In my opinion, going to Brighton for the day as a student in London is one of the best activities to do on the weekend or on a day when you don’t have classes. I personally went during reading week, as a break from all the studying of the first half of the term. But as the weather is getting better and we are moving into spring, I really cannot recommend this city enough. This blog is about some impressions of my day in Brighton, as well as recommendations of what to do if you decide to go there.

Getting there

Getting to Brighton is usually very straightforward. It can be reached via Thameslink trains, which pass through many stations in London. Trains are very frequent, and it is as simple as tapping your Oyster card and hopping on for about 90 minutes, depending on where you get on.

Unfortunately, I was unlucky and on the day that I went, trains were part-suspended and covered by a one-hour rail replacement bus for the last leg of the journey. On top of that there was an accident on the way, which made the journey to Brighton much longer than it should have been. Luckily though, this is a one-off occurrence and travelling on any other day will be much smoother.

Attractions

There is so much to do and to see in Brighton. One of the reasons why I like it so much is because the entire city is bustling with independent shops and fun places to explore. Simply walking around the city is so interesting and I especially recommend strolling through the Lanes, where you can look at lots of cool shops, but also some fantastic street art.

Apart from that, the main attraction is obviously the beach and Brighton pier. The atmosphere on the pier is just amazing and again, there is so much going on. I was incredibly lucky with the weather as you can see from the photos and the beach was beautiful. It was so relaxing to just sit and listen to the waves for a bit and it was the perfect way to recharge.

Food

I love trying out new food and restaurants and Brighton is the perfect place for that. There are many independent places and lots of choices for vegans and vegetarians. One restaurant I can recommend in particular is Happy Maki. They sell sushi rolls and bowls and operate in a fully ethical and transparent manner. I recommend not only their food but also looking at their business model.

If you need a day off from studying, going to Brighton is the perfect break. Taking time off is very important and the best way for me to do so was being by the sea, enjoying good food, and exploring a new city. Besides, going there was affordable and quick, so there is really nothing to hold you back!