Brighton is a coastal town on the English Channel that exudes quintessential English seaside charm…just with its own queer twist. Its iconic pier stretches into the waves like an open invitation to all. Seagulls soar over the perpetually windy seafront, where gay couples sit on pebble-strewn beaches, huddled together as they romantically tuck into a bag of England's trademark fish and chips. Strolling through the city’s winding streets will take you past vintage shops, hipster cafés, lively bars, and cozy English pubs, where old-school British drag queens hold court for a crowd of LGBTQ+ folk and their straight allies, enjoying a pint—or six!

Brighton has a timeless magic to it: it’s a place where vintage glamour meets vibrant, modern queer culture, and everyone is invited to be unapologetically themselves. While London may have a great LGBTQ+ scene, Brighton, just over an hour away by train, is really where it’s at. The city is one of the three LGBTQ+ capitals of the UK, alongside London and Manchester, and is considered one of the most liberal places in the country. Its politics are left, its people are fabulous, and its nightlife a lot of fun.

Table of Contents

1. General Tips
2. Transportation & Airport Transfer
3. Gay Hotels in Brighton
4. Sightseeing & Activities in Brighton
5. Gay Tours in Brighton
6. Restaurants & Cafes in Brighton
7. Brighton Gay Bars and Clubs
8. Brighton Gay Saunas & Cruising Bars
9. Brighton Gay Beach
10. Gay Events in Brighton
11. Day Trips from Brighton

General Tips

An hour-and-a-half car ride, or around 75 minutes by train, the seaside resort town of Brighton is just 47 miles (75 km) south of London. You can even get a bird’s-eye view of the coast by visiting the British Airways i360, where a futuristic glass pod takes you up 450 ft (138 m) to enjoy the views.

The heart of the gay scene is the Gay Village, located on St. James’s Street in the Kemptown district. However, essentially everywhere in the city is gay-friendly, and people will certainly not bat an eyelid at same-sex couples holding hands. All in all, traveling to Brighton as an LGBTQ+ person is extremely easy.

As for when to visit, the summer period (June to August) has the best weather. However, Brighton is a city that can be enjoyed even in the rain—in fact, some might say that’s part of its charm. For annual events, Brighton Pride is a lot of fun, taking place in early August, as is Trans Pride in July.

Transportation & Airport Transfer

Gatwick is the closest major airport to Brighton, with both a north and south terminal. You can take the Southern or Thameslink train service to Brighton station. However, be sure that your ticket matches the train line, as it’s easy to board the wrong one and face penalties. Gatwick also has its own taxi service to Brighton, which takes about 45 minutes but is much pricier than public transit. A more affordable option is the National Express coach to take you into town. Book private Gatwick airport transfer →

Once you arrive in Brighton, the best way to get around is on foot. The city is small, and most places of interest are accessible by walking. For this reason, it’s best to choose accommodations in a central location. Brighton also offers a bus system if you need public transport for any reason.

Gay Hotels in Brighton

Luxury

The Grand Brighton – This seafront five-star hotel epitomizes Victorian elegance while aligning with Brighton's inclusive spirit when it comes to being LGBTQ+-friendly. It also has a long history and is especially famous for being the site of the attempted assassination of Maggie Thatcher. The Grand's spacious rooms feature classic décor, many with sea views, as well as state-of-the-art conference facilities, a fitness center, and an indulgent spa. They also run an Afternoon Tea event if you're feeling particular British about it.

DoubleTree By Hilton Brighton Metropole –  Another classical British hotel set on Brighton’s  seafront, the Metropole offers a mix of modern comfort and historical charm. It features spacious rooms, many with sea views, blending contemporary amenities with classic elegance. Facilities include an indoor pool, fitness center, and spa.

Mid-Range 

Hotel Pelirocco – This rock-and-roll-style boutique hotel features 19 uniquely themed rooms dedicated to various pop icons and music legends. Enjoy a meal at the onsite restaurant, as well as afternoon tea or evening cocktails.

Hudsons Guesthouse Brighton – This gay-owned guesthouse is situated in a residential area near the pier, within walking distance of many of Brighton’s popular attractions, including gay venues, cafés, bars, and clubs. The rooms are simple yet stylish, and guests can relax in the outdoor garden area with afternoon tea or a drink.

Legends Hotel – A favorite among locals and LGBTQ+ visitors alike, Legends’ ground floor houses the trendy Legends gay bar, where you can catch a local drag show in the evenings. Centrally located, it’s just a five-minute walk to Brighton Pier and Brighton Beach.

Amsterdam Hotel – A hotel, bar, and restaurant all rolled into one! Located on the seafront in the city’s gay quarter, Amsterdam Hotel is directly opposite Brighton’s famous Palace Pier and near the Brighton Wheel. It’s surrounded by fantastic restaurants, friendly bars, theaters, shops, and the city’s vibrant nightlife.

Nineteen – This stylish, chic hotel boasts designer beds, local artwork, and a prime location. One of Brighton’s first boutique hotels, it even offers a Courtyard Room with a private outdoor hot tub.

The Amsterdam – There might not be any official “gay hotels” in Brighton, but the Amsterdam is certainly the unofficial one. Firstly, it's right on the seafront in the heart of Kemptown, and secondly, it has a gay bar downstairs that hosts cabaret acts! The hotel itself offers modern, cozy rooms—many with stunning sea views—and features amenities like the aforementioned bar and a large terrace to enjoy breakfast on.

Budget

 ibis Brighton City Centre – You can't really go wrong with the ibis hotel chain when it comes to needing good quality while on a budget. Their Brighton hotel is ideally located just a 3-minute walk from the central train station and steps away from the North Laine district. It offers modern, comfortable rooms, some with city views, a hearty breakfast buffet and a cozy bar for evening drinks.

Apartments - misterb&b

We’ve partnered with misterb&b to help curate the most LGBT+ friendly homestays. misterb&b is not a hotel or chain, but rather a booking platform for rooms, apartments and homes and it allows you to book from gay and gay-friendly hosts around the world. They have hosts in more than 200 countries and territories with more than 1 million total listings. Understanding the gay scene is much more easily done with the help of a local and home-sharing is one of the best ways to meet someone living in the city who knows how things work, where and when are the best nights to go out, and what places to eat at and which to avoid. misterb&b is our top choice if your priority is exploring the local gay scene.

Special Offer! Sign up with misterb&b and you will receive a free $10 credit to use on your first booking!

Sightseeing & Activities in Brighton

Royal Pavilion – An exotic palace in the center of Brighton with a colorful history. Built as a seaside pleasure palace for King George IV, this historic house blends Regency grandeur with the visual styles of India and China – it is said to have been inspired by the Taj Mahal.

Brighton Palace Pier – One of Brighton’s most popular tourist attractions, the traditional Victoria  pier stretches from the shore out into the water, offering a wide variety of arcade games, attractions, shops, bars, and restaurants. The amusement park rides at the end also make for a prime date location.

Brighton’s Airways i360 – Head up this massive viewing tower for the best views in all of Brighton. As you ascend, the futuristic viewing platform offers 360-degree views of the town and coast below. Book tour →

Walking Food Tour in Brighton – A unique way to see Brighton, hear some stories, and get a taste of its food and drink scene. As eclectic and creative as its inhabitants, so is the food. Sample homemade cooking, tea, chocolate, beer, pies, crumpets, sausage rolls, cream tea, Belgian fries, exotic street food, and ice cream, just to name a few. Book tour →

Brighton Museum & Art Gallery – Located in the Royal Pavilion garden at the heart of the city’s cultural quarter, this museum’s diverse collections bring together arts and history to tell stories about Brighton and the world we live in.

The Lanes – A maze of alleyways and winding cobblestone streets, brimming with history, just a short walk from the seafront. The Lanes are packed with quirky boutiques, vintage shops, jewelry stores, unique gift shops, independent cafes, traditional pubs, and quirky restaurants.
North Laine – Bohemia is most certainly not dead in Brighton, and this colorful area full of art, street art, and murals epitomizes that as a haven for independent shops, vintage clothing stores, quirky art galleries, and unique home decor boutiques, as well as a host of cafes and vegan restaurants. During the weekends, many of the streets in the neighborhood are closed off to cars and filled with market stalls.
The Undercliff Walk – Brighton's dramatic white chalk cliffs further along the coast have a scenic trail where you walk right along the base of them, stretching from Brighton Marina to the lovely seaside village of Saltdean.  This flat, easy walk is perfect for a leisurely stroll, cycling, or a seaside run. Along the way, you'll encounter tide pools, serene beach spots, and get some nice fresh sea air.

Gay Tours in Brighton

Piers & Queers Tour – This is a gay history tour of Brighton from a lesbian, gay, bisexual, trans, and queer perspective. Brighton is one of the UK’s most popular LGBTQ+ destinations, and this tour covers over 200 years of history in a colorful 80-minute walk along the beach and historic center. Follow in the footsteps of Lord Byron, Oscar Wilde, and Dusty Springfield. Private tours and talks are available any time of year. Book tour →

Restaurants & Cafes in Brighton

The New Club – A trendy oceanside restaurant offering some of the best breakfast and brunch options at reasonable prices. It’s the perfect place to head to after a late night out. Enjoy traditional dishes like pancakes or scrambled eggs on toast, or try something unique like avocado toast with za’atar pesto. You can also stop by in the afternoon for a treat, such as their orange-infused olive oil cake with Cointreau-crusted almonds.

Sawadee Brighton – This popular Thai restaurant is one of southern England’s best places for Thai food. You’ll find delicious, generous portions at very reasonable prices. It’s an ideal spot for a nice dinner before heading out for a night on the town.

Terre à Terre – A vegetarian restaurant with a mission to prove you don’t have to give anything up to enjoy a great plant-based meal. The food is prepared with fine ingredients, and it’s the perfect place to enjoy a delicious, special meal. They offer an extensive menu with a variety of cuisines, including Korean, Spanish, Szechuan, Italian, and traditional British. There are also plenty of options for vegans.

Brighton Gay Bars and Clubs

There are over 20 Gay Bars in Brighton. The greatest concentration is in Kemptown, most within a 10 minute (max) walk of each other.

Legends – This hotel and bar is a staple of the Brighton gay scene. During the day, the terrace offers great drink deals and panoramic views over the seafront, while in the evening, the downstairs club opens, and the venue transforms into more of a party spot. Legends is also home to several drag queens who perform weekly shows—check their website for up-to-date details.

Charles Street Tap – Charles Street actually comprises two venues in one: downstairs is a bar, and upstairs, Envy becomes a club in the evenings. The venue serves food daily until 8 pm and is a popular spot for Sunday lunch and a drag show. Known for its happy hour deals, Charles Street is a great place to grab a drink before heading elsewhere or to take advantage of their daily lunch specials. It also has a lovely side patio to enjoy, should the weather allow it.

The Queens Arms – This popular pub, located near the gay district of Kemptown, is a traditional-style venue that caters to the gay community. It’s perfect for a casual pint or for catching one of the regular cabaret shows or drag shows staged at the Queens Arms 7 days a week.

The Malborough – This historic lesbian venue is famous for its popular weekly pub quiz. There’s also a small theater upstairs that hosts various performances, ranging from comedy to musicals.

Revenge – As the premier gay club in Brighton, Revenge attracts a lively and diverse crowd, especially on weekends. Thursdays are popular for student nights, though attendees of all backgrounds are welcome. The club features mainstream pop music and offers reasonably priced drinks, making it an ideal spot for those seeking a lively evening.

R-Bar  – Also owned by Revenge, this late night bar gay bar is just as popular and is open 7 nights a week. The interior is cheerfully colorful with a mezzanine level offering views of the seafront to enjoy with your drink. R-Bar hosts theme nights, like karoke, cabaret, DJs and DILF – a night for all those daddy hunters out there.
Centre Stage –  A fun, all-frills cabaret bar with a fantastic front deck. Expect a lot of  live music and drag catering to a more mature crowd.
Zone – For an intimate drag shows you can't beat this cute little bar with modern decor and a cafe vibe. Also a great place for some Thursday karaoke.
Marine Tavern – A small gay pub with a traditional “English boozer” feel which is popular with an older crowd.
Bull Dog – This old-school gay bar is the oldest in Brighton and known as a bit of an institution. Its laidback atmosphere make it a good choice for the first few drinks of a night out.
Bar Broadway – Musical theater queens rejoice at this showtunes gay bar.  There's always a performance on here and it usually involves singing along. The cocktails are pretty good too.

Brighton Gay Saunas & Cruising Bars

The Brighton Sauna – Located in Kemptown, this sauna offers all you'd expect, including modern facilities like a Finnish sauna, steam room, jacuzzi, and private cabins, along with a lively atmosphere and plenty of hot men on weekends.

The Boiler Room Sauna – Brighton's second gay sauna is located a bit further out in the Hove area but is larger than the one in Kemptown. It features a jacuzzi, dry sauna, and a spacious chill-out area complete with a bar and restaurant. It's especially popular on weekends, operating 24 hours to accommodate late-night visitors looking to relax or socialize. The extra space and extended hours make it a favorite among those who want a more relaxed vibe with plenty of amenities.

Brighton Gay Beach

The beaches in Brighton aren’t sandy but are instead covered with large pebbles and the water is almost always cold – this isn't Maspalomas after all! Although all beaches are frequented by the gay community, the Brighton Gay Beach is the nudist beach near Brighton Marina – with a cruising area nearby called Dukes Mound. Of course, you don’t travel to England for the beaches, but it’s worth a visit if the weather is nice. Plus, there’s nothing more Brighton than enjoying fish and chips while watching the tides roll in.

Gay Events in Brighton

Brighton Gay Pride – Brighton hosts the UK’s largest and most popular Gay Pride event, which transforms the entire city each August. The festivities feature a parade that winds through the city and culminates at Preston Park, where you can buy tickets to a massive party with stages hosting international artists – recent headliners include Kylie and Britney! At night, the streets are closed to traffic as the LGBTQ+ community and allies celebrate with live music at the Pride Village Festival.

Fringe Festival -Not an official gay event, but this open air arts festival in May sees plenty of LGBTQ+ artists come out to showcase their works. All the bars in Kempton tend to fill afterwards too!

Day Trips from Brighton

Seven Sisters Cliffs – Just 30 minutes down the coast by bus or car, these iconic white chalk cliffs are even better than the famous White Cliffs of Dover. Start at Seaford Head for panoramic vistas, then hike along the South Downs Way to Birling Gap. Enjoy a picnic or relax on the pebbled beach below the cliffs. The beauty of the rugged coastline and lush green hills makes it perfect for photography. Don’t miss the charming nearby town of Eastbourne before heading back to Brighton by evening.

London – London is one of the world’s top tourist destinations, with over 30 million visitors each year. With so much to see and do, it can feel overwhelming! Whether you visit for a couple of days or a week, you won’t want to miss highlights like Trafalgar Square, the Tower of London, and Buckingham Palace. Explore iconic museums like the British Museum and the National Gallery, or relax in famous parks like St. James’s Park or Hyde Park. For nightlife, check out popular LGBTQ+ spots such as Ku Bar, G-A-Y, and Heaven.

Leeds Castle – Located in Kent, about an hour’s drive (40 miles/65 km) southeast of London, Leeds Castle was once a grand Tudor palace for Henry VIII. The castle sits on islands in a lake formed by the River Len, just east of the village of Leeds. The site features family-friendly attractions like mini-golf and a playground, along with 500 acres of beautiful gardens and a Bird of Prey Center. Book tour →

Oxford & Windsor – Make the most of your time in Brighton by exploring two more of England’s iconic destinations: Oxford and Windsor. With a full-day guided tour, you won’t have to worry about public transportation logistics, as round-trip travel is included. You’ll visit Windsor Castle and Christ Church College in Oxford, learning from a guide who provides more insight than independent exploration. Book tour →

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