Things to do in Brighton and Hove with kids: 14 family days out, museums, parks and free activities

Brighton and Hove has far more for children than the beach and Palace Pier. From sharks beneath the seafront and the world’s oldest operating electric railway to free museums, huge playgrounds, paddling pools and a palace full of dragons, here are some of the best family things to do across the city.

Brighton is particularly easy to explore with children because many of its biggest attractions are close together.

A family arriving at Brighton Station can walk through the city centre to the Royal Pavilion, Brighton Museum, SEA LIFE and the beach, while Hove has its own cluster of family attractions around the seafront, Hove Museum, Hove Lagoon and the city’s larger parks.

There is plenty of things to do in Brighton and Hove with kids without spending much money, too. Hove Museum is free, Brighton & Hove City Council maintains 53 playgrounds and the city’s parks and beaches can fill a large part of a day without an attraction ticket.

Whether you are planning a full family trip, a cheap afternoon outing or a rainy-day excursion, Brighton works well because the beach, museums, parks, cafés and major attractions sit close together. Families visiting from London or elsewhere on the south coast can arrive by train and reach many child-friendly sights on foot.

1. Go beneath the sea at SEA LIFE Brighton

SEA LIFE Brighton is one of the safest bets for a family day when the weather refuses to cooperate.

The aquarium sits opposite Brighton Palace Pier and traces its history back to 1872, making the building itself part of Brighton’s seaside story.

Inside are sharks, rays, turtles, jellyfish and thousands of other sea creatures. The large Ocean display holds 750,000 litres of water and can also be viewed from a bookable glass-bottom boat.

The boat is an additional experience rather than part of ordinary aquarium admission, so families should include that in the budget if children have already been promised a voyage over the sharks.

Standard online tickets currently start from £16, with prices varying by date and demand. Children under two enter free.

Check SEA LIFE Brighton tickets and opening times

2. Do Brighton Palace Pier properly

You can hardly bring children to Brighton for the first time and pretend the Palace Pier is not there.

The Victorian pier combines amusement arcades, fairground rides, food and sea views, with attractions ranging from Gallopers and teacups to dodgems, the Waltzer, Crazy Mouse and larger thrill rides.

There is a separate range for smaller children, including Fantasia, Jungle Jeeps, Dizzy Jets and the Pirate Boat.

Height matters more than age on many of the rides. The current Kiddies wristband is aimed at children between 0.9m and 1.2m, while the Supersaver wristband covers the larger ride selection for people 1.2m and above. Some children between 1.2m and 1.4m still need an accompanying adult on particular rides.

Online wristbands currently start from £19.20 for the Kiddies option and £24 for the Supersaver. Individual rides can also be bought separately.

There is currently a £1 seasonal pier admission charge during peak periods for visitors over two. BN postcode residents can apply for the pier’s Local Resident Card, while pre-booked ride wristbands include admission.

High winds can also close some rides even when the pier itself remains open.

Check Brighton Palace Pier rides, restrictions and current opening times

3. Ride Volk’s Electric Railway along the beach

This is one of the Brighton experiences adults can genuinely enjoy as much as children.

Volk’s Electric Railway runs along the seafront between Aquarium station near Palace Pier and Black Rock towards Brighton Marina.

Dating from 1883, it is the world’s oldest operating electric railway and turns what could otherwise become a long walk with tired children into an attraction in its own right.

It is particularly useful for combining central Brighton with Madeira Drive, the eastern seafront and Marina area without having to walk the entire route twice.

The railway is seasonal, so always check that trains are operating before building the day around it.

Check Volk’s Electric Railway timetable and fares

4. Give the Royal Pavilion a chance with the kids

The Royal Pavilion may sound like the attraction parents drag children around because they feel they ought to, but the building is strange enough to work surprisingly well for families.

George IV’s former seaside palace is full of dragons, chandeliers, extravagant decoration and rooms unlike almost any other historic house in Britain.

There is an extra reason to visit with children in 2026. DRAGONS runs until 1 November and builds a family experience around the dragons already found throughout the Pavilion’s decoration.

Standard admission is currently £21.50 for adults and £13 for children aged five to 18 before the online discount. Families of at least one adult and two children receive one child ticket free.

Brighton and Hove residents get a substantially cheaper option. The resident ticket is £16.50 and can include up to four children, with proof of an eligible BN1, BN2, BN3 or BN41 address required.

Royal Pavilion tickets and visitor information

Families wanting more detail about the palace’s rooms, history and current visit can use this Royal Pavilion Brighton guide.

5. Try Brighton Museum when the weather turns

Next door to the Pavilion, Brighton Museum & Art Gallery is another useful rainy-day option.

The museum ranges from archaeology and ancient Egypt to fashion, art, Brighton history and changing exhibitions. It also provides free children’s trails and activities rather than expecting younger visitors simply to move politely from display case to display case.

There is an added local attraction in 2026, with the new Brighton & Hove Albion: Stand or Fall gallery telling the story of the football club.

Standard tickets are currently £10.50 for adults and £5 for children aged five to 18. Tickets are valid for a year. Brighton and Hove residents currently pay £8 and can bring up to four children under the resident offer.

The museum is open Tuesday to Sunday from 10am to 5pm, as well as Bank Holiday Mondays.

Plan a visit to Brighton Museum & Art Gallery

6. Discover Hove Museum of Creativity for free

Hove Museum of Creativity is one of the city’s best-value family attractions because admission costs nothing.

The museum occupies a Victorian villa on New Church Road and covers toys, film, local history, craft and design.

For younger children, the Wizard’s Attic is the obvious draw. It is a manageable museum for families who do not want to commit to several hours indoors, and there is a café on site.

Hove Museum is currently open Monday, Thursday, Friday, Saturday and Sunday from 10am to 5pm.

It is also only around a 10-minute walk from the seafront, making it easy to combine with the beach.

Hove Museum of Creativity visitor information

7. Find thousands of toys beneath Brighton Station

Brighton Toy and Model Museum is hidden inside Victorian arches beneath the station, which already gives it a better entrance story than most museums.

The collection contains thousands of toys and models, including model railways, construction toys, dolls, puppets and vintage toys.

It is particularly good for train enthusiasts, although there is enough variety to avoid making the entire visit dependent on a child’s willingness to discuss locomotives.

Current admission is £10 for adults and £6 for children aged five to 18, with under-fives free. A family ticket covering up to two adults and two children is £20.

One important detail is that it is not open every day. Current hours are Tuesday to Friday from 10am to 5pm and Saturday from 11am to 5pm, with Sunday and Monday closed.

Brighton Toy and Model Museum

8. Spend a summer afternoon at Hove Lagoon

For families who live locally, Hove Lagoon is one of the places most likely to be used repeatedly rather than visited once.

The area combines playground facilities, seasonal water play and watersports, while the neighbouring Hove Beach Park development has transformed the options for children on bikes, skateboards, scooters and skates.

The newer wheeled-sports area includes a 150-metre pump track, 600-square-metre roller area and skate plaza.

Lagoon Watersports also operates activities including sailing, paddleboarding and windsurfing, with paid courses and sessions for different ages and experience levels.

The council-operated Hove Lagoon paddling pool remains open for the 2026 season until Sunday 13 September.

That mixture makes the western seafront particularly useful for families with siblings who want completely different activities.

9. Pick a park and let them run

Brighton and Hove has 53 council playgrounds, so there is rarely a need to cross the entire city simply in search of swings and climbing equipment.

For larger destination play areas, the council highlights Hove Park, St Ann’s Well Gardens, Preston Park, The Level and Queen’s Park.

Hove Park has large open spaces, a playground, sports facilities and café, while a miniature railway operates on selected dates.

Preston Park is Brighton and Hove’s largest urban park, offering broad lawns, playground space and plenty of room for bikes, football and picnics.

St Ann’s Well Gardens is especially useful with younger children because its playground sits within a sheltered park containing mature trees, a café, pond and garden spaces.

10. Have a beach day without overcomplicating it

Sometimes the obvious answer is the right one.

Brighton and Hove has miles of seafront and children do not necessarily require a booked attraction every hour of a day out.

The beach around Palace Pier puts families close to SEA LIFE, rides, toilets and food, but it is also among the busiest sections. Walking west towards Hove generally brings wider stretches of promenade, beach cafés and more space away from the central attractions.

Brighton’s beach is predominantly shingle rather than sand, so water shoes can be useful, particularly for younger children.

The sea also needs to be treated with considerably more respect than a paddling pool. Families should pay attention to weather, waves, lifeguard advice and safety flags rather than assuming conditions close to shore are always harmless.

The seafront also works well for mixed-age groups. Younger children may be happy with stones, water play and ice cream, while older children can walk towards Hove, look for cafés, try games on the beach or use the promenade as part of a longer coastal day out.

11. Use the city’s paddling pools while they are open

For younger children in summer, the council’s free water-play facilities are among the best-value activities in the city.

For 2026, water play opened at Hove Lagoon, Saunders Park and The Level on 2 May and is scheduled to continue until Sunday 13 September.

Check the council’s current paddling pool information

12. Take older kids skating or scootering

Brighton and Hove has a strong wheeled-sports culture, and children who have outgrown conventional playgrounds have several free options.

The Level skatepark has a large bowl, mini ramp, banks, blocks, rails and stairs and is intended for mixed abilities and different wheeled sports.

The newer Hove wheeled-sports area beside the Lagoon includes a skate plaza, pump track and roller area, with features designed for beginners as well as more experienced users.

There are additional skateparks at Hollingdean and other neighbourhood locations.

Protective equipment is sensible, especially for children trying unfamiliar ramps or a larger park for the first time.

See Brighton & Hove’s skatepark guide

13. Explore Preston Manor

For children who like old houses, mysteries and slightly spooky stories, Preston Manor offers something very different from the Royal Pavilion.

The historic house reopened for its 2026 season with an experience built around Edwardian Ghosts and Glam, allowing visitors to explore both the wealthy family’s rooms and the working spaces used by servants.

The reopened top floor adds more of the Stanford family’s story, while the kitchens and below-stairs areas help explain what life was like for the people who actually kept an Edwardian household functioning.

The Manor has also embraced its longstanding reputation as one of Brighton’s supposedly haunted buildings, with additional ghost-themed events scheduled around Halloween.

For 2026 it is open from Friday to Monday, 10am to 5pm, until 30 November. Standard admission is currently £14 for adults and £8.50 for children aged five to 18, with under-fives free.

Brighton and Hove residents currently pay £10.50 and can include up to four children under the resident offer.

Plan a visit to Preston Manor

14. Use Brighton and Hove’s libraries for free family activities

A family activity does not need to be a tourist attraction.

Brighton and Hove’s libraries run free children’s sessions throughout the year, with regular events including Baby Boogie, preschool storytimes, drawing and craft activities.

Jubilee Library in central Brighton is particularly easy to combine with North Laine, Brighton Museum or the Pavilion, while neighbourhood libraries give local families options without travelling into the city centre.

Many preschool sessions operate during term time, so check the current calendar rather than assuming an activity runs through the school holidays.

See current Brighton & Hove library events

One attraction not to plan around yet: the Booth Museum

The Booth Museum of Natural History would normally deserve a prominent place in a family guide, particularly for children interested in animals, fossils and natural history.

However, it is currently closed for a major transformation.

Brighton & Hove Museums had previously indicated a reopening during 2026, but the project has expanded and the museum’s full reopening has now been moved to February 2027.

There are limited special tours in October 2026, but families should not currently turn up expecting the normal museum visit.

What can you do in Brighton with kids for free?

Brighton is perfectly capable of becoming an expensive family day out, but it does not have to.

Hove Museum costs nothing to enter. Parks, playgrounds, skateparks and the beach are free, as are the council’s seasonal paddling pools and water features.

Libraries also run free children’s activities, while simply walking from Brighton Station through North Laine, the Pavilion area and down to the beach provides a substantial city-centre day without paying for an attraction.

The main expenses tend to arrive once rides, aquariums, museums, cafés and ice creams become involved.

If it does rain, Churchill Square Shopping Centre is a big safe haven and free to get into.

Where to eat with children in Brighton and Hove

Family-friendly cafés and restaurants are easy to find around the city centre, North Laine, the seafront and Hove. For a cheaper day, bring a picnic for Pavilion Garden, Preston Park, Hove Park or the beach, then use cafés for drinks, toilets and bad-weather pauses.

During school holidays and festival weekends, restaurants close to Palace Pier, SEA LIFE and the main beach can get busy, so families with young children may find it easier to eat slightly away from the busiest seafront stretch.

What are the best things to do in Brighton when it rains?

SEA LIFE is the obvious large indoor attraction, but it is not the only option.

Brighton Museum, Hove Museum of Creativity, Brighton Toy and Model Museum, the Royal Pavilion and Preston Manor all provide substantial indoor alternatives.

The important thing is opening days. Hove Museum is closed on Tuesdays and Wednesdays, Brighton Toy and Model Museum is closed on Sundays and Mondays, and Preston Manor currently opens Friday to Monday during its 2026 season.

A quick check before leaving can therefore save a wet and unhappy walk across Brighton.

More family-day planning

• Rainy-day outings across Sussex for more indoor options.
• Hove Beach Park guide for the skatepark, padel and seafront facilities.

Frequently asked questions

What are the best things to do in Brighton with young children?

SEA LIFE Brighton, Hove Museum of Creativity, the city’s larger playgrounds, Hove Lagoon and the seasonal paddling pools are among the easiest choices for younger children.

What can families do in Brighton for free?

Hove Museum is free, as are the city’s parks, playgrounds, skateparks, beach and council-operated seasonal paddling pools. Libraries also run free family and preschool activities.

What can you do with children in Brighton when it rains?

Useful indoor choices include SEA LIFE, the Royal Pavilion, Brighton Museum, Hove Museum, Preston Manor and Brighton Toy and Model Museum. Check opening days before travelling.

Is Brighton Palace Pier free to enter?

Not always. A £1 admission charge currently applies during peak periods from March to October for visitors over two. BN postcode residents can obtain a Local Resident Card for free entry, and pre-booked ride wristbands include admission.

Is Hove Museum free?

Yes. Hove Museum of Creativity is free to enter and is particularly well suited to families with younger children.

Is Volk’s Electric Railway suitable for children?

Yes. It is a popular family attraction and also provides a useful way of travelling along Brighton’s eastern seafront. The railway operates seasonally.

Are Brighton’s paddling pools free?

The council-operated seasonal water-play facilities at Hove Lagoon, Saunders Park and The Level are free. The 2026 season ends on 13 September. King’s Road paddling pool is closed throughout 2026.

Is The Level playground open?

Major replacement work began during the week of 7 September 2026, so families should check the latest council update before making a special journey for the playground. The wider park and skate facilities are separate.

Is the Booth Museum open?

Not for ordinary visits at present. Its redevelopment has been extended and Brighton & Hove Museums now expects the full museum to reopen in February 2027.

Can you do Brighton with children without a car?

Yes, and it’s probably easier as the bus service is so good. Brighton Station is within walking distance of North Laine, the Royal Pavilion, Brighton Museum, SEA LIFE, Palace Pier and the beach. Buses connect central Brighton with Hove and attractions farther across the city.

What are the best things to do in Brighton with teenagers?

Teenagers may prefer Palace Pier rides and arcades, The Level skatepark, Hove Lagoon, the Hove wheeled-sports area, beach games, watersports lessons, live performances and festival events rather than younger-child attractions.

Can you do Brighton as a day trip from London with kids?

Yes. Brighton works well as a family day trip from London because the station is within walking distance of North Laine, the Royal Pavilion, Brighton Museum, SEA LIFE, Palace Pier and the beach.

What can groups do in Brighton with children of different ages?

Mixed-age groups should choose flexible areas such as the seafront, Hove Lagoon, Preston Park, Hove Park, Palace Pier or the Pavilion area, where younger children, teens and adults can split between games, cafés, museums, rides and outdoor space.

Prices, seasonal opening information and attraction details checked on 8 September 2026. Prices, ride availability, events and opening hours can change, so check the relevant attraction before travelling.

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