With a potent combination of natural beauty, intricate cobbled streets, fabulous restaurants and much much more, Brighton is full of romance, if only you know where to find it.
Luckily that’s what we’re here for! We’ve put together a list of the most romantic things you can do in our wonderful seaside city.
There are so many options for romantic activities in Brighton, from seaside sunset spectaculars to cosy cinemas and pubs, there’s something for all romantic tastes. Whether you’re looking for a relaxed daytime treat or you’re ready to splash the cash in a fancy restaurant and hit the town afterwards, you’re sure to find your ideal romantic activity on our list.
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Our top picks for the most romantic things to do in Brighton
The Most Romantic Things to Do in Brighton
A picnic and a stroll in the park
Away from the seaside attractions, Brighton boasts some glorious green spaces dotted around the city. Preston Park is the largest of all the parks in the city, so you’ll easily find a quiet corner for a picnic here. Just across the road from Preston Park is the lesser-known delights of the Preston Rock Gardens, with a beautiful range of plants and trees and waterfalls leading to a pond full of fish. Combining a picnic in Preston Park and a stroll around the Rock Gardens would be a lovely romantic afternoon.
Duke of York’s Picturehouse
- Preston Road, Brighton, BN1 4NA
- https://www.picturehouses.com/
Did you know that Brighton is home to the oldest purpose-built cinema in the UK? Well, you do now! The Duke of York’s Picturehouse on Preston Circus is an incredible 113-year-old cinema which retains much of its original Edwardian charm. The cinema shows all sorts of different films, with old classics being followed by brand-new Hollywood blockbusters, so there’s something for all tastes. You can even have a glass of wine whilst you watch the movie! So why not find a romantic movie, settle into the classic red velvet cinema seats and enjoy a romantic date night at the pictures?
Starling Murmurations at the Palace Pier
The Palace Pier offers all sorts of seaside delights, and you could have a great romantic date there. But for an extra slice of romance, you should head down to the seafront at dusk for a truly awe-inspiring natural spectacle. As the sun sets, hundreds of thousands of starlings come from across the wider region to roost on both the Palace Pier and the remains of the West Pier and as they do they form beautiful moving patterns in the sky.
i360 Sky Bar
- Lower Kings Road, Brighton, BN1 2LN
- https://www.brightoni360.co.uk/
Brighton’s incredible newest attraction is the 138-metre-tall i360. Situated right in front of the old West Pier and boasting unparalleled ‘360’ views across Brighton to the South Downs, along the coast and out to sea. To make your i360 visit super-romantic why not book a ticket for the ‘Sky Bar’ at sunset and enjoy a drink of your choice whilst watching the sun go down over the sea? You can book your tickets for the i360 using the link above, the Sky Bar experience costs £27.95 per adult.
Visit Brighton’s famous Lanes
The Lanes are probably the best-known part of the city of Brighton. The narrow cobbled streets and eighteenth-century buildings create a sense of old-fashioned charm that attracts visitors from the world over. An evening walk through The Lanes has a romantic air to it, but to really up the ante why not drop into Riddle & Finns, a candle-lit champagne and oyster bar tucked away on Meeting House Lane? This super-cosy and romantic restaurant is sure to set sparks flying, and that’s not to mention the aphrodisiac effects of the oysters!
Ice skating at The Royal Pavilion
- The Royal Pavilion, Brighton, BN1 1FN
- royalpavilionicerink.co.uk
First up with this one, it isn’t available for most of the year, sorry! However, without doubt one of the most romantic activities available to do in Brighton is ice skating in the gardens of The Royal Pavilion, Brighton’s iconic Indian-inspired former royal residence. Open from 28th October 2023 until 7th January 2024, there’s a good window of time to head down and hit the ice (hopefully not literally!). The ice rink is open from ten until ten every day so you can go for an early morning skate or an even more romantic evening visit. Tickets for a forty-five-minute skating session are £18 per person and can be booked using the link above.
Head out to the South Downs National Park
- South Downs National Park
- https://www.southdowns.gov.uk/
Brighton is surrounded by some of the most beautiful countryside to be found in England, with the majority of it included in the South Downs National Park.
The Downs are easily accessed by car or bus so you can escape the crowds and enjoy a romantic day out in this stunning Chalk landscape. There are excellent walking routes along the top of the hills with views across Brighton to the sea and inland all the way to the edge of London. Specific sites to check out are Ditchling Beacon, Devil’s Dyke and the Chattri Memorial.
Car parking is available at Ditchling Beacon and Devil’s Dyke, both of which are also served by bus routes direct from the city centre every day in the summer and on bank holidays and weekends in the spring and autumn. Timing your walk to finish at sunset is a great way to add an extra sprinkling of romance.
So there you have it, our list of the most romantic things to do in Brighton. Hopefully, we’ve inspired you for your next date night! If you’re looking for a daytime activity away from the busy city streets, a picnic in the park or a walk in the beautiful natural environment of the South Downs are both great romantic days out.
Back in the city, why not visit one of Brighton’s most famous attractions with a drink at 138 metres on the i360, ice skating at The Royal Pavilion or dinner in The Lanes?
There’s also the classic date night option of the cinema but with the added romance of an over one-hundred-year-old picturehouse at The Duke of York’s. And if you’re near the seafront at dusk, a romantic must-see is the starling murmurations at Brighton’s two famous piers. There’s no doubt that love is in the air in Brighton, so now it’s up to you to get out there and find it!
