Kid-friendly days out, activities, and things to do across Brighton & Hove
Brighton is one of the best seaside cities in the UK for families. Beyond the beach and the pier, you'll find parks with brilliant playgrounds, museums that actually hold kids' attention, soft play for rainy days, and enough fish and chips to keep the whole family fuelled. Toddlers, tweens, teenagers — there's always something worth doing.
Most of the family-friendly stuff is compact and walkable. The Sea Life Centre, Brighton Museum, the Palace Pier, and the beach are all within ten minutes of each other. Parks like The Level and Preston Park have fenced playgrounds and cafes. Hove seafront is quieter for smaller children. And when the weather turns, there's enough soft play and indoor entertainment to fill a rainy weekend.
Last updated October 2026
Family A local's guide to keeping kids entertained in Brighton. Seafront, museums, playgrounds, rainy-day rescues, and the attractions worth paying for.
Brighton's Secrets Revealed: Embark on a Treasure Hunt Adventure! Ready to see Brighton in a whole new light? Our self-guided heritage walks are your...
A chance to visit us during a school day with a guided tour conducted by our Headteacher or Deputy Head. Booking for these tours is essential and...
A special exhibition exploring six decades of Star Trek toys, models, and memorabilia! Live long and play! Exhibition included with museum admission.
Join us for a series of three inspiring Garden Tutorials at Bates Green Garden in 2026, each thoughtfully timed to celebrate the unique beauty and...
Join us at Kew Wakehurst throughout the year to experience the power of sound and nature at Wakehurst. Each 2 hour session includes a gentle walk, a...
In May 2026, Brighton & Hove Museum repatriated 45 objects to the Khama III Memorial Museum in Botswana. Discover their journey and learn more about...
is Brighton’s new music discovery night, spotlighting the most exciting emerging artists, ones-to-watch and hidden gems. This time, come to The Hope...
Brighton's Secrets Revealed: Embark on a Treasure Hunt Adventure! Ready to see Brighton in a whole new light? Our self-guided heritage walks are your...
This guided walk starts at 2pm under the clock at the entrance gates of the pier, so arrive by 1.50pm. Your guide wears a purple beret. The route…
A chance to visit us during a school day with a guided tour conducted by our Headteacher or Deputy Head. Booking for these tours is essential and...
A special exhibition exploring six decades of Star Trek toys, models, and memorabilia! Live long and play! Exhibition included with museum admission.
A practical painting workshop spread over two days in the gardens at Leonardslee. You start with sketchbook studies, working outdoors from direct…
Join us at Kew Wakehurst throughout the year to experience the power of sound and nature at Wakehurst. Each 2 hour session includes a gentle walk, a...
Stephanie Mahon, Nigel Slater and Sarah Price with Annie Guilfoyle
Brighton's Secrets Revealed: Embark on a Treasure Hunt Adventure! Ready to see Brighton in a whole new light? Our self-guided heritage walks are your...
A chance to visit us during a school day with a guided tour conducted by our Headteacher or Deputy Head. Booking for these tours is essential and...
A special exhibition exploring six decades of Star Trek toys, models, and memorabilia! Live long and play! Exhibition included with museum admission.
Award-winning children’s theatre company Fideri Fidera presents a season of classes offering music, movement and story telling fun for young children...
Join us at Kew Wakehurst throughout the year to experience the power of sound and nature at Wakehurst. Each 2 hour session includes a gentle walk, a...
Follow in the footsteps of legends like Jimi Hendrix, Pink Floyd, David Bowie, Beyoncé and many more in this special backstage tour. Catch a glimpse...
Live music, storytelling and sensory fun for babies under 18months. Join performers Tashi and Jack from award-winning children’s theatre company...
Brighton and Hove Women’s History Group are delighted to present local historian, Louise Peskett’s Talk about the ‘Feraless and Fabulous’...
Based on Dermot O’Leary’s best-selling children’s book, illustrated by Nick East, this purr-fectly thrilling tale is filled with original music,...
Active Future Brighton is launching a new Futsal Academy in East Brighton. Futsal is the fast-paced, indoor version of 5-a-side that superstars like...
A seasonal memoir from a celebrated author.
Brighton's Secrets Revealed: Embark on a Treasure Hunt Adventure! Ready to see Brighton in a whole new light? Our self-guided heritage walks are your...
Weekly council-licensed street market in North Laine with fresh produce, vintage finds, and bric-a-brac.
A special exhibition exploring six decades of Star Trek toys, models, and memorabilia! Live long and play! Exhibition included with museum admission.
Monthly Saturday Open Days - refreshments and children's activities included. Our open days are for visitors to find out more about this historical...
Enjoy pumpkin-picking fun at family-run pumpkin field Sompting Pumpkins! This spooky seasonal event will be in a different field this year but still...
Join us at Kew Wakehurst throughout the year to experience the power of sound and nature at Wakehurst. Each 2 hour session includes a gentle walk, a...
Zoe from Bouquet Bakes is back at Leonardslee for a late morning of buttercream piping, themed around autumn blooms. Over two and a half hours, with…
Based on Dermot O’Leary’s best-selling children’s book, illustrated by Nick East, this purr-fectly thrilling tale is filled with original music,...
Beau-Events will be hosting 13 Art & Makers Markets in central Brighton in 2026. Each event will have over 50 independent artists exhibiting their...
Delve into the fascinating (and weird) world of fungi with local mycologist, Clare Blencowe, as she leads a circular walk through the woods and...
Mentoring and developing emerging artists has always been a huge part of the ethos of BREMF, and this is your annual opportunity to hear the up and...
Splash out and join us for another of our ever-popular Family Concerts! This time well be putting on our flippers and goggles and diving into the...
Splash out and join us for another of our ever-popular Family Concerts! This time well be putting on our flippers and goggles and diving into the...
Taking you back down memory Lane with songs from Marty Wilde, Roy Orbison, Cliff, Billy Fury, Elvis, Eddie Cochran and many more.
Shoreham Wordfest presents a Sussex History Day at The Ropetackle Arts Centre. This event focuses on the development of Shoreham, exploring its story…
Enjoy pumpkin-picking fun at family-run pumpkin field Sompting Pumpkins! This spooky seasonal event will be in a different field this year but still...
Join us at Kew Wakehurst throughout the year to experience the power of sound and nature at Wakehurst. Each 2 hour session includes a gentle walk, a...
Peter Kyle MP, the Labour MP for Hove and Portslade, will be in conversation with AI expert Dr Fola Yahaya. They will discuss artificial…
Based on Dermot O’Leary’s best-selling children’s book, illustrated by Nick East, this purr-fectly thrilling tale is filled with original music,...
yet another spellbinding day of psychedelic sights and sounds, deep beneath Brighton Station. Featuring live sets from The Dials, Son of Ugly, Fane,...
The King Edward Hall presents performances of Cavalleria Rusticana and The Kings New Clothes. This opera double bill will be sung in English. The…
Folk songwriter from Lincolnshire, writing tender observations on the world, with a keen eye for the intimate details that make up our every day...
Brighton's Secrets Revealed: Embark on a Treasure Hunt Adventure! Ready to see Brighton in a whole new light? Our self-guided heritage walks are your...
Join us at Kew Wakehurst throughout the year to experience the power of sound and nature at Wakehurst. Each 2 hour session includes a gentle walk, a...
Brighton's Secrets Revealed: Embark on a Treasure Hunt Adventure! Ready to see Brighton in a whole new light? Our self-guided heritage walks are your...
A special exhibition exploring six decades of Star Trek toys, models, and memorabilia! Live long and play! Exhibition included with museum admission.
Jungle Harpies and African Vistas is a multi-disciplinary exhibition at The Regency Town House, showcasing the work of Brighton artists Seth and Inma…
Join us at Kew Wakehurst throughout the year to experience the power of sound and nature at Wakehurst. Each 2 hour session includes a gentle walk, a...
A series of informal drop-in sessions across our sites where our curators will be working in the galleries and talking to the public about their...
Doors open at 6:30pm, show starts at 7:30pm Children under 14 must be accompanied by an adult.Where there are standing tickets for an event, children...
Brighton's Secrets Revealed: Embark on a Treasure Hunt Adventure! Ready to see Brighton in a whole new light? Our self-guided heritage walks are your...
A special exhibition exploring six decades of Star Trek toys, models, and memorabilia! Live long and play! Exhibition included with museum admission.
Jungle Harpies and African Vistas is a multi-disciplinary exhibition at The Regency Town House, showcasing the work of Brighton artists Seth and Inma…
Join us at Kew Wakehurst throughout the year to experience the power of sound and nature at Wakehurst. Each 2 hour session includes a gentle walk, a...
Jamie Harris, Leonardslee's Head Gardener, leads a two-hour walk around the 240-acre estate. He points out the best spots for autumn colour as you go…
What's On Farm stories at Theatre Royal for £7, a global music club at The Brunswick, sea-themed craft at Brighton Dome, and a ...
What's On Tall Stories' musical adaptation of The Gruffalo plays Theatre Royal Brighton on 16 and 17 November 2026, with three ...
Coming Up Brighton's seafront observation wheel could return to Madeira Drive after a decade away, if Cabinet approves a 25-yea...
Brighton has plenty of indoor options for rainy days. Soft play centres (Palace Play, Funplex), the Sea Life Centre, Brighton Museum (free entry), bowling at the Marina, escape rooms, and cinemas are all popular choices. Most are suitable for a range of ages.
Brighton is excellent for toddlers. There are several soft play centres, fenced playgrounds in parks like The Level and Preston Park, paddling pools open in summer, the Brighton Toy Museum, and plenty of family-friendly cafes. The beach is always a hit with little ones too.
Yes, lots. Brighton Museum and the Booth Museum are both free. Most parks and playgrounds are free, including The Level with its water play area and skatepark. The beach costs nothing. Library events are free. The South Downs are on the doorstep for walks.
Hove is popular with families for its wider pavements and quieter seafront. Kemptown has great cafes and is near the Marina. The city centre puts you close to museums and North Laine. Preston Park is good if you want green space on the doorstep.
Brighton's beach is pebble, not sand, so it shelves steeply into the water — keep a close eye on young children near the waterline. There are lifeguards on duty between the piers during summer. The shallow paddling pool on the seafront near the i360 is a safer option for toddlers. Water shoes are a good idea for little feet on the stones.
You can do Brighton cheaply. The beach, museums (Brighton Museum, Booth Museum), parks, and playgrounds are all free. Budget around £30–40 for fish and chips for a family of four. A full day with a paid attraction (Sea Life Centre, bowling, or soft play) typically adds £20–40 on top. Parking is the biggest variable — consider the train or park-and-ride.
Summer holidays (July–August) have the best weather and longest days, but the city is busy and prices peak. Late May half-term and September are sweet spots — warm enough for the beach, quieter, and cheaper. Winter is good for indoor attractions, pantomime season, and the Christmas market without the summer crowds.
