The energy of the arts and cultural events, restaurants, shopping and clubs is balanced by the laid-back vibe, and you’ll find you can really be yourself. The Sussex countryside surrounds the campus and city, with its historic villages, hiking trails and range of events, that offer something for all.
The city
Brighton & Hove has been a popular seaside resort since the eighteenth century, and visitors still pour in for the sea, the beach, the Regency architecture, the extravagant Royal Pavilion and the ever popular Brighton Pier. Alongside all of its traditional attractions, Brighton & Hove boasts a wide choice of pubs, clubs, fashionable shops and a revamped beachfront. With something for everyone, the city by the sea is easy-going, eccentric, cosmopolitan and lively all year round.
Brighton & Hove has a rich, dynamic cultural life and the city attracts many professional artists and performers. Brighton Dome, the Theatre Royal, the University of Brighton's Sallis Benney Theatre and many smaller venues provide a wonderful diversity of live entertainment including pre-London productions. There are two multi-screen cinemas as well as the Duke of York's, specialising in showing art-house films.
The city boasts an impressive number of museums and galleries. The main centres are the Brighton Museum and Art Gallery and the renovated Hove Museum and Art Gallery. There are numerous exhibitions at the Regency Town House, and museums devoted to subjects such as fishing, toys and penny slot machines.
The November fireworks, the winter solstice parade and the summer carnival keep the pace going all year, while in August the Brighton & Hove Pride festival attracts visitors from around the country. The highlight of the Brighton & Hove cultural year is the Brighton Festival, and Festival Fringe. Held in May, England's brightest and biggest arts festival showcases every kind of art and performance, traditional and radical, and offers events all over the city - many of them free!
With over 400 cafés and restaurants to choose from, Brighton & Hove has more restaurants per resident than any town or city in the UK outside of London. There's food for all tastes and budgets: Thai, Chinese, Indian, Italian, Greek, Japanese, Vietnamese, Mexican, vegetarian, seaside fish and chips, and more.
The North Laine area, very popular with students, is full of relaxed bistros and comfortable cafés. When all the shopping gets too much, you can treat yourself to an all-day fried breakfast or relax with the papers over a coffee.
Later on, you might visit the Marina and look out over the harbour lights as you eat. Or head for an all-night café, such as Buddies on the seafront. With constant activity in the town centre, you'll never be short of somewhere to buy a post-club snack.
The city has over 300 pubs and wine bars, from quiet traditional drinking places to subterranean dives and chic café bars. Increasingly popular are the pre-club bars where DJs attract a lively crowd. And there are plenty of entertainment venues, such as the Latest Music Bar, or the Komedia café bar, which specialises in alternative comedy, theatre and live music as well as playing host to the annual comedy festival in October.
Brighton has a reputation as the clubbing capital of the south coast and there are dozens of clubs to choose from, whatever music you're into. Big-name DJs are attracted to the scene and many London clubs bring specialist nights down to the seaside.
Brighton's major venue for classical music is the Dome, home to the Brighton Philharmonic Orchestra. The Brighton Centre stages major rock and pop gigs, and the world-famous Glyndebourne Opera House is just a few miles away.
In addition to the excellent sport facilities on campus, there are plenty of sporting opportunities in Brighton & Hove: two swimming pools, five golf courses, water sports, greyhound and horse racing, tenpin bowling and numerous dance classes where you can learn anything from flamenco to line dancing. You can play basketball, volleyball or pétanque on the seafront, or skate along the promenade on hired rollerblades.
Major sporting events held locally include international cycle races, the British Windsurfing Championships, the Brighton Marathon and international tennis tournaments. Brighton and Hove Albion Football Club (the 'Seagulls') have a new stadium next to the University of Brighton campus. Sussex County Cricket Club, the Brighton and Hove rugby football clubs, Brighton Bears Basketball team and Sussex Thunder American Football team all have their home grounds in the area.
