Whether it’s exam revision or coursework planning, the upcoming Easter holiday is bound to be busy for everyone. That being said, taking a break is important – especially if you’ve been studying hard. A short day trip somewhere outside of London is the perfect idea, and this is exactly what I did last year with a group of friends to unwind – Brighton was the ideal spot! Read on to find out exactly how we made the most of our day out and explored everything the city has to offer.

The train

Getting to Brighton was the first hurdle, as train travel within the UK can be expensive and is often unreliable. Luckily, all of us had a National Railcard to hand, saving us ⅓ on off-peak tickets, and with a group big enough to qualify for GroupSave, our tickets were even cheaper. Taking the first available train from Victoria station at 8am, we arrived on the seaside just in time for a hearty breakfast. For more tips on how to save on train fares in the UK, read Sofia’s blog.

Breakfast

We stopped for a bite at Lost in the Lanes café and bakery, just a short walk from the station. Seeing all of the freshly baked bread and artisanal pastries in the window meant breakfast here was a no-brainer, and everyone recharged with lattés, full English breakfasts and plenty of pastries. I would definitely go here again and their selection of gluten free pastries was also impressive!

Sightseeing – the Lanes, antiques and the beach

As someone who loves window shopping and browsing boutiques, Brighton was the perfect spot, with plenty of vintage and thrift stores selling unique clothes, jewellery and accessories at affordable prices. The Lanes, Brighton’s historic quarter home to several quaint pubs, tea rooms and independent shops, caught our attention for most of the day, as we wandered through the cobbled streets and stopped to inspect several stalls full to the brim with handmade bracelets or fun sunglasses. There were plenty of antiques available in shops around the Lanes – glass paperweights, vintage watches and even fine china dinnerware! While shopping isn’t everyone’s ideal way to unwind, I would certainly recommend spending some time in this part of Brighton, appreciating all of the unique small businesses and supporting local, high street brands.

No trip to Brighton would be complete without the beach, so that’s where we headed soon after our shopping. Tired from all of the walking and sightseeing, we picked up fish and chips and sat down at the pier for a much-needed lunch break. Top tip for visiting any coastal British town – eat those chips quickly! Narrowly dodging the efforts of several seagulls and a few pigeons, we made our way to Brighton Palace Pier for the most exciting part of the trip – the Arcade. If you’re a big gamer, need to blow off some steam or just have lots of spare change, the Arcade was easily one of the most fun activities of the day, with all of us immediately getting stuck into the claw machines, car racing and even a 4D movie! A word of warning – decide on a budget for this beforehand so that you don’t accidentally spend £40 in game tokens.

The night out

No day trip is complete without a night out afterwards, so after trying every possible game at the Arcade, watching the sunset on the beach with an ice cream in hand and having a lovely dinner at Fatto a Mano, we were ready to end the trip with a lovely night out. Bar hopping is the best way to maximise a night out in a new city, so we started our journey at Be At One bar, before moving on to a few more bars and ending the night at a pub with live music (and free shots!) If you’re thinking of visiting Brighton, definitely check out The White Rabbit and The Walrus for a good time, with lovely bar staff and plenty of well-made drinks at good prices. If you want even more advice on where to visit in Brighton, as well as Bath, read student Zosia’s blog.

I hope this post was enough to convince you to explore the UK outside of just London. With the upcoming Easter break, consider going on a day trip to rest and recharge after a lot of hard work!