There aren’t many places that just make you feel good, but Brighton is one of the few that gives you a feeling that is really quite hard to beat.
I headed to Brighton on Easter Sunday for an overnight bank holiday getaway. It's an easy journey from London straight on the Thameslink to Brighton station - which is the perfect location for a day in the Lanes, on the beach, at the arcades, or all three.
My boyfriend and I went straight to our hotel, the DoubleTree by Hilton Brighton Metropole, and left our bags in our front-facing sea view room before going out for the day.
There aren’t any words that can do the views we had here justice, and to open balcony doors onto sun, the sea and the beach was just dreamy.
@immyshare 24 hours in Brighton ☀️💙⛱️ We stayed in the DoubleTree Brighton Metropole with a stunning seaview room, went on the @Brighton i360, saw the upside down house, spent time on the pier, ate fish and chips, had @purespa.official massages, and ate and drank ice cream and gin to our heart’s content 🤍 #dayoutinbrighton #thingstodoinbrighton #brightonsummer #i360 #i360brighton #i360britishairways #prinvite #summerdayout #summer #easterbankholiday @Zach Harris ♬ original sound - Anime Thunder
Not only did it feel like we were abroad, but the room was absolutely massive, with an interconnecting door to another room had we have booked it, a large bathroom with a shower, wardrobe, desk and dressing table.
We wasted no time before going to have a wander along the beach and become familiar with our surroundings.
We had booked the Brighton i360 viewpoint that afternoon, and loved the experience of going up 138 metres in the sky to get 360-degree views of the city.
There’s even a bar in the pod, so you can have a drink and a snack and relax while looking down on the stunning beaches and lanes of Brighton.
We went for the afternoon tea option where you get to enjoy a lovely cream tea in the cafe once you have landed back down, but other experiences include Walk 360, Drop 360 and Climb 360.
Thrill seekers assemble as these are not for the faint hearted – but involve open air walks on the pod, a controlled descent, or a 30-metre climb to the very top of the tower.
The Walk 360 option is also changing to allow you to be on the roof as it moves up, rather than now where you travel to height and then climb up a ladder onto the roof.
If you’re braver than I am, I’d definitely recommend!
The i360 has also opened a Roller Rink overlooking the West Pier for those who are up for a skate.
Just next to the i360 is the infamous Brighton Upside Down House, which we went into to see a literal upside down house inside. It’s a little bit crazy and difficult to comprehend, but put it this way, the toilet was literally hanging from the ceiling.
We spent the rest of our afternoon on the pier – enjoying the arcades, having some drinks in the pub, and walking in the sunshine. It really is a haven of fun for all ages.
We finished our day with fish and chips by the beach – my number one happy place. The fish is so fresh.
As the night drew in, we watched TV in our room, and before we knew it we’d woken up on Easter Monday with the sun beaming through the curtains.
Imagine actually waking up, opening the curtains and balcony doors, and seeing the sun rise over the sea and beach… just incredible.
We had breakfast in the hotel which was included in our stay and comprised of a large buffet with anything and everything you could want – pastries, eggs, hot food, fruit, cereal, toast… the list is endless.
We had a mid-morning drink in the hotel bar before enjoying a relaxing treatment at PURE Spa & Beauty which is next to the hotel’s health club and offers all sorts from manicures and pedicures to facials.
I had a relaxing full body massage, and my boyfriend had a deep tissue massage for 60 minutes.
It was absolute heaven, and the therapists were incredible at making the whole experience as luxurious and relaxing as can be.
Feeling very zen, we headed into the lanes for a nice walk and some shopping at the Brighton independents for the afternoon.
It really is so pretty round there, and it’s weird to think when you're in the town that the beach is just a few steps away.
We finished our day with an ice cream on the pier, and a moment or two throwing pebbles into the sea, relaxing on the beach and putting the world to rights.
Brighton, you have my heart, and I will be back soon.
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