Brighton day trip in winter

[Messedupagainffs]

Is Brighton a good place for a day trip to the sea via train? It's about an hour and 20 minutes train from me.
my 11 year old really wants to go to the beach he's been asking for weeks, he's been having a tough time so thought a day trip would be nice but will it actually or will it be a nightmare?
is there much to do with an 11 and 7 year old?
or anywhere else instead that's easy to get to by train?

There is the main Pier you can go on, the area around the Laines, near the station a model train museum, and numerous other things. Probably more to do at this time of year than many seaside towns or cities.

Local bus service one of the best in the country if you want to go more than say 15 minutes walk.

The main things you miss at this time of year on the seafront are the heritage electric railway and the zip wire.

We live near a beach, go there several times a week, you really won't need other things to do. Long beach walk looking for sea glass etc, fish and chips then head home. Just wrap up warm and take hats and sunglasses - for the wind blowing sand as much as the sun, unless Brighton isn't sandy.

We went a couple of years ago for Feb half term and had a great time. It was absolutely freezing but we found plenty to do. The pier will probably take up a good chunk of time.

It's a pebbly beach and not very flat. What do they want from a beach? If it's sandcastles and rockpools Brighton is not the right place.