Jokingly referred to as ‘London-on-Sea’, it’s not hard to see why this nickname came about. Brighton might not be as hectic as the capital, but it definitely lives up to the name thanks to its unique atmosphere and beautiful seafront. From the picturesque Brighton Pavilion, to antique shopping in North Laine and arcade fun on Brighton Pier, the coastal gem is an ideal place to visit. You can only make your trip to Brighton better by renting a car to tackle the beautiful cliff-side roads and explore the surrounding region. You can find our Brighton branch behind Brighton train station on New England Street. You can also get a rental car from our Hove branch on Kingsway, close to the beach and opposite the King Alfred Leisure Centre car park.
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Brighton and Hove is a great place for a beach escape, but it also has a great selection of tourist attractions and plenty of fantastic places you can drive to or through. Many people wonder why the Brighton seafront has a beach made up of pebbles and the answer is quite surprising. It’s because the shingle was embedded into the chalk cliffs that have been weathered over the years – causing this 200 mile strip of pebble beached coast, instead of sand that forms when harder rocks grind down. After witnessing this quirk for yourself, walk down the Brighton Pier and have a go on one of the arcade machines or grab a classic meal of fish and chips with vinegar from one of the seafront’s eateries. You can see the city from a bird’s eye perspective if you get on the British Airways i360 – a glass-enclosed viewing platform that lifts you 162 metres in the air. If you want to sight-see one of the most unique historical buildings in England, the Brighton Pavilion is simply a beautiful but mindboggling palace. It’s a former royal residence built in 1787 and it’s heavily inspired by Indo-Saracenic architecture, making it look otherworldly when compared to the surrounding buildings.
Brighton and Hove is also an ideal place to start a coastal road trip, because the views from cliff-side roads and seeing the blue sea from rolling hills of the South Downs is simply unforgettable. The national park is great for hiking and cycling, but it’s also full of quaint historical villages like Alfriston. Take the A259 towards the east and you will be met with a beautiful view of cliffs and the sea for hours. You can take a detour through Beachy Head and visit the Beachy Head Lighthouse and marvel at the size of the chalk cliffs. The road takes you further through Hastings, the location of the famous medieval battle, all the way to the village of Rye where you can stop off and make your way down to Camber Sands beach. It’s the widest and longest stretch of sandy beach in the region, with beautiful dunes and a kite surfing center. No matter what you need during your trip or what kind of car you prefer, an Enterprise rental will take you around Brighton and out of the city to make memories to last a lifetime.
When driving around Brighton and Hove, there a few key things to remember: