Brighton with Kids: What I’d Do Again (and What I’d Skip)

If you’re thinking about visiting Brighton with kids, here’s my completely honest take — what we loved, what I’d do differently, and what just wasn’t worth it.

I went during the Easter holidays with my 7-year-old daughter, and as a former Brighton resident, I was so excited to show her all the places I used to love.

Some things lived up to the hype. Some… didn’t. And a few completely surprised me.

Where We Stayed (and Why I’d Recommend It)

We stayed at the Queens Hotel, and honestly, the location alone makes it a win – right by Brighton Palace Pier, the beach, and within easy walking distance of the Lanes, North Laine and the Royal Pavilion.

But the real standout for us? The pool.

Unlimited access for kids meant we used it morning and evening both days. If you’re travelling with children, I’d 100% recommend choosing a hotel with a pool – it gives you built-in downtime and something to look forward to after a busy day.

Brighton Palace Pier: A Must-Do… But Manage Expectations

The Brighton Palace Pier is iconic – and yes, you should take your kids.

But here’s the honest bit.

We’d been before when she was 5 and had the best time. This time, at 7, it felt like a bit of an awkward in-between age:

• too old for the little rides
• too young (or too small) for the bigger ones

We ended up looping the same few rides:

• log flume
• haunted hotel
• carousel

We paid £64 for two unlimited wristbands, which would be great value if you stayed all day and used everything… but we only lasted a couple of hours.

👉 Would I do it again? Yes
👉 Would I buy a wristband again? Probably not at age 7 — I’d pay per ride instead

Also worth noting: the fairground games are expensive.
Hook-a-duck was £10 for 4 turns 😅

The Arcade: Financial Damage, But Inevitable

Classic seaside arcade situation:

• kids = obsessed
• parents = quietly watching money disappear

But to be fair, the 2p machines actually had decent prizes (rare), which softened the blow slightly.

👉 Would I do it again? Obviously. You can’t not go when you’re travelling with kids.

Exploring Brighton Beach

This ended up being our favourite part of the whole trip – and the only thing that was completely free.

The pebble beach was a novelty in itself (“ultra rare” according to my daughter), and she spent hours:

• rolling down the slopes
• skimming stones
• making up games
• chasing waves

It’s one of those reminders that kids don’t actually need constant entertainment – just being outdoors and a bit of freedom.

A Tiny Museum That Surprisingly Went Down Well

Brighton Fishing Museum

Tucked along the seafront, this is one of those places you could easily walk straight past.

I’d been before and had no intention of going in, but she spotted it – and ended up really enjoying it. It’s small, quick to go around, and the highlight for her was seeing the big fishing boat inside.

A good little low-effort stop if you’re already wandering along the beach.

The Little Beach Shops: Underrated and Actually Affordable

One of our favourite unexpected finds was a little shell shop on the beachfront.

The owner was so good with kids, and the pricing was genuinely refreshing:

• lots of items for 5p–50p
• my daughter spent ages choosing
• left with a full bag of “treasures” for £3

If your child likes feeling in control of their spending (or has pocket money), this is a brilliant stop.

Lunch at Shelter Hall: Easy Win with Kids

This was such a good find for lunch.

It’s basically a food hall with loads of different vendors, which is ideal with kids:

• they can have pizza and chips
• you can have something a bit more interesting

We managed to grab a little balcony spot overlooking the beach, which made it feel like a moment without any pressure.

It’s very relaxed — we sat colouring together for ages without feeling rushed, which is rare.

👉 Downsides:
It’s not cheap (we paid around £18 for two small bowls of chips 😅)

👉 But overall:
Very kid-friendly, very easy, and a good option when everyone wants something different.

Donuts on the Beach at Sunset (Core Memory Moment)

This was my personal highlight.

Sitting on the beach, eating donuts, watching the sun go down – it sounds simple, but it was one of those moments.

Six years ago, I was holding a baby wondering how I was going to do it all on my own.
Now I’m sitting next to my best mate, watching the sunset.

(Yes, I got emotional.)

The donuts were £6.50 for 4 — overpriced, obviously — but worth it for the moment.

The Royal Pavilion: Not a Hit (Yet)

I thought this would be a big moment for her – very “fairy castle” vibes. But it wasn’t.. 😅

We skipped going inside and just walked around the gardens, and she wasn’t particularly fussed. I think this might be one for when she’s older.

North Laine: Surprisingly Great for Kids

We wandered around North Laine, including Snoopers Paradise, and she loved it.

I expected: “Mum can I have this?” every five seconds, but she was happily browsing colourful shops and random treasures

It’s a great place to wander with kids – loads to look at, very visual, and surprisingly low pressure.

The Garden Café: Beautiful, But Not Kid-Friendly

I chose this one (influenced by Instagram, obviously). You can see the gorgeous interior in all it’s glory here.

And yes – it’s stunning. But:

• not very kid-friendly
• more of a calm, aesthetic brunch spot

The Balloon Guy on the Pier: Unexpected Highlight

Right at the entrance to the pier, there’s a balloon artist with a “pay what you can” sign.

He was incredible with my daughter:

• spent time chatting with her
• made a custom rabbit holding a carrot
• made her feel really special

The balloon came back to London with us and is still floating around the house now.

Genuinely one of the best parts of the trip – and completely unexpected.

The Art Box Café: Overhyped (In My Opinion)

Artbox Cafe

This was probably the biggest letdown.

• much smaller than expected
• walk-ins only but very hard to get a table
• cramped once inside
• food = cute but basic and overpriced

The Hello Kitty shop inside is fun… but expensive (even my 7-year-old said no to an £18 plushie, which says a lot).

Would I recommend it? No.

Final Thoughts: Would I Do Brighton with Kids Again?

Yes, 100% – we will definitely be returning again next year. We didn’t get round to everything (there’s so much to do), but next time I’d love to try the pug café at the marina (recommended to us by the owner of the shell shop – proceeds go to charity.)

But next time I’d do it slightly differently:

• less pressure to “do everything”
• more time on the beach
• more wandering, less spending

Brighton is one of those places where the simple things end up being the best.