One guidebook I read said that North Laine is the soul of Brighton and after living there for two months, I couldn’t agree more. This neighbourhood has so much going for it and is an incredible representation of what Brighton is all about.
Here you’ll find amazing restaurants and cafes, impressive street art, the coolest independent boutiques and secondhand stores, theatres and event venues, and rows and rows of colourful homes.
Even better? Many of the streets are pedestrianized so you can easily stroll through the hundreds of local businesses and eateries in this historic, artistic and beautiful neighbourhood.
We liked North Laine so much that we made it our base for two months of living in Brighton. It was honestly the best place to live; incredibly central, walkable and full of things to do for the whole family.
North Laine has that unique factor that makes it both a fun place to live and a great place for visitors. The streets are always vibrant, busy with locals and tourists enjoying the neighbourhood.
So if you’re planning a trip to Brighton, I highly recommend you put North Laine on your list. Below I’m going to share my insider perspective on where to eat, drink and shop in North Laine. Plus, I’ve put together an itinerary for a full North Laine day!
Ready to soak up Brighton’s best food, art, shopping, history and culture? Let’s visit North Laine!
Disclosure: Some of the links below are affiliate links, meaning if you click through and make a purchase, I will earn a small commission at no additional cost to you. Thanks for your support!
First things first, let’s get the name right
Welcome to North Laine! Not North Laines, North Lane or North Lanes, but North Laine with an “i” and no “s.”
The name for this neighbourhood is one that many local Brightonians get wrong. So after doing a bit of research about the place we were living, I figured it out and want to make sure you’ve got it right too.
Laine is an old-fashioned word for an agricultural tract of land. North Laine was one of five farming areas around central Brighton. It’s still called North Laine today as a nod to its historical significance.
Just south of North Laine is an area of Brighton called The Lanes. Here’s where things get confusing!
The Lanes are named for the narrow winding alleys (or lanes) that were once at the centre of Brighton. This has nothing to do with “laine,” which is the agricultural land.
So they are not called The Laines (with an “i”) nor are they South Lanes/Laine, as this area is completely separate from North Laine.
But many will refer to these areas as North Lanes vs South Lanes (or North Laine vs South Laine), which are both incorrect. And now we know better!
Where is North Laine and how do you get there?
One of the best parts about North Laine is that it’s so easy to visit. This neighbourhood is directly outside of Brighton’s main train station.
So as soon as you step off the train, you’re in North Laine! If you’re taking a bus to Brighton, many of the long-distance buses stop in North Laine too. And from North Laine, you can easily walk to everywhere else in Brighton’s centre.
The official boundaries of North Laine are Trafalgar Street to the north, North Street to the south, Queens Road to the west, and Grand Parade/Valley Gardens to the east.
My favourite restaurants in North Laine
We ate at so many delicious restaurants in Brighton, but some of my favourites were right in our backyard in North Laine.
If you’re spending the day in North Laine, grab a meal at:
- Earl’s Sandwiches: Huge banh mi sandwiches that are so flavourful
- The Eagle: An incredible Thai menu served in a traditional English pub
- La Choza: The best Mexican food in Brighton
- The Pond: Chinese bao buns and small bites in a pub setting
- Moksha Cafe: Think brunch burgers and fresh juices
- Tutto: Modern, Italian food with awesome service
My favourite cafes in North Laine
If you need a coffee and pastry pick-me-up while you’re in Brighton, you’ve come to the right neighbourhood. North Laine is full of cafes, most of them locally-owned and operated!
A few of my favourite Brighton cafes include:
- Coffee at 33: We lived above this cafe and loved their kind service, well-priced menu and unique pastries
- Red Fish: Get the red fruit strudel!
- Bee May Bakery: Awesome ambiance and a counter full of delicious baked goods
- Ease: Lovely owners, cute interior, and yummy food and drink
- LOAM: The best cinnamon buns in Brighton
- Cloud 9: The best brownies in Brighton
My favourite shops in North Laine
One of the things to do in North Laine is go shopping! This area has hundreds of independent stores, vintage boutiques and secondhand shops catering to all tastes and budgets.
The main shopping streets in North Laine are Sydney Street, Kensington Gardens, Gardner Street and Bond Street. These streets are mostly pedestrianized, so you can walk and shop without worrying about car traffic.
Here are a few of my favourite stores:
- Pretty Vacant: I loved the vibe of this clothing, accessories and home goods store. After browsing multiple times, I finally bought a little coaster for my desk at home!
- Papersmiths and Pen to Paper: If you’re looking for cards, stationery, journals or pretty writing items, head to one of these two paper stores.
- Bert’s Homestore: This store perfectly marries fun design with practicality, meaning I wanted to buy absolutely everything!
- Bluebelle & Co.: I loved their whimsical, fairytale-like designs on everything from robes and eye masks to purses and bedding.
- Socktopus: If you’re into socks – or just looking for the perfect Brighton souvenir – head here!
- Jimbobart Shop: I loved these funny animal cartoons and wished we had bought a stack of plates to take home.
I also loved browsing through DOWSE, Abode Living, HOLD and Pussy Home Boutique, for fun homeware items that we didn’t have the luggage space (or extra budget) for.
How to spend a day in North Laine, Brighton
Here’s an itinerary for how to spend one day in Brighton’s best neighbourhood:
Get breakfast at Coffee at 33
If you’re looking for a quick coffee, pastry and sandwich to go, head into my favourite North Laine cafe, Coffee at 33. Start your day on a sweet note with their gluten-free brownie!
Or if you want something a bit more substantial, order the brunch burger at Moksha Cafe. Their fresh squeezed juices are great too. Mange Tout is another good option if you’re feeling a more French bistro-style breakfast.
Shop and go on a DIY street art tour
Spend the rest of your morning wandering the main shopping streets of North Laine: Sydney Street, Kensington Gardens, Gardner Street and Bond Street. Pop into all of the clothing, jewelry, stationery, homeware, book and floral shops that catch your eye.
If you’re visiting on a Saturday, don’t miss the Saturday Outdoor Flea Market on Upper Gardner Street.
Along the way, keep your eyes out for street art. Trafalgar Lane, where we lived, has some of the best street art in the city! And check out the neighbouring streets, like Tidy St and Kemp St, to see the beautifully colourful houses.
And if you need a coffee break, I’d recommend Bee May Bakery, Ease or Flour Pot Bakery.
Enjoy lunch at The Eagle
For lunch, check out The Eagle which looks like a traditional English pub. Only they serve an award-winning Thai menu! This was seriously the best Thai food I’ve had outside of Thailand, so don’t miss it.
If you’re not feeling Thai, I also recommend La Choza for great Mexican food or The Basketmakers Arms for more traditional English pub fare.
Earl’s Sandwiches (for banh mis) or Crunch & Co. (for cheese toasties) are good options if you want something lighter to eat on the go.
Tour Brighton’s Royal Pavilion
Brighton’s Royal Pavilion and Gardens are right on the border of North Laine, so I’m including them in this itinerary. Which is great, because the Royal Pavilion is one of the most iconic and unique places in Brighton!
When I first saw pictures of the Royal Pavilion, I thought I was looking at a palace in India. But nope, it’s an English palace that was built in 1787 in the Indo-Saracenic style that was popular in India at the time.
The outside of the Pavilion is very cool but don’t miss the inside. I was so blown away by the dining room, ballroom and kitchen, especially as they were all decked out for Christmas when we visited.
Purchase your Royal Pavilion tickets here!
Outside the Royal Pavilion there are gardens you can wander through. And if you have more time, you can visit Brighton Museum and Art Gallery next door. I really loved this museum with its local history, kid-friendly activities and well curated exhibits.
Or, take a break with a coffee and some games at Puzzle Bored!
Dine at Tutto
Treat yourself to a slightly upscale dinner at Tutto, an Italian restaurant on the east side of North Laine. We went here for our New Year’s Eve lunch and it was the perfect place to celebrate a holiday.
The food at Tutto is delicious (I recommend the tasting menu so you can get a bit of everything), the interior is modern and stylish, and the service is incredible. Everyone was so kind and accommodating, especially as we had our baby with us.
If you’re not feeling Italian for dinner, you can head to one of my suggested lunch restaurants instead (La Choza (Mexican), The Eagle (Thai), Basketmakers Arms (pub food)).
For something more casual – and vegan-friendly – I’ve heard great things about Happy Maki and The Earth & Stars.
See a show!
Three of the biggest event venues in Brighton just so happen to be in North Laine, so you’ll have no problem finding your evening entertainment.
Komedia is a comedy club, but they also put on musical and theatre performances, plus have Duke’s Picturehouse attached for current movies. We went to a BYOB (bring your own baby) comedy event at Komedia and loved it!
Theatre Royal Brighton hosts musicals, plays, comedy performances and children’s shows. When West End shows tour around the UK, this is where they stop in Brighton.
Then there’s the Brighton Dome, a larger event venue where music, theatre and dance performances are held. Fun fact: This is where ABBA won Eurovision with their song, Waterloo.
You can visit Komedia’s website, Theatre Royal Brighton’s website and Brighton Dome’s website to see what’s on while you’re in town.
Wrapping up: My final tip for enjoying your time in North Laine
In my opinion, what makes North Laine the soul of Brighton is something that can only be discovered when you slow down and explore on foot.
This isn’t the type of neighbourhood where you take a taxi in, go to one store or one restaurant, and then leave. That’s not the North Laine experience.
This is the place where you spend a few hours (or better yet, a full day!) wandering the streets, people watching from an outdoor cafe table, popping into shops that catch your eye, and stopping to admire cool street art.
We were so lucky to get to call North Laine home for two full months. On our daily walks with our dog and baby, we got to experience so much of this neighbourhood. Despite walking the same streets every single day, I never got bored.
There was always something going on, a new piece of street art being created, a shop I hadn’t noticed before or a cafe that was just begging me to give it a try. The streets of North Laine felt so alive and I am so grateful we had the chance to get to know them.
So have I convinced you to add North Laine to your UK itinerary? It really is the coolest area of Brighton and one you don’t want to miss if you love good food, cool cafes, great shopping and beautiful streets.
And after you’re done exploring North Laine, you can discover more things to do in Brighton, such as heading to the beach to go up the Brighton i360!
