8 Best Sights in Brighton, The Southeast

Designed by the people who made the London Eye, this seaside viewing platform ascends 531 feet into the air, allowing an incredible view of the coastline and the South Downs. On clear days you can see the Isle of Wight. The ride lasts about 25 minutes. Booking ahead is advisable, especially in summer; some special packages offered online include dinner. i360 stays open in all weather, other than exceptionally strong winds. It's so peaceful inside the doughnut-shaped pods, you'd never guess the storm that raged ahead of i360's opening in 2016. Locals worried it would ruin the character of the promenade. After you take in the sweeping view, you've got the leisurely descent back to street level to decide if you agree with them.

Opened in 1899, the pier is an amusement park set above the sea. In the early 20th century it had a music hall and entertainment; today it has roller coasters and other carnival rides, as well as game arcades, clairvoyants, candy stores, and greasy-food stalls. In summer it's packed with children by day and (on weekends) teenagers by night. There's a minimal admission fee for the pier, with proceeds going toward maintenance, although the individual kiosks have their own charges. Alternatively, a wristband (£26 adults, £18.40 children) allows unlimited rides, which can amount to a big savings if you're making the rounds. The skeletal shadow of a pier you see off in the water is all that's left of the old West Pier.

The city's most remarkable building is this delightfully over-the-top domed and pinnacled fantasy. Built as a simple seaside villa in the fashionable classical style of 1787 by architect Henry Holland, the Pavilion was rebuilt between 1815 and 1822 by John Nash for the Prince Regent (later George IV). The resulting design was an exotic, foppish blend of Eastern styles with opulent Chinese interiors. The two great set pieces are the Music Room, styled in the form of a Chinese pavilion, and the Banqueting Room, with its enormous flying-dragon "gasolier," or gaslight chandelier, a revolutionary invention in the early 19th century. The gardens, too, have been restored to Regency splendor, following John Nash's naturalistic design of 1826. For an elegant time-out, a tearoom serves snacks and light meals.

Brighton's most iconic landmark is its famous beach, which sweeps smoothly from one end of town to the other. In summer, sunbathers, swimmers, and ice cream–sellers pack the shore; in winter, people stroll at the water's stormy edge, walking their dogs and searching for seashells. The water is bracingly cold, and the beach is covered in a thick blanket of large, smooth pebbles (615 billion of them, according to the tourism office). Bring a pair of rubber swimming shoes if you're taking a dip—the stones are hard on bare feet. Amenities: food and drink; lifeguards; parking (fee); toilets; water sports. Best for: partiers; sunset; swimming.

This museum on the grounds of the Royal Pavilion, in a former stable block designed for the Prince Regent (1762–1830), son of George III, has particularly interesting Art Nouveau and Art Deco collections. Look out for a tiny replica of Salvador Dalí's famous sofa in the shape of Mae West's lips. The Fashion & Style Gallery has clothes from the Regency period to the present day, and the Performance gallery has a collection of masks, puppets, and other theatrical curiosities.

This maze of tiny alleys and passageways was once the home of fishermen and their families. Bordered by (clockwise) North, Market, Prince Albert, and Ship Streets, the area is closed to vehicular traffic, with its narrow cobbled streets filled with interesting restaurants, boutiques, and antiques shops. Fish and seafood restaurants line the heart of the Lanes, at Market Street and Market Square.

Near Brighton Pier, this aquarium is the oldest in the world (it opened in 1872), with thousands of sea-dwelling creatures—from sharks to seahorses to starfish—in more than 30 marine habitats. There's a glass-bottom-boat experience, a humid rainforest adventure, and an extraordinary coral reef exhibition that shows how the ecosystem changes between day and night. Check online for the daily feeding schedules, all of which are accompanied by free talks, including turtles at 11 am and sharks at 2 pm. Book online at least a day in advance for big discounts.

Built by Brighton inventor Magnus Volk in 1883, this was the first electric railway anywhere in the world—and it's been spruced-up in an extensive, expensive restoration. The 1¼-mile, three-station trip, a slice of Brighton's history, takes you along the beachfront Marine Parade.