Family Holidays: Brighton family holidays and breaks

Take the Family holiday rating 4 stars out of 5

Why

Brighton has a truly special atmosphere. OK it may be the traditional stopover for dirty weekends but it has plenty to offer families too – the beach, the pier and the Lanes. Although the fact that it's within such easy reach of London means it can get busy.

Top left: Kids on deckchairs
Top right: View of the beach

Bottom left: Royal Pavilion at night
Bottom right: Palace pier

When

Summer is best if you want to sit on the beach in the sun. But you can enjoy Brighton's charms any time of year – although when the wind gets up in January it can get fairly bracing. Check out Dea (and family)'s Brighton experience.

How

take the train

From London routes are from Victoria or the Thameslink from London Bridge. Buy tickets from The Trainline.com, the UKs leading seller of train tickets online to all UK mainland destinations.

take the car

Easy peasy - just drive down the A23 from London or take the M27/A27 from the South West.

take the coach or bus

National Express. London Victoria coach station to Brighton takes from as little as 1 hour 50 minutes and with adult fares costing as little as £4, plus one child under 3 not occupying a seat carried free with each adult fare paying passenger, this could well be one of the cheapest ways to travel. Victoria has hundreds of connections, including Manchester, Newcastle, Glasgow and Birmingham or from the South West direct routes to Brighton go from Bournemouth, Exeter and Penzanze. From within East Sussex then the Brighton and Hove Bus and Coach Company has regular services into the city centre from places including Hove, Tunbridge Wells and Shoreham.

take the plane

London Gatwick is only about 30 minutes away from Brighton by train, coach or car.

Stay

There are numerous hotels and bed & breakfasts suitable for families in and near Brighton. They can get busy at the weekends so booking in advance is recommended. Search our huge range of favourite family hotels in conjunction with travel partners Active Hotels, and check out their late availability deals. If you fancy staying out of town then take a look at cottages in East Sussex with partners Cottages4you.

Do

There’s plenty to do. Not least you can’t miss the beach and pier, which offer traditional seaside fun. The Sealife Centre is popular, but a little tired. The Brighton Pavilion is worth a look with fascinating displays in the old kitchens and the splendour of the dining room. Or just wander round the Lanes and look in the myriad of little shops. Plus the Brighton Festival held in May, including a children’s parade.

Other Take the Family favourites include the Volks Railway which stretches along the two miles of seafront between the Palace Pier and Brighton Marina. It was the country’s first electric railway and is still great fun. Tel: 01273 681061.

And if you fancy a swim check out the 1930s Art Deco Saltdean Lido. Reopened in 1998 the 140fty by 66ft swimming pool is safe and quite an experience. Saltdean Park Road, Saltdean. Tel: 01273 305155.

Click here for an up to date family friendly events guide to Brighton…

Eat

Food For Friends, 17-18 Prince Albert Street, The Lanes. Tel: 01273 202310 – founded in 1981 this is still Brighton’s leading vegetarian restaurant and serves tasty food to please even the most carnivorous child or parent. Loads of delicious breads, dips and main courses and at least you know they're getting their vegetables.

Choccywoccydoodah is an extraordinary shop selling… wait for it… chocolate! Located at 27 Middle Street it has an incredible array of beautiful Belgiian chocolate cakes in the window and delicious handmade chocolates for sale inside. Worth visiting just for a chocolate-frenzied gawp.

Plus away from the burgers, fish and chips and candy floss on and around the pier, there is a good selection of friendly Italian restaurants in the Lanes.

Cost

Brighton is a popular day out from London and the rising prices reflect the capital's spending clout.

Travel reading

Knapsack Guide to Brighton and Hove

by Helenor Rogers

Buy from Amazon.co.uk

A perspective for teens about Brighton and on what to do there.

Take the Kids: England

by Joseph Fullman

Buy from Amazon.co.uk

Family friendly coverage of England.

Days Out 2008

by Days Out

Buy from daysout.co.uk - only £4.95 - (inc. p&p). GET £1 OFF SEE BELOW

Days Out magazine offers hundreds of ideas for a perfect day out AND over £700 of discount vouchers at the most popular attractions. Buy the magazine from the Days Out website where Takethefamily visitors will receive £1 off by using discount code TTF0601.