Brighton — Seaside Resort & Scene

Gay Brighton has earned its reputation as the queest city in the UK. East of the city centre, along St James's Street, lies the city's gay district: compact, lively and just a few minutes from the sea. Bars, pubs, cafés and drag stages are lined up in a small space, many of them with a long history. Because you could be who you were at a distance from the capital, the seaside resort city has been attracting queer people from London and the south of England since the Victorian era.

Kemptown is best suited as a base for a few days. From here you can walk to the scene, the beach and the historic center with the Royal Pavilion and Palace Pier. The highlight of the calendar is Brighton & Hove Pride, which will take place on August 1 and 2 in 2026 and is considered one of the largest Pride festivals in Europe. If you arrive during this period, you should book very early, because the city is then completely booked. For a quieter visit, early summer and early autumn are pleasant, when the weather is mild and life takes place outside. Because of the short distances alone, Brighton can be easily explored on a long weekend.