Life at Sussex
The city of Brighton & Hove has it all: sun, sea, a rich cultural life, great places to eat and shop, a cosmopolitan vibe - and it's only an hour from London. Our beautiful leafy campus provides a peaceful living environment to help you focus on your studies, and excellent sports facilities so you can make the most of your spare time.
Brighton
- lively, cosmopolitan city filled with restaurants, cafés, pubs and clubs
- thriving music scene and internationally renowned arts festivals
- specialist boutiques and mainstream stores make shopping a treat
- close to London: just an hour on the train
History
Originally made fashionable in the 1780s by the Prince Regent, Brighton has a long history as a lively holiday resort. The Prince (later King George IV) built an extravagant palace, the Royal Pavilion, which serves today as a landmark at the heart of the city. Still fashionable today, Brighton has a unique atmosphere loved by visitors and residents alike.
Going out
Hungry? You'll find plenty to suit your palate here. Brighton & Hove has many restaurants and cafés offering a range of food - from the organic to the seriously unhealthy - to suit all budgets. Whatever your tastes, you're in for a treat.
When the sun sets, Brighton's legendary nightlife kicks in. The city boasts over 200 pubs and bars, ranging from the traditional spit and sawdust variety to the distinctly chilled out and trendy. When the pubs close, Brighton's club scene has plenty to keep you going into the early hours. Brighton hosts a huge community of aspiring bands - and some famous rock stars - so the music scene here is a way of life, every night of the week.
Culture
For more highbrow pursuits, Brighton & Hove has a truly diverse cultural scene with a wealth of theatres, cinemas, venues and galleries.
Classical music lovers are well catered for at the Dome, Brighton's art-deco concert venue, home to the Brighton Philharmonic Orchestra. Opera buffs can take advantage of world-famous Glyndebourne just a few miles down the road. The University of Sussex Students' Union also organises on- and off-campus entertainment, including live bands, cabaret and charity events.
The Duke of York's is a Brighton treasure and the oldest purpose-built cinema in Britain. Brighton also boasts two multiplex cinemas, and in true Brighton style, the beach plays host to big-screen cult films on summer evenings - cinema-goers will find plenty to keep them happy.
The highlight of the cultural year is the Brighton Festival in May, England's biggest arts festival. Running for three weeks, it attracts hundreds of performers and artists, with something happening on almost every corner. And when the Festival finishes there's always some other fun event to enjoy, such as the London to Brighton Bike Ride, and Pride.
Hitting the shops
With the best shopping south of London, Brighton's wares range from the conventional to the truly bizarre, all within walking distance. Big-name stores can be found in the Churchill Square shopping centre, and the North Laine area is a haven of independent clothes shops, cafés and record shops. The Lanes offer antiques and jewellery among the cobbled alleyways and converted fisherman's cottages.
Stretching your legs
As well as the sports facilities on campus refer to the Sport and fitness webpage, there are many sporting opportunities in nearby Brighton & Hove: two public swimming pools, five golf courses, water sports, beach volleyball, greyhound and horse racing, and ten-pin bowling. Brighton & Hove Albion Football Club (the Seagulls) and Sussex County Cricket Club both have their home grounds in the area.
Step outside of the city and you'll find yourself in some of the most beautiful countryside England has to offer. Cradling the city, the South Downs National Park provides breathtaking views, tranquil walks and plenty of opportunities for paragliding, mountain biking, hiking and rather more sedate picnics. Nestling among the Downs you'll find the historic towns of Lewes, Arundel, and Chichester, and any number of picturesque villages.
Close to London
If you fancy a change from the candyfloss and the beach, Brighton is less than an hour away by train from the bright lights of London. Close enough to visit for the day or the evening, London is a fascinating cosmopolitan capital city. If you want to travel further afield, London Gatwick Airport is half an hour away by train from Brighton - the perfect jumping-off point to explore the rest of Europe and beyond.
