "normal" train and not really any quicker for going to Brighton.

Food for friends and Terre a Terre so lovely veggie food.

Donatello is nice to sit

... nice to sit outside and people watch but probably not so much this time of year.

Hilton is my normal go to hotel, however recently stayed in the Travelodge Brighton seafront and liked it.

I agree with PP about My Hotel being one of the nicest for style and also location in the North Laine. The centre of town can feel a bit ‘hen/stag’ on a Saturday night out which doesn’t give a true representation of Brighton living but it’s also a lot of fun. Don’t miss wandering around the north Laine and Kensington Gardens, the Lanes and of course the seafront. Nice restaurants include the Flint House, riddle and Finns, Due South and the Coal Room. If you want dancing for later on then the Mesmerist is probably the most fun place to go, a bit cheesy but still lots of fun.

I stayed in the Travelodge once and hated it! Windows don't open, it's next to a noisy club and the Brighton centre and is in the middle of the worst bit of Brighton city centre IMO.

Thanks so much everyone, really looking forward to visiting now.

Just wondering would it be better to book our tickets online beforehand and if so which train company to use or buy them in Gatwick?

You could buy in advance or at the ticket machine at Gatwick, Southern or Thameslink are the operators but tickets are valid for either.

We stayed in a really nice Airbnb in Kemp Town for the same price as a hotel, and when we were laden down got Ubers which were a fiver and took less time than walking to the car to get to you. Made me like the idea of city life!

Have stayed in Hotel du Vin too, that was nice.

Not sure why you’re nervous, Brighton is brilliant with something for everyone. Look out for the starling mumurations on the Pier too.

Get the train - the bus will drive on the motorway so you won’t see much. You can buy tickets at Gatwick airport station. Don’t be nervous, Brighton is much more compact than London! Hotel du vin is nice there; and Brighton harbour hotel
Check Airbnb too. And book very soon, Brighton gets booked up at the weekend.

I’ve stayed in the Jury’s Inn right next to the rail station and it was lovely.

If it has availability, I'd suggest this Bed & Breakfast in Kemp Town, or look for one with similar reviews nearby.

thetwentyone.co.uk

Yup. Just buy tickets at the station at Gatwick. You don't need the Gatwick Express at worst the journey is an extra five minutes on the normal trains, both Southern and Thameslink will do and tickets are the same price for either (also pretty no distinction between them when buying if you're going south).
Keep yourself primed for the view from Balcombe viaduct (comes after Balcombe station, which the train may not stop at), it's a fab view.
Knoops Hot Chocolate shop is lovely and there are plenty of good restaurants. Have fun!

Be aware Brighton are playing at home to a London team (Premier League football) this Saturday so the pubs may be busy at lunchtime and early evening.

I used to buy my train tickets in advance because Gatwick tends to be a busy station with lots of tourists struggling to use the ticket machines (myself included!) and I often missed a train whilst standing in the queue! If you can advance book without paying a fee then I would.

Get the Trainline app and book your tickets on that.