The range of retail therapy on offer in Brighton is well known by the contented locals. We’re going to let you in on the secret too though – Brighton is the perfect getaway for a weekend of sea, air, and shopping.
First stop on a shopping trip to Brighton should be The Lanes. This rabbit’s warren of cobbled streets can be hard to find for a first time visitor. Our tip is to head to the newest pier on the seafront and look for the smallest alley leading off the main road. Navigating Brighton and entering The Lanes is even easier to do if you are staying at the Travelodge Brighton Seafront, plus you can just head towards the sounds of the waves if you happen to get lost trying to find the hotel.
Once inside The Lanes you’ll enjoy wandering the winding alleys bursting with jewellery shops, galleries and quirky cafes. Brighton’s Lanes are a popular location for the newly engaged to come and find their wedding rings, giving the whole area a very romantic feel.
To indulge your sweet tooth, look out for Angel Food Bakery, a boutique cupcakery and café which also custom produces giant celebration cupcakes on request. If you need a rest from all the shopping the cushion-strewn lounge of the nearby Naked Tea and Coffee Company is a well-placed pit stop.
A bit further inland, Brighton’s North Laine has a completely different vibe to the original Lanes. In this part of the city, adjacent to the Royal Pavilion, you can find a tempting range of vintage treats and independent boutiques dispersed among colourful street art-adorned buildings.
A favourite with the locals is the vintage clothing sold at Hope & Harlequin on North Laine. An emporium of retro lace and sequins, Hope & Harlequin sells vintage dresses, accessories and even wedding gowns – for those lucky ladies who may have been proposed to in the Lanes!
For unique home decorations and heady homemade scents, head to independent boutique, Papillon. Papillon opened in 2009 with the intent of promoting harmonious living, and it is setting a very good example for how to do so. Full of rich scents, inspiring interiors and stylish gifts, this boutique is simply dreamy.
Finally for bookworms and bargain-hunters, North Laine is home to an extensive Oxfam Book Shop, which is always fun to rummage through.
The best thing about Brighton is that all these various retail and dining
options are within easy walking distance of each other. East of The Lanes, only five minutes from the beach and two minutes from the Travelodge Brighton Seafront, is Churchill Square Shopping Centre. Here, you will find almost 90 of the best high street fashion stores, restaurants and cafes. Open until 7pm on Friday and Saturday, head to Churchill Square at the end of your trip to accessorize the jewellery and vintage dresses you bought earlier in the day in the Lanes.
As you head back to your hotel room, there is one more item you must remember to buy – a token piece of Brighton Rock, which is sold in any seafront candy store.
Sea air, shopping and sweets – what more could you want from a weekend away?
