When you come to Brighton, we’re not just all about the beaches, beautiful as they are. Down here in the south of England, our adorable seaside resort town offers some stellar shopping opportunities, thanks to centres such as the Churchill Square and the Lanes and North Laine shopping areas which have become something of an institution in Brighton.
Shop opening times vary in Brighton, but traders generally open their doors from 9.00 am to 6.00 pm, with some shopping centres closing a little later Thursday to Saturday — ideal if you need to do a bit of late shopping. Below we’re going to take at some of the best places to shop in Brighton while you stay with us. Be warned: you may find yourself itching to get busy with your credit card afterwards, though!
Churchill Square
Churchill Square Shopping Centre is just a few minutes from Brighton beach and opens each day at 9.00 am, except for Sunday when the doors open at 11.00 am instead. Closing times vary from 5.00 to 8.00 pm, depending on the day.
In the square, you’ll find fashion brands including Zara, Bershka, H&M and other household names. You’ll see tech brands there, too, the main one being Apple. The centre is a shopper’s paradise, with new names opening up stores often, and if you feel like taking a break during your shop, there’s a floor full of cafes and restaurants.
The Lanes
Despite its large shopping centre, Brighton is more renowned for the shops in The Lanes and The North Laine when it comes to shopping. These two districts present a varied range of unique shops which, rather than being widespread and famous across the world, are local shops that you’ll only see in Brighton. I heartily recommend saving your time and money not just for the mall, but also to fully enjoy the resort and explore these two neighbourhoods.
The first, The Lanes, is located just a few streets away from the Royal Pavilion, the Brighton Dome and other attractions, and is renowned for its twisting alleyways which make it seem like something of a maze. Several of the shops are unique to Brighton.
You’ll find shops of all kinds and for all ages in The Lanes, although this historic quarter enjoys a special reputation for its antique shops. Clothing, food and drink, toys, entertainments and art shops are all there to browse. You can also indulge yourself with some pampering at the quarter’s various beauty centres, with massage, waxing and other services, or some personal grooming at the quarter’s barbers and hair salons, where hairdressing or traditional-style shaving are available.
The Lanes’ boasts a strong recommendation for the quality of its jewellery stores. There’ll find designers looking to custom-make quirky necklaces or other pieces of jewellery for you. You can pick up more classic items in the vintage jewellery stores. I’d recommend Baroque Bespoke Jewellery, a Brighton-bred jeweller who make quirky bespoke pieces.
The North Laines
Unlike The Lanes, the North Laines is a long, pedestrian only set of streets located near Brighton Rail Station. This colourful part of Brighton is lively both during the daytime and at night. Almost every day you can find stalls and street artists on both sides as you walk, all closely packed together but each one characteristic.
Diversity reigns in this part of Brighton. The specialist shops in the North Laines also make this part of the town ideal if you have a particular passion or interest. It’s not all just clothes stores and accessories or antiques. Here you’ll find second-hand book stores, music stores, new age shops and art and design shops, to name but a few.
The North Laine is a great place to sit and watch the world pass by, thanks to the different places to eat and drink — in fact, many Brighton Foodie Award winners are situated here. There are traditional pubs, gastro cafes and a whole lot more. It’s a part of Brighton that simply loves to eat!
Kemptown
The Lanes and North Laine might be my favourite places to visit and shop, but it would be remiss of me not to highlight Kempton, a real Brighton true gem. Situated east of the town centre and stretching all the way to Brighton Marina, this shopping area has a touch of the bohemian about it and an intriguing variety of shops. There’s the Kemptown Trading Post, a market where you’ll find a range of collectibles and furniture as well as second-hand designer clothing. Here you can stop for a coffee at the incredible Cup of Joe Café, too, a nice little café to take a time out from perusing the stalls.
Other places in Brighton that you should try for shopping while in Brighton include the Ship Street pedestrian zone, London Road and the Open Market. These are all just an example of the variety the Brighton shopping experience offers. We cater for everyone whether you’re looking for a bargain or just browsing.
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