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8th June 2017
Brighton and Hove is often referred to as London by the Sea, and for good reason. Like the nation’s capital, Brighton and Hove is a diverse and eclectic city where there’s always something happening.
From art to sport to street parades, Brighton and Hove is a hub of activity - and never more so than during the summer months. No wonder it’s the most popular seaside destination for Londoners and overseas visitors.
If you do like to be beside the seaside, look no further than our list of the very best things to do around the city this summer.
Brighton and Hove has a lot of musical pedigree, and the Wild Life Festival is on its cutting edge, showcasing some of the top artists in house, drum n bass, grime and more.
Located at the Brighton City Airport, Wild Life was awarded the “Best New Festival” at the 2015 UK Festival Awards and continues to impress. This year’s headliners are Jess Glynne and Brighton’s very own Fatboy Slim, offering a brilliant summer soundtrack for lovers of electronic music.
Pushing Brighton and Hove’s reputation for the unusual to its limits, the annual Naked Bike Ride is not only a celebration of cycling and body positivity, but a drive to raise awareness of cyclist safety and the dangers of car culture.
Along with similar rides in Portsmouth, Worthing, London and Southampton, the ride will see up to 100,000 riders getting saddle-sore for a good cause. Whether you fancy joining the ride, cheering from the sidelines or joining the sea swim and picnic at the finish line, you have to admit that this plucky spirit is part of what makes Brighton and Hove special.
Find fun and inspiration for every age at Brighton and Hove’s boutique family festival, Funk the Family, held in Hove Park.
With science lectures, storytelling, DJ workshops, circus acts and fencing classes, the program of events will hold your little ones enraptured, while you enjoy international street food and music from Jazzie B, Professor Elemental, and the House Gospel Choir.
Demonstrating Brighton’s trademark eccentricity to a T, Paddle Round the Pier is one of the worlds largest free beach charity fundraising events. Thousands of people will descend upon Hove Lawns to watch and try out numerous water and land events, from pier-to-pier swims to skating competitions to the weird and wonderful “Paddle Something Unusual” race.
With street food, liquid refreshment, and a program of live music and talks, this iconic festival will have you seeing Brighton Beach in a whole new light.
Exercise may not sound like your idea of a fun day out, but thanks to Brighton and Hove’s award-winning festival of sport, dance and fitness, it will be. Spread over two weeks, the festival features performances and spectator sports, as well as the opportunity to try your hand at a wide range of activities, including table tennis, hula hooping, climbing and zumba.
Talk to local instructors and enthusiasts, or try as many new activities as you can fit into one day - you may just come away with a new fitness passion.
Undeniably the biggest and most renowned LGBT event in the UK, Brighton Pride is a unique, eccentric and colourful celebration of diversity and inclusivity, with a focus on the LGBT community.
Family-friendly and full of surprises, the Pride Parade brings 200,000 people onto the city streets to participate in or watch this spectacular display of community spirit. Round off the weekend in style with a set from the Pet Shop Boys in Preston Park, or the ultimate street party on Kemptown’s St James Street.
Discover more about the unique character of Brighton and Hove with our area guides, or find out five reasons to buy in London by the Sea.