While making plans to spend your family holiday in Brighton, you might wonder if this seaside resort has anything that your kids will love. As a considerate parent or carer, you will want your kids to have as much fun as you know you will. You’ve probably heard about the Brighton Zip, Yellowave Beach Sports Venue, and Hove Lagoon Watersports Centre, some or all of which you may have already thought about for yourself. However, you don’t know if these exciting spots have any provisions for children’s activities, and you don’t want your kids sitting on the sidelines while you get all the fun. That will certainly damage the whole trip.
So, what can you do in Brighton with kids? Well, a lot! The city is very family-friendly. Whether it’s pure fun you seek, or fun with a little bit of education, you won’t be at a loss of where to go. Have a look at some of the coolest places you can take your kids to.
Lagoon Watersports—Brighton Marina
At Hove Lagoon Watersports Centre, nobody is left out of the fun, you and your kids can have great fun and bonding time on the open sea. This is one of the most family-friendly places you’ll find in Brighton. You and your kids can go sailing, wakeboarding, swimming, windsurfing, powerboat driving, or engage in other watersporting activities, that will make your kids squeal with glee and excitement.
In terms of education, your kids can learn to appreciate the whole concept of climate change that they have been taught in school. They will also learn to read weather charts, and the ways in which the weather affects their water activities. If they are the type that have never performed well in activities like netball or football, they’ll get a confidence boost from being able to control their own equipment in Lagoon Watersports’ shallow sheltered lagoon. When they grow to love this activity and become skilled at it, it could even end up becoming a future beloved hobby or job.
For your unforgettable family day out, make your way to Lagoon Watersports, situated at Hove Lagoon, Kingsway, Hove, East Sussex BN3 4LX.
Brighton Pier
There’s a lot to see and do at Brighton Palace Pier. Standing on the pier will make you feel as though you’ve travelled back in time, because Brighton Pier has literally been through the wars. The pier is also a place to watch or participate in music festivals, firework displays, and other live entertainment. There’s no room for boredom on this pier, as there are lots of addictive events on board.
Brighton Pier has an indoor soft play area—the biggest one in Brighton, a four-storey, multi-purpose area that children of all ages can play in. The pier also boasts fairground attractions, and an indoor dome building that contains over fifty arcade and gaming machines like dance mats, air hockey, and multiplayer games. There’s a fish and chip shop in the venue that’s quite famous, and offers a range of drink concessions and hot food. You can also indulge in a three-course meal while you enjoy the splendid view of the sea. The kind of experience you won’t forget any time soon is what Brighton Pier can provide you with. You can find the pier at Madeira Drive, Brighton, East Sussex, BN2 1TW.
Brighton Sea Life Centre
Directly opposite the iconic pier is Brighton Sea Life Centre, the oldest aquarium in the world to still be in operation. The aquarium was built in 1872, and houses 3,500 magnificent creatures, including huge sharks and inquisitive sea turtles. You can have a very close view of them all — the rare, the rescued, the mysterious, and the curious, and you can even feed some of them. So, don’t forget to take some fish food along with you; in the line, you can find out what a seahorse eats, how many fish a hungry shark will eat before it’s full, and the swimming speed of their Green Sea Turtles. A friendly member of their guest experience team will be with you and your kids all the way, filling your heads with interesting facts about sea creatures.
Other features include VIP feeding experiences: close contact with some of the most awe-inspiring creatures in Sea Life’s 750,000 litre ocean tank; behind the scenes tour, in which you get to see what’s happening beneath the surface, like how fish food is made, extensive breeding programmes, research and conservation programmes, and glass bottom boat experience, in which you get to see turtles, sharks, tropical fish, and rays swimming right under your feet. Make your way to Marine Parade, Brighton, East Sussex, BN2 1TB and get a taste of the ethereal world that is Brighton Sea Life Centre.
Watersports For Kids — Hove Lagoon
At Hove Lagoon, your kids can learn to sail perfectly. Your kids can join the kids sailing club, led by a friendly instructor, they’ll get to make new friends, improve their skills, and, as always, have so much fun. They can also participate in the kids summer watersports taster sessions, or learn to SUP, windsurf, and wakeboard. Hove Lagoon is the ideal place for your kids to learn all of these watersports, as the shallow water is perfect for beginners. It’s also a good opportunity for them to have an adventure and have a great time in general.
You can also take advantage of their services, and give your child a super special birthday party. You won’t have to go through the stress of planning a fun and exciting party, as Hove Lagoon’s friendly and fun instructors will take care of that. Hove Lagoon is at Kingsway, Hove, East Sussex, BN3 4LX.
Brighton Toy and Model Museum
What’s more fun than being in a toy museum that houses one of the best collections of toys in the world? You’ll find more than ten thousand toys on display, including toys from the eighteenth century, and toys from the top toy makers in the world. At the exhibition stand for period pieces, you’ll find toys from various classic manufacturers like Dinky, Bing, Marklin, Hornby, Pelham Puppets, Mecano, and Steiff. This is one of the best places for you to give your kids lifelong childhood memories.
The museum is open all year round, except on Sundays, from 10am to 5pm. So, you can easily pick a day that’s convenient for you, and make your way to 52-55 Trafalgar street, Brighton, East Sussex, BN1 4EB where you’ll find the fantastic Toy and Model Museum.
The Volks Railway
The Volks railway is the oldest electric railway that’s still in operation. Visitors get a chance to use their newly built visitor centre and Aquarium Station. There are interactive exhibits in the visitor centre that brings to life the story of Magnus Volk, the inventor of the railway station. The railway runs for one and a quarter miles across the beach top from the Aquarium Station, a stone’s throw from Brighton Pier, to the Marina. Trains run every 15 minutes, and it takes 25 minutes to make a return journey along the seafront. There are three stops along the route, and visitors can get on or alight at any of the stops.
You can take your dogs along, and folded wheelchairs and folded pushchairs are also allowed. Volk’s electric railway tours is open every day from 10am to 6pm. The railway is situated at Arch 285, Madeira Drive, Brighton, East Sussex, BN2 1EN.
The Painting Pottery Cafe
The Painting Pottery Cafe provides you with the opportunity to spend quality time with your kids producing masterpieces. On entering the cafe, you can pick a piece of pottery, select your brushes and paints, and start painting. It’s easy to feel at home here, because the staff are friendly and are always at your beck and call. When done with your piece, you can leave it to be glazed and fired, and then returned to you the following day.
The Painting Pottery Cafe will make a pleasant hideout for you and your family, especially if you love the world of art. They are open every day from morning to evening, and you’ll locate them at 31 North Road, Brighton, East Sussex, BN1 1YB.
Middle Farm
Middle Farm is a working family farm that’s home to friendly farm animals like guinea pigs, playful rabbits, rare breeds of chickens, tiny harvest mice, huge pigs, fluffy sheep, lofty llamas, and gorgeous goats. It’s an amazing place to spend a family holiday, as every member of the family can find something they will enjoy doing here. Some of the daily activities you or your kids can engage in include ‘feed the guinea pigs’ and ‘meet the sheep’. There’s a very popular hay play barn, two outdoor playgrounds, and picnic areas.
If you’re looking for the perfect place to escape the noise and bustle of the city, to relax, unwind and feel rejuvenated, Middle Farm is your answer. It’s situated at Middle Farm, Lewes Road, Lewes, BN8 6LJ.
Drusillas Park
Drusillas Park is the finest small zoo in Europe, offering you a fantastic day out with exotic animals, from penguins and pandas, to meerkats and monkeys. It also features themed adventure play areas, such as Amazon Adventure, Go Bananas!, Go Wild!, Get Wet!, Hello Kitty Secret Garden, and the one and only splash pad experience, that your kids will definitely love.
Your young adventurous explorers will also adore Drusillas Park’s Go Safari — it features three thrilling children’s rides with an African theme; the Safari Express train, Flying Cheetahs and the Hippopotobus. Your children will surely have the time of their life here. Drusillas Park is open every day from 10am, and is situated at Alfriston, East Sussex, BN26 5QS.
It might be difficult for you to decide on which of these nine places to take your kids to, but who says you have to pick? If you can, go ahead and visit all nine but, if you can’t, whichever visit will definitely be worth it.