Brighton has a strong claim to being Britain’s best seaside city. With the Palace Pier, the iconic ruin of the West Pier, and now the 162-metre tall British Airways i360, Brighton isn’t short of fabulous attractions, but what better way could there be to truly embrace the seaside spirit than by getting out on the water itself? There are bucket-loads of boat hire options in and around Brighton for you to choose from. You could be the captain of your own ship and hire a motor boat, set sail in a sailing boat, or keep the speed down in a rowing boat.
Alternatively, if you’d rather not be at the helm, there are a wealth of boat trips on offer that take you out into the Channel for all sorts of seaborne experiences. From high-octane trips out to the famous Seven Sisters cliffs to visiting the 116 turbines of the Rampion Wind Farm array or even getting a spot of fishing in, there is something for everyone who wants to get that feeling of the sea breeze out on the open ocean. Or, for a more gentle boating experience, you could even get out into the Sussex countryside and hire a boat on one of the rivers Ouse, Arun or Cuckmere. Whatever your boating-based desires, we’ve got you covered with our list of the best places for boat hire in Brighton.
In a rush? Need the TL;DR version?
Our top picks for boat hire
With a little information on each of the best locations in Brighton & Hove, we have provided some recommendations on where to potentially head for your boat hire.
Boat Hire in Brighton & Hove
Lagoon Watersports
- 6 Western Concourse, Brighton, BN2 5UP
- lagoon.co.uk
Lagoon Watersports takes its name from Hove Lagoon, located just the other side of the promenade from the sea in Hove. It’s at the Lagoon that you’ll find Lagoon Watersports’ main base, with a range of activities available, including kayaking, sailing, wakeboarding and stand-up paddleboarding. The main boat-hire activities offered by Lagoon Watersports can be found at their second location in Brighton Marina, with a range of options including sailing, jet skiing and powerboat trips. If you are already a confident seafarer you can simply hire a sailboat and get out on the sea. For those of you needing a little bit more guidance, there are a variety of taster sessions, private lessons and multi-day courses available. More intense watersports activity can be had by hiring one of Lagoon Watersports’ jet skis, which are available for £135 for seventy-five minutes, and an extra £15 if you’d like to take a passenger. More thrills can be had by joining one of Lagoon Watersports’ thirty-minute powerboat trips. These trips will whisk you along the coast to the famous Seven Sisters cliffs and past Brighton’s two piers for £35 per person. You can book any of the activities on offer by creating an account with Lagoon Watersports on their website.
Hatt Adventures
- Marine Trade Centre, Brighton, BN2 5UG
- thehatt.co.uk
Based out of Brighton Marina, Hatt Adventures offers a huge range of adventure sports activities across Kent and Sussex and beyond, from rock climbing and abseiling to mountain treks and white-water rafting. If you want to just get out on the water under your own steam (or paddle), then you can hire stand-up paddleboards (SUPs) and kayaks from Hatt Adventures at their Marina venue. Hatt Adventures will even bring your vessel of choice to you anywhere in the wider Brighton & Hove area! SUPs are available for £14 per hour or £45 for the whole day, with kayaks starting from the same price. If you’re feeling a bit more adventurous, then Hatt organises a huge range of group trips on the nearest rivers to Brighton, the Arun, Ouse & Cuckmere, so you can explore the stunning Sussex countryside from the unique point of view of a river. And if you still want more water-based adventure they even do these trips at night! Catering for everyone from individuals and family groups all the way up to stag dos and corporate groups, if it’s an adventure you’re after, then Hatt is the answer.
Ross Boats
- Western Concourse, Brighton, BN2 5UP
- rossboats.co.uk
Ross Boats is a family-run business based in Brighton Marina that has been providing a wide range of boat trips for over twenty-five years. Ross Boats are fully licensed for everything from stag-dos and hen parties to wind-farm and fishing trips. They also have the largest passenger-carrying capacity of any boat operator in Brighton, with Catamaran boats that can cater for up to eighty-five people. For the thrill-seekers out there, Ross Boats also runs powerboat trips. Forty-five-minute Catamaran trips start from as little as £10, whilst ninety-minute mackerel-fishing trips are £25, including a rod and lure. Three-hour trips out to Beachy Head and the Seven Sisters cliffs for larger private-hire groups start from £550 for up to twelve people all the way up to £1250 for eighty-five passengers. If you’d like to get up close to the gigantic Rampion Wind Farm visible from Brighton seafront, Ross Boats provides trips for between £42 & £50. You can book any trips that Ross Boats have available directly through their website.
