Brighton and Hove city centre
Encyclopedia
Brighton and Hove City Centre is the commercial and cultural centre of the city of Brighton. Geographically, the so-called city centre is actually located in an easterly part of the Brighton and Hove urban conurbation.
The North Laine area has a small network of streets dubbed the 'Cultural Quarter', so called because of its concentration of theatres, galleries and small venues. This area covers New Road, the location of the Theatre Royal
, and the Brighton Dome
complex which includes the Pavilion Theatre
, Corn Exchange Theatre and the Dome Concert Hall. Next to this is Brighton Museum and Art Gallery. Bordering New Road and the Dome is Pavilion Gardens which is home to the Royal Pavilion, former palace residence of King George IV
. Opposite New Road is Jubilee Street, a modern redevelopment full of well known restaurants and cafes like Pizza Express
, Carluccios and Yo-Sushi. It's also the location of the Jubilee Library
, the city's central library.
On the seafront is the Fishing Museum and near Brighton railway station
is the Brighton Toy and Model Museum
. The Old Steine and St. Peter's area is a large patch of green in the city centre which is the location of a war memorial, the Frankish St. Peter's Church
and two art galleries: the Phoenix Gallery and the University of Brighton
gallery.
Brighton is home to hundreds of shops and is renowned for its wealth of independent shops. Most of the chain stores can be found on Western Road and Churchill Square. The other major high streets are West Street, Queens Road, North Street, East Street, Duke Street and Ship Street.
The Lanes
are the centre of Brighton's old town and consist of narrow little streets and alleyways. The area is home to lots of jewellery and antique shops.
North of the Lanes is the North Laine
, both a residential and major commercial area,and the location of most of the city's independent shops. The commercial area of North Laine is centred on Trafalgar Street, Sydney Street, Gloucester Road, Kensington Gardens, North Road, Gardner Street, Church Street and Bond Street. The area is also home to many small art galleries and is also the location of Komedia, a theatre, bar, and comedy venue. The area is also home to a recent development that is Jubilee Square home to Jubilee library and a number of restaurants.
A little more east of the main high streets is Kemptown
, home to many gay shops and other businesses. Its main shopping thoroughfare is St. James' Street, which has many cafés and restaurants, such as The Saint restaurant and Redroaster Coffee House.
Brighton Pier
(or, the Palace Pier) is home to many rides and other amusements such as fortune tellers and prize winning games. Near the pier is Brighton Sea Life centre, which is a sizeable aquarium home to aquatic creatures from all over the world. Near the aquarium is Volks Electric Railway, a historical electric railway that is still running and can provide easy transportation to Brighton Marina
within minutes. West Street is the city's centre for nightlife as home to a number of night clubs and late-night bars.
The city centre is well served by public transport. Brighton and Hove Buses run regularly throughout the area with stops and stations at Churchill Square, Brighton Station, the Clock Tower
, North Street and the Old Steine. Buses serve as the main mode of public transport in Brighton and Hove connecting all suburbs and outer areas to the city centre.
There are major taxi ranks located in Brighton Station and East Street.
Near the Old Steine is Pool Valley Coach Station which is used for intercity travel.
Brighton Railway station serves as the city's main rail terminus and has good links to London
, Manchester
, Gatwick Airport and other places on the south coast. Hove railway station
serves the centre of Hove and can be reached from Brighton in less than five minutes. London Road Station
is near Preston Circus. The rail network in Brighton and Hove is nowhere near as extensive as the bus network, however certain suburbs and university campus are well connected to the centre of Brighton and Hove by rail.
Shoreham (Brighton City) Airport is a small airport that mainly serves internal flights.
There are numerous hotels in the city centre, some of the more notable ones include The Grand Hotel
, the Hilton Metropole Hotel, the Royal Albion Hotel
and the Ramada Hotel.
- Churchill Square
- The Cultural Quarter
- North Laine
- Jubilee Square
- The Lanes
- Old Steine
- Kemptown
- London Road/Open Market
- St. Peter's
- Preston Circus
- Marina Village
Residential Areas-
- West Hill
- Montpelier
- Regency Row
- Kemptown
- North Laine
- New England Quarter
- Seven Dials
- Roundhill
- Hanover
- Ashton Rise
Culture
Theatre Royal, Brighton
The Theatre Royal, Brighton is a theatre in Brighton, England, United Kingdom presenting a range of West End and touring musicals and plays, along with performances of opera and ballet and a Christmas pantomime.-History:...
, and the Brighton Dome
Brighton Dome
The Brighton Dome is an arts venue in Brighton, England that contains the Concert Hall, Corn Exchange and the Pavilion Theatre. All three venues are linked to the rest of the Royal Pavilion Estate by an underground tunnel to the Royal Pavilion in Pavilion Gardens and through shared corridors to...
complex which includes the Pavilion Theatre
Pavilion Theatre (Brighton)
The Pavilion Theatre is a theatre in Brighton, England. It is part of the wider Brighton Dome complex of buildings. It was built in 1935, originally as a supper room, but later converted into a theatre. Its audience capacity is 232 seated or 350 standing....
, Corn Exchange Theatre and the Dome Concert Hall. Next to this is Brighton Museum and Art Gallery. Bordering New Road and the Dome is Pavilion Gardens which is home to the Royal Pavilion, former palace residence of King George IV
George IV of the United Kingdom
George IV was the King of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland and also of Hanover from the death of his father, George III, on 29 January 1820 until his own death ten years later...
. Opposite New Road is Jubilee Street, a modern redevelopment full of well known restaurants and cafes like Pizza Express
Pizza Express
PizzaExpress is a restaurant group with over 400 restaurants across the United Kingdom and 40 overseas in China, Europe, Hong Kong, Japan and the Middle East. It was founded in 1965 by Peter Boizot.In Ireland, PizzaExpress trades under the name Milano....
, Carluccios and Yo-Sushi. It's also the location of the Jubilee Library
Jubilee Library, Brighton
Jubilee Library is the main public library serving the English city of Brighton and Hove. It forms the centrepiece of the Jubilee Square development in central Brighton—a £50 million scheme to regenerate a 40-year-old brownfield site...
, the city's central library.
On the seafront is the Fishing Museum and near Brighton railway station
Brighton railway station
Brighton railway station is the principal railway station in the city of Brighton and Hove, on the south coast of England. The station master is Mark Epsom...
is the Brighton Toy and Model Museum
Brighton Toy And Model Museum
The Brighton Toy and Model Museum is one of the world's finest toy museums, located in Brighton, East Sussex. Its collection of toys and models extends over four thousand square feet of floorspace, through four of the early Victorian arches supporting the forecourt of Brighton railway station...
. The Old Steine and St. Peter's area is a large patch of green in the city centre which is the location of a war memorial, the Frankish St. Peter's Church
St Peter's Church, Brighton
St Peter's Church is a Church of England parish church in Brighton in the English city of Brighton and Hove. It is near the centre of the town, on an island between two major roads, the A23 London Road and A270 Lewes Road. Built from 1824-28 to a design by Sir Charles Barry, it is arguably the...
and two art galleries: the Phoenix Gallery and the University of Brighton
University of Brighton
The University of Brighton is an English university of the United Kingdom, with a community of over 23,000 students and 2,600 staff based on campuses in Brighton, Eastbourne and Hastings. It has one of the best teaching quality ratings in the UK and a strong research record, factors which...
gallery.
Shopping
The Lanes
The Lanes (Brighton)
The Lanes are a collection of narrow lanes in Brighton, in the city of Brighton and Hove famous for their small shops and narrow alleyways.-History:...
are the centre of Brighton's old town and consist of narrow little streets and alleyways. The area is home to lots of jewellery and antique shops.
North of the Lanes is the North Laine
North Laine
North Laine is a shopping and residential district of Brighton, on the English south coast immediately adjacent to the Royal Pavilion. Once a slum area, nowadays with its many pubs and cafés, theatres and museums, it is seen as Brighton's bohemian and cultural quarter.-History:Due to its...
, both a residential and major commercial area,and the location of most of the city's independent shops. The commercial area of North Laine is centred on Trafalgar Street, Sydney Street, Gloucester Road, Kensington Gardens, North Road, Gardner Street, Church Street and Bond Street. The area is also home to many small art galleries and is also the location of Komedia, a theatre, bar, and comedy venue. The area is also home to a recent development that is Jubilee Square home to Jubilee library and a number of restaurants.
A little more east of the main high streets is Kemptown
Kemptown
Kemptown is a small community running along the King's Cliff to Black Rock in the east of Brighton, East Sussex, England.-History:The area takes its name from Thomas Read Kemp's Kemp Town residential estate of the early 19th Century, but the one-word name now refers to an area larger than the...
, home to many gay shops and other businesses. Its main shopping thoroughfare is St. James' Street, which has many cafés and restaurants, such as The Saint restaurant and Redroaster Coffee House.
Amusements
Brighton Pier
The Brighton Marine Palace and Pier is a pleasure pier in Brighton, England. It is generally known as the Palace Pier for short, but has been informally renamed Brighton Pier since 2000 by its owners, the Noble Organisation, in an attempt to suggest that it is Brighton's only pier...
(or, the Palace Pier) is home to many rides and other amusements such as fortune tellers and prize winning games. Near the pier is Brighton Sea Life centre, which is a sizeable aquarium home to aquatic creatures from all over the world. Near the aquarium is Volks Electric Railway, a historical electric railway that is still running and can provide easy transportation to Brighton Marina
Brighton Marina
Brighton Marina is an artificial marina situated in Brighton, England. The construction of the marina itself took place between 1971 and 1979, although developments within it have continued ever since. The marina covers an area of approximately...
within minutes. West Street is the city's centre for nightlife as home to a number of night clubs and late-night bars.
Transport
Clock Tower, Brighton
The Clock Tower is a free-standing clock tower in the centre of Brighton, part of the English city of Brighton and Hove. Built in 1888 in commemoration of Queen Victoria's Golden Jubilee, the distinctive structure included innovative structural features and became a landmark in the popular and...
, North Street and the Old Steine. Buses serve as the main mode of public transport in Brighton and Hove connecting all suburbs and outer areas to the city centre.
There are major taxi ranks located in Brighton Station and East Street.
Near the Old Steine is Pool Valley Coach Station which is used for intercity travel.
Brighton Railway station serves as the city's main rail terminus and has good links to London
London
London is the capital city of :England and the :United Kingdom, the largest metropolitan area in the United Kingdom, and the largest urban zone in the European Union by most measures. Located on the River Thames, London has been a major settlement for two millennia, its history going back to its...
, Manchester
Manchester
Manchester is a city and metropolitan borough in Greater Manchester, England. According to the Office for National Statistics, the 2010 mid-year population estimate for Manchester was 498,800. Manchester lies within one of the UK's largest metropolitan areas, the metropolitan county of Greater...
, Gatwick Airport and other places on the south coast. Hove railway station
Hove railway station
Hove railway station is in Hove in the county of East Sussex, England. The station and the majority of trains serving it are operated by Southern. The only other operator is First Great Western, who provide a limited number of services each day to Wales and the West Country. However Gatwick Express...
serves the centre of Hove and can be reached from Brighton in less than five minutes. London Road Station
London Road (Brighton) railway station
London Road Railway Station is in Brighton, East Sussex, England. Train services from the station are provided by Southern, and the station is on the East Coastway Line.- History :...
is near Preston Circus. The rail network in Brighton and Hove is nowhere near as extensive as the bus network, however certain suburbs and university campus are well connected to the centre of Brighton and Hove by rail.
Shoreham (Brighton City) Airport is a small airport that mainly serves internal flights.
Accommodation
Grand Hotel (Brighton)
The Grand Hotel is a Victorian hotel in Brighton on the south coast of England. It is located on Kings Road, the main carriageway along the seafront; one of several major hotels along this road. Following the fashion to include a hotel's parent company in its name, it is also known as the De Vere...
, the Hilton Metropole Hotel, the Royal Albion Hotel
Royal Albion Hotel
The Royal Albion Hotel is a 3-star hotel in the seaside resort of Brighton, part of the English city of Brighton and Hove...
and the Ramada Hotel.
Areas of Brighton and Hove city centre
Commercial/Cultural Areas-- Churchill Square
- The Cultural Quarter
- North Laine
- Jubilee Square
- The Lanes
- Old Steine
- Kemptown
- London Road/Open Market
- St. Peter's
- Preston Circus
- Marina Village
Residential Areas-
- West Hill
- Montpelier
- Regency Row
- Kemptown
- North Laine
- New England Quarter
- Seven Dials
- Roundhill
- Hanover
- Ashton Rise
See also
- BrightonBrightonBrighton is the major part of the city of Brighton and Hove in East Sussex, England on the south coast of Great Britain...
- HoveHoveHove is a town on the south coast of England, immediately to the west of its larger neighbour Brighton, with which it forms the unitary authority Brighton and Hove. It forms a single conurbation together with Brighton and some smaller towns and villages running along the coast...
- Brighton and Hove