Tours

‘Mixology School’ Brighton Cocktail School

If cocktails are your thing and you like to get involved then the ‘Mixology School’ is the place to visit.

From an action packed 2 hour Cocktail Masterclass, a 1 day introduction to Cocktails and Mixology course filled with knowledge and knowhow, to a Global Bartenders Certificate taught over a week, they teach it all.

Mixology School are also one of the country’s leaders in Molecular Mixology, so if you fancy yourself as a bit of a ‘Heston’ you can sign up for a course.

If you’re more of a spirit connoisseur then why not try a Whisky Blending Classes where you get to learn about your true loves of whisky and create your very own blend. Or one of their Guided Spirit tastings.

On top of all of that Mixology Group can come to you. Whether you would like a Cocktail Masterclass to kick off your party or a Bartender to mix you drinks all night then these are the guys to call.

www.mixologygroup.co.uk 

Ghost Walk of the Lanes – with Rob Marks

Are you brave enough join master story teller Rob Marks on a chilling ghost walk around Brighton’s famous Lanes? With snippets of history thrown in and gruesome facts to keep you engrossed (or just grossed!), it’s great for all ages.

The Ghost Walk of The Lanes runs every Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday, Friday and Saturday,
starting at 7.30pm outside the Druid’s Head Pub, Brighton Place, Brighton

Adults £8, Children £4, Seniors and Students £5 Family (2 adults, 2 children) £20

• 07522 605 524 • www.ghostwalkbrighton.co.uk

Brighton Scenic

Take a Pleasure Flight from Shoreham airport from only £48 adults and £40 children. Your pilot will fly you over Brighton and the Sussex Coast, giving you the opportunity to take some fabulous photos whilst you listen in to the complimentary guided tour on your own headset. The plane seats a maximum of three passengers per flight. Suitable for all ages over five years. Flying days are flexible and bookings are essential. Discounts available for 3 persons travelling together

07918 902 721 • www.brightonscenic.co.uk

Water Tours

Based at Brighton Marina, Water Tours offers you the chance to sample life on the ocean waves (and be home in time for tea). Their incredibly popular mackerel fishing trips allow budding sea-dogs of all ages and abilities 90 minutes of fishing (rod hire is available or you can bring your own). Alternatively take a Pier Pleasure Trip – a 45 minute cruise through the Marina, out to sea and then on to see both piers as never before. Memorable private hire cruises are available for groups of up to 60. Plus this year sees the new Power Boat Ride – a 25 minute tour for the more adventurous – be warned though as you could get splashed and it can get bumpy!

07836 262 717 • www.watertours.co.uk

Brighton Sewer Tours

Brighton’s Victorian sewerage system is one of the most magnificent examples of civil engineering from this period. The Sewer Tour lasts approximately one hour and starts under Brighton Pier and emerges back at ground level through a manhole in the middle of the Old Steine Gardens. Don’t attempt this with a hangover!

6.30pm Tue & Thu, & 9.30am/11am Sat • Suitable for ages 11+ • Tours must be pre-booked via the website • Runs Tue, Thu & Sat in May, then Wed & Sat from June to September • www.southernwater.co.uk

Brighton and Hove Buses

Brighton buses run on an intensive network of local bus routes serving the conurbation of Brighton and Hove from Steyning and Shoreham through to Newhaven as well as longer distance routes to Eastbourne, Lewes, Ringmer and Tunbridge Wells.

City Sightseeing

Brighton is one of the south-coast’s most popular resorts, with something for all the family. The Brighton City Sightseeing Tour will give you a flavour of the city and has a thoroughly entertaining commentary with fascinating facts and figures that even some of the locals don’t know! The Tour takes in many highlights including the Pier, The Lanes, Royal Pavilion, Marina, and the main shopping areas.

Leisure Trips

Brighton & Hove offer a wide variety of Day Out trips to places of historic interest, theme parks, great towns and villages in the UK as well as continental breaks.

Brighton & Hove Bus and Coach Company • 01273 866217 • www.buses.co.uk

Piers & Queers

An historical tour of Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender Brighton

“Ah, dear Brighton – piers, queers and racketeers”  Noel Coward

Who passed as a man to become a pioneering surgeon? What’s the Brighton connection with The Importance of Being Earnest and ‘the love that dare not speak its name’ ? Who came to Brighton to start a new life – and illegally marry – in a new gender? Which Brighton gal became an icon to gay men and lesbians alike? Who did Edward VII call ‘the most remarkable woman in the kingdom’? Which romantic hero spent a last summer of youth in Brighton? Whose diary has been called ‘The Rosetta Stone of lesbian history’? What’s the cross-gender connection between Brighton and the Venezuelan Revolution? Why has Brighton become such an LGBT-friendly city?

Long before it was known as the ‘Gay Capital of Europe’, Brighton has attracted people with alternative sexualities and gender identities. Their stories give us insight into the surprising diversity of lives in the past, while many also made unique contributions to wider society and culture. This walking tour looks at some of the stories from Brighton’s past, focusing on the amazing personalities of LGBT interest and their tales of achievement, challenge, bravery and infamy.

Tours for LGBT History Month  Cost: £5

Meet by the West Pier, Upper Promenade (opposite Regency Square). Just turn up!

Contact Ric Morris  01273 774489  www.onlyinbrighton.co.uk/piersandqueers

The Regency Society Blue Plaque Walks

Brighton City Walks

Take a City tour with Julian Clapp who has extensive knowledge of Brighton, it’s history and its characters.

He is recognised as an authority on film related history and provides much detailed information of the making of the original “Brighton Rock”.

The three most popular tours are “The Brighton Story“, “Brighton Rock walk” and the ever popular “Lost Cinemas Of Brighton“.

www.brightoncitywalks.com

• Contact 07941 256148

Palmeira Mansions

Take a glimpse at Victorian life in house tour that reveals the opulence, taste and lifestyle of a nouveau riche gentleman. This terraced house with its impressive Grade II* listed interior has miraculously survived and is now part of the English Language Centre in Hove. Tour last approximately 1 1/2 hours and cost £6pp.

Every first Sunday of the month at 11am • The English Language Centre, 33 Palmeira Mansions (corner of Salisbury Road & Church Road), Hove

‘Pier and Queers’ Tour of Brighton

Which woman beat the system to qualify as a surgeon by passing as a man, and then performed the first successful Caesarian in British medicine? What’s the Brighton connection with The Importance of Being Earnest and the words ‘the love that dare not speak its name”? Who came to Brighton to start a new life -and illegally marry – in a new gender? Which Brighton gal became an icon to lesbians and gay men alike? Who did Edward VII call ‘the most remarkable woman in the kingdom”? Which romantic hero spent a last summer of youth in Brighton before going on to achieve legendary status? Whose diary has been called ‘The Rosetta Stone of lesbian history”? What’s the cross-gender connection between Brighton and the Venezuelan Revolution? Why has Brighton become such an LGBT-friendly city?

Long before it was known as the ‘Gay Capital of Britain‘, Brighton has attracted people with alternative sexual and gender identities. Some made Brighton their home, others had brief, but sometimes life-changing, stays. They helped us understand the surprising diversity of life in the past; many made unqiue contributions to our society. This tour looks at some of the stories of Brighton’s past, focusing on the personalities of LGBT interest and their tales of achievement, challenge, bravery and infamy.

Contact: Ric Morris  •  01273 774489  •  info@onlyinbrighton.co.uk •  www.onlyinbrighton.co.uk/piersandqueers

Brighton & Hove Streamline Taxis

The two associations, formerly Brighton Streamline Taxi Cab Ltd and Hove Streamline Radio Taxis Ltd, were both formed in 1936 and merged as one big association in November 2008, with over 370 cars and 700 drivers.

The Association is a non profit making organisation run by a Board of Directors elected by the full members of the Association for the benefit of its owners and drivers, with all profits made ploughed back into the company.

The drivers are all self-employed and CRB checked by Brighton & Hove City Council with both Hackney Carriage and Private Hire vehicles using the same fare chart and sealed meters.

www.streamlinetaxis.org • 01273 747474/202020

Piers, Proms & Palaces – the West Pier Trust’s walking tour

Stroll the prom and hear the fascinating, glamorous and tragic story of Britain’s finest pier in the context of the history of Brighton seafront.

The West Pier was designed and engineered by Eugenius Birch to attract visitors and survive in the hostile environment of the seashore. Built in 1866, it was a simple and functional structure built out from the sea using dozens of cast iron threaded columns screwed into the seabed and strengthened by a lattice of ties and girders that provide the necessary strength to support the promenade deck whilst allowing seas to pass harmlessly through.

Originally the West Pier had an open deck with only six small ornamental houses of oriental design, two toll houses and glass screens at the pier head to protect visitors from the wind and sun. In 1875 a central bandstand was added. In the 1880’s weather screens the full length of the pier, steamer landing stages and a large pier head pavilion were constructed.

The final building, completed in 1916, was a graceful concert hall. The result is seaside architecture at its finest, designed to attract and entertain holiday-makers with all the pomp and frippery that is the essence of the English seaside resort. The pier is unique in being largely unaltered since that time, its proportions and style are unrivalled and its concert hall and theatre are two of the best surviving Victorian and Edwardian seaside entertainment buildings.

Tours every Sunday at 11am from 11th April (lasts approximately an hour). Meet in front of the West Pier Rock Shop on the upper prom, King’s Road • Tickets £5, Children under 12 free • 01273 321 499 • www.westpier.co.uk

The West Pier & Brighton Seafront Story

This fascinating tour starts at the West Pier then takes a gentle amble along the promenade. You’ll hear about the fascinating, glamorous, and ultimately tragic story of this great pier, alongside other historical stories of the seafront. Tours last approximately 1 hour and cost £5pp.

Every Sunday at 11am from the upper prom kiosk at the West Pier, Brighton • 01273 321 499 • www.westpier.co.uk

Theatre Royal Backstage Tours

The 200 year old Theatre Royal is a masterpiece of theatrical architecture. Furthermore, the number of distinguished actors who have trodden the boards there reads like a Who’s Who of the theatrical elite: Laurence Olivier, John Gielgud, Ian Mckellen, Peggy Ashcroft, Marlene Dietrich, Edith Evans, Vivien Leigh have all graced its stage. Now you can explore its hallowed backstage area by joining the Theatre Royal Tour. The tours run every Saturday at 11am. from February to December, lasting approximately 45 minutes. Discover the theatre’s ancient stage traps, underground stream and secret tunnel along with many details of its fascinating history. Tea and coffee is included.
Every Saturday at 11am • Book in person at the Box Office, New Road, Brighton or by telephone on 08448 717 650 (bkg fee) • Advance booking in advance is not essential but will guarantee you a place

Brighton and Hove Open Door

As a part of the Heritage Open Days celebration of England’s architecture and culture, Brighton & Hove Open Door provides visitors with free access to The Regency Town House and many other local properties and events participating under the BHOD ‘umbrella’.

The Regency Town House, 13 Brunswick Square, Hove, BN3 1EH

www.rth.org.uk/whatson/open_door

The Big Lemon

The Big Lemon was founded in 2007 to develop friendly, affordable and sustainable bus services. The Big Lemon runs local public bus services, a coach hire service and a waste oil collection service.  All vehicles run on waste cooking collected from local restaurants.

Protran House, Boundary Road, Brighton, BN2 5TJ • 01273 681681

• www.thebiglemon.com

Tuk Tuk

Here’s a novel way to see the sights and sounds of Brighton & Hove… hop on a tuk tuk! The Brighton Tuk Tuk company operates a small fleet of private hire vehicles that are available to book in advance for private tours, parties, weddings… you get the idea! We were recently treated to a zip around the seafront to much amusement. Elvis and Marilyn come as optional extras!

For more info or to book call Mark on 01273 233 953 or visit www.brightontuktuk.co.uk

The Old Ship Hotel

The Old Ship Hotel dates back to 1559 making it the oldest hostelry in the city. Frequented by royalty, aristocrats and artists, the hotel features a grade II* listed assembly rooms and extensive cellars. This historic building is immersed in Brighton’s history and its development as a seaside resort. Tours last approximately 1 hour and cost £5pp.

Every first Friday of the month at 6pm • The Old Ship Hotel, Kings Road, Brighton

The Regency Townhouse

The Regency Town House is a grade 1 Listed terraced home of the mid-1820s being developed as a heritage centre and museum to focus on the architecture and social history of Brighton & Hove between the 1780s and 1840s. Currently being painstakingly restored to it’s former glory, fascinating tours of the house are available by prior arrangement.

Tours by arrangement • £5 • Advance bookings only – call 01273 206 306 or visit www.rth.org.uk • Brunswick Square, Hove

The Royal Pavilion

The Royal Pavilion is one of the most spectacular heritage buildings in the UK. A former palace, built by John Nash for the Prince Regent (later George IV), this decadent display of orientalism and chinoisery won’t fail to impress even the most jaded visitor. We highly recommended a guided tour to really breathe life into the palace.

Royal Pavilion Gardens, Brighton, BN1 1EE

03000 290 900 • www.royalpavilion.org.uk

Embassy Court

This iconic 11 storey block of flats situated on the seafront was designed by the architect Wells Coates and completed in 1935. Restored in 2005 it’s one of the most outstanding examples of pre-war Modernism in the UK and has a grade II* listed status and remains a major Brighton landmark.

Check the website for tours of this remarkable building.

www.embassycourt.org.uk

The Old Police Cells Museum

Hidden in the basement of Brighton Town Hall, Brighton’s original police cells make for an intriguing tour. There’s quite a collection of truncheons!

Every Tue, Thu & Sat 10.30am  • Free • You must book a tour in advance by calling 01273 291 052 • The Old Police Cells, Brighton Town Hall, Bartholomews • www.oldpolicecellsmuseum.org.uk

Southern Railway

Southern Railway provide train services for commuters, airport users, business travellers and leisure travellers in south London, between central London and the South coast, through East and West Sussex, Surrey and parts of Kent and Hampshire.

Wherever you live in London, Southern is your gateway to Brighton with fast Southern trains every half hour from London Victoria (51 minutes), Clapham Junction (45 minutes) and East Croydon (35 minutes). One way fares from only £3.75 when you book online at www.southernrailway.com

Healthwalks

Healthwalks are a great way to be more active, get out in the fresh air, explore the city and meet local people. They are ideal for those who want to start exercising in a gentle and safe way, as well as those who want to walk regularly, but don’t have the time to attend longer walks.

There are sixteen regular walks across the city, and lengths range from under a mile (average walking time: 20-30 minutes) to three-four miles (average walking time one and a half to two hours walking time).  They are all free, led by trained Volunteer Walk Leaders and are also accessible by public transport.

Walks are held at different times every day of the week • For a full list of free walks visit www.brighton-hove.gov.uk/healthwalks

Charleston House

Charleston was the home and country meeting place for the writers, painters and intellectuals known as the Bloomsbury Group. The interior was painted by the artists Duncan Grant and Vanessa Bell, and together with their collection forms a unique example of their decorative style: murals, painted furniture, ceramics, objects from the Omega Workshops, paintings and textiles. The collection includes work by Renoir, Picasso, Derain, Matthew Smith, Sickert, Tomlin and Delacroix.

Open 31 March to 31 October, Wednesdays to Saturdays and Bank Holiday Mondays

Heritage Open Days

Heritage Open Days celebrates England’s architecture and culture by allowing visitors free access to interesting properties that are either not usually open, or would normally charge an entrance fee. Heritage Open Days also includes tours, events and activities that focus on local architecture and culture.

Organised by volunteers – usually property owners or managers – for local people, Heritage Open Days is England’s biggest and most popular voluntary cultural event. Last year the event attracted around 1 million visitors. English Heritage gives central co-ordination and a national voice to the event.

Heritage Open Days provides visitors with a unique opportunity to explore and enjoy these sometimes hidden, often curious and always interesting places in English cities, towns and villages – and completely free of charge.

www.heritageopendays.org.uk