It's 2020: Pandemic, lock downs and travels shaming are all the part of this strange year. Despite all of all of it, before we enter a new wave of lockdowns, we decided to have a quick break- weekend in Brighton.

Brighton is a small, but cool and vibrant city with great shops, restaurants and atmosphere. Until the 1740s, Brighton, then called Brighthelmstout, was a fishing village. That all changed when Dr. Richard Russell Lewis recommended that his patients be treated with sea water in Brighton. The town quickly began to gain popularity. And after 1841, it became attractive not only as a resort, but also as a wonderful place to live: in just a hundred years (1801-1901), the population grew from 7 thousand people to 120 thousand, but only the town of Brighton  was granted city status by Queen Elizabeth II in 2001, when the towns of Brighton and Hove formed a unitary authority. Many locals still consider the two to be separate towns. The Brighton best known as a seaside resort and is positioned 47 miles south of London, although Brighton is a coastal city, you only need to travel 10 minutes outside of the city to reach the South Downs – the UK's newest national park.

Fun Fact: Brighton was the backdrop to ABBA's Eurovision success. Most people don't know that when the Swedish band ABBA won the Eurovision song contest with  ‘Waterloo’ in 1974, it was in Brighton! The event was held at the Brighton Dome concert hall, still a popular arts venue today.

This is my top things to do in Brighton in 2 days

and a little extra for the museum lovers

Upside Down House and British Airways i360 Viewing Tower

About 15 min walk from the centre, next to the British Airways i360 tower, is an Upside Down House. It's quite a cool thing to do, especially if you are visiting with children. Walk on the seafront takes you past the one of the interesting public art- Afloat, or Doughnut of Brighton as it's called by locals. Situated at the seaward end of the groyne, its centre at eye level allows a view the world through. This  sculpture has also become a popular site of marriage proposals. Walk also takes you past the remains of Brighton's majestic West Pier, destroyed by fires and sea storms, traditionally attracted lovers of meaningful tragic photographs. The pier was built in 1866. Simple, functional and elegant at the same time, it is made of cast iron columns that are screwed into the bottom of the coast.

Fun Fact: Brighton is the only town in Britain with a Grade I listed pier. In the UK, so-called 'listed' buildings are recognized as having an historical interest and are therefore legally protected from change or demolition. Brighton’s West Pier is one such building despite these days being derelict.

Entrance is £5 per person, but I bought tickets through a Groupon and it was £4.80 for two.  We spend about 20 min inside, taking pictures, but can't stop feeling a little dizzy inside. The setting is very unusual - all the furniture is nailed to the ceiling, so are the floors (that is, the ceilings you can walk on). The bathroom is especially loved by visitors to the Upside Down House, here you can try to dive into the toilet.

If it's a nice day, then you can go up on the British Airways i360 tower, but the day we visited was very misty and we didn't go up- can't see anything anyway. 

Royal Pavilion

Street Art

Long gone are the days when graffiti was considered vandalism. Now street art (beautiful street art) is the aesthetics, social or political statement and look of many modern cities. Street Art lovers in Brighton will not be bored either, you won’t have to look far before stumbling across street art in Brighton. The famous The Prince Albert pub best knowing for the street art and the Kissing Policeman by Banksy on the pub wall, even it's not an original work any more. The people of Brighton are proud of every artist and every graffiti. It is very beautiful and amazing. Street artists put in great skill and desire to make our world brighter.

The Lanes

The Lanes are a lively neighborhood packed with upmarket restaurants, tea rooms and independent jewellers. At its heart lies a warren of narrow alleyways with the shops painted in different colours, each shop sells very cool things: some cheap and funky things, but some high-end antiques shops. The Lanes considered the best shopping destination in Brighton. Even if you are not a shopaholic, it's a lot of fun to browse twisting alleys, admire cool window displays or stop for a cup of coffee in a tiny coffee shop. Considering it's a December 2020 and we are in pandemic, plenty of places are open, shops, pubs, cafes. Plenty of places are closed too, I just hope not permanently and most of them will be back to business after pandemic. A lot of Christmas decorations up, but еру rain and еру quietness of the town doesn't create a Christmas mood, It's not like I expect much this year anyway.

North Laine

Of course, the most famous of all the Lanes is a North Lane. The famous bohemian quarter of Brighton is a cluster of vegetarian cafes, vintage clothing stores and cool jewellery stalls centred on busy Kensington Gardens pedestrian road. Whether it's a vintage dress from the 50s, a trendy handbag, or an antique piece of furniture, you will surely find all this and more. However, the shopping area is also a well-known entertainment and cultural center. Tired of shopping, stop and listen to the street musicians, or indulge in relaxing spa treatments at the local beauty salons. Tourists note the high level of service at quite affordable prices. North Laine has a happening, bohemian vibe and a must on your trip to Brighton.

Heading to Brighton soon? Discover more