I am going to London in September of 2024. I want to spend a few days in Southern England. I want to be able to get there easily and walk around, eat at a pub, and get the flavor of the southern part of the country. Two recommendations were given to me - Brighton or Newquay. Can you give me input as to which you would suggest and why?

Thanks,

Brighton is much (MUCH) more convenient to London than is Newquay.. London Victoria to central Brighton takes just under/just over 60 minutes with no changets. (trains also go from Blackfrars and take about 10 minutes longer. A train to Newquay takes a bit over five hours with a change at Par.

Both are on the list of most tourist-infested places in Britain - - with Newquay 3rd and Brighton 9th. Brighton and also Hove next door have some charm. I would take JanisJ's advice and have a sweet and easy time there.

https://www.timeout.com/uk/news/reve...ourists-082123

Newquay is tricky to describe. If you are 20, slightly into dope and surfing, it is heaven. I attended a living-wake there for 4 nights

Brighton, well the dope is the same but Brighton is actually interesting and the pubs have tables that are not bolted to the floor

Thanks for the info. The travel agent suggested it, albeit I actually asked for a small town with some pubs and walking ability for a few days to experience the southern part of England. I did not really want such a touristy place, not even necessarily a seaside town. Do you have any other suggestions that would be direct and not more than an hour or so from London?

I think your TA is pants (UK slang)

Of all the nice towns convenient to London, Newquay is a weird suggestion and Brighton is hardly a 'small town'. Almost 300,000 population.

Look at Rye, or Lymington, or Deal, or (farther inland) Tunbridge Wells, or any number of other places.

https://www.timeout.com/london/thing...ur-from-london

TA is not a competent England expert. There are places in Cornwall that are of interest, but Newquay! Way to far.

Just in case anyone is confused . . . I wasn't talking about 'TA' - i.e. Trip Advisor -- the OP posted that her 'TA' i.e. travel agent made the (crappy) suggestions.

I have Rye on my list--supposed to be lovely, and I hear it recommended more and more for tourists.

This past September, I'd just stayed in (Royal) Tunbridge Wells to see some wonderful gardens and houses/castles in Kent, and did the bus ride down from there to Brighton for a day, which I really enjoyed. Brighton has a small city feel, though, and not a village/small town. Even Tunbridge Wells doesn't have a village feel, either. But it is a nice base to explore Kent.

Thank you, will do.

Thank you....

You could try a village like Chilham - on a direct train route from London.

https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chilham

Thanks so much!