• International and Study Abroad
• Study Abroad Guide for international students
• Life at Sussex
• • Brighton and the south coast of England
  • Campus life
  • Housing
  • Your well-being
  • Sport, health and fitness

Brighton and the south coast of England

Only minutes away from campus, the city of Brighton & Hove has everything: sun, sea, great places to eat, fabulous shops, a truly cosmopolitan atmosphere and it’s only an hour from London. And, since students form 10 per cent of the city’s population, you can be confident that you’ll find plenty to satisfy your needs.

Image gallery: Brighton and the surrounding area

Brighton is an ideal city to be a student in with so much going on. So, what makes this city by the sea so special?

Culture

Brighton has been a popular tourist destination for over 200 years. Explore one of the city’s cultural landmarks, the Royal Pavilion. Built by the Prince Regent (later King George IV) as a summer home, the Royal Pavilion is a great example of Regency architecture.

Highly creative, Brighton has a truly diverse cultural scene with theatres, cinemas and galleries. From pre- West End premieres at the Theatre Royal to the variety of unique smaller productions staged throughout the city, you’ll find something to entertain you.

Watch stand-up comedy, cabaret and open-mike nights at the Komedia, Brighton Dome, and Hove Town Hall. Cinema-goers will find plenty to keep them happy. Brighton has two multiplex cinemas offering 17 screens for mainstream movies. If you prefer art-house cinema, visit the Duke of York’s, the oldest purpose-built cinema in Britain.

Live music is a way of life in Brighton. You’ll find gigs in pubs, small clubs, on street corners and even on the beach. Home to Nick Cave and Rizzle Kicks, the city vibrates to its own soundtrack. Classical music lovers are well catered for at the Dome, Brighton’s restored art deco concert venue. Home to the Brighton Philharmonic Orchestra and a state-of-the-art acoustic system, the 1,800-capacity Dome also plays host to blues, pop and rock. Opera fans can take advantage of the world-famous Glyndebourne opera house just a few miles down the road.

The highlight of the cultural year is the annual Brighton Festival, England’s biggest arts festival, attracting hundreds of performers to its three-week run in May. This is your chance to see internationally renowned musicians, dancers, poets and writers. Complementing the mainstream festival is the Brighton Fringe, a diverse mix of comedians, artists, speakers and street performers who perform in the parks and the streets, entertaining the city night and day.

Brighton also hosts annual events such as the London to Brighton Bike Ride, the Veteran Car Run, the Brighton Marathon, the Brighton Comedy Festival and one of the biggest gay Pride festivals in the UK.

Nightlife

When the sun sets, you can experience Brighton’s legendary nightlife. The city has over 200 pubs and bars, including the beach-front Fortune of War, great for a traditional British pint on a summer evenings, and the George, in the distinctive North Laine, serving up great vegetarian food in a lively atmosphere. And when the pubs close the clubs open. Any night of the week there’ll be a club or gig to suit you.

Shopping

With the best shopping south of London, Brighton’s shops range from the conventional to the truly unique, all within walking distance. Big-name stores can be found in Churchill Square shopping centre. If you’re looking for something different, head for the North Laine, a relaxed area of independent clothes shops, cafés and record shops, selling everything from vegetarian shoes to designer labels. For more up-market merchandise, the Lanes offer antiques, exclusive fashions and jewellery among cobbled alleyways and converted fishermen’s cottages.

Eating out

When you’ve finished shopping, you’ll probably want something to eat. Whatever your tastes or budget there is plenty of choice: Thai, Indian, Chinese, Mexican, Japanese and vegetarian cuisine and, arguably, the best fish and chips in the world. Or if you want a lighter snack, relax with a traditional English cream tea. The streets of the North Laine area are dotted with interesting cafés, juice bars and bistros, ranging from the organic to the seriously indulgent.

Space to unwind

Step outside of the city and you’ll find yourself in some of the most beautiful countryside England has to offer. Cradling the city, and surrounding the Sussex campus, the South Downs National Park provides breathtaking views, tranquil walks and plenty of opportunities for paragliding, mountain biking, hiking or picnics. Stanmer Park, situated next to campus, has acres of open space, woodland, two farms, and a traditional village street complete with a shop and a tearoom. Along the Downs, you’ll find the historic towns of Lewes, Arundel, Chichester and any number of picturesque villages.

Close to London If you fancy a change, the bright lights of London are just one hour away by train. Close enough to visit for the day or the evening, London is a fascinating cosmopolitan capital city with historic sites such as the Tower of London and modern attractions such as the London Eye. If you want to travel further afield, London Gatwick Airport is half an hour away by train from Brighton – allowing you to explore Europe and beyond. 

To find out why our students love Brighton, watch our video below:

To get a taste for Brighton life throughout the year, watch the following videos from Visit Brighton