The key addresses in Brighton — verified and regularly updated. Clicking takes you straight to the location page.
The Brighton Palace Pier from 1899 is the city's landmark and juts out far into the sea with rides, arcades and fish-and-chip stalls. From here it is only a few minutes' walk east towards Kemptown and the Gay Village.
The Royal Pavilion is an extravagant former royal palace in Indo-Oriental style with domes and minarets, once the summer residence of King George IV. You can reach it in a few minutes from the beach and visit the opulently furnished state rooms.
St James's Street is the main artery of Brighton's Gay Village in Kemptown and is considered the heart of the city's queer scene. LGBTQ bars, cafes and brunch spots are lined up here, and the sea and pier are just a stone's throw away.
Gay attractions in Brighton tell a lot about the city's role in the queer movement in the UK. Since the Victorian era, the seaside resort has been a refuge for queer people, who could live here at a distance from London. A major turning point was in 1973, when the Sussex Gay Liberation Front organised the first demonstrations, long before Brighton & Hove Pride came into being in its current form. Since the 1980s, Kemptown around St James's Street has been the social and residential hub of the city's LGBTQ community.
Those who want to experience queer history locally can join one of Brighton's LGBTQ past guided tours, which take in places and personalities from Oscar Wilde to Dusty Springfield. In addition, it is worth taking a stroll through Kemptown itself, past the historic pubs and down to the sea with Palace Pier and beach promenade. The famous Royal Pavilion and the winding lanes in the city centre are also just a short walk away and are part of any visit to Brighton. The highlight of the year is Brighton & Hove Pride, which will take place on August 1 and 2 in 2026 and will attract hundreds of thousands of people to the city with a parade and large stage program in Preston Park. If you want to get to know Brighton off the beaten track, you will find your own approach to the city's queer history. The following places will take you to the most important stations.
