Most tourists come to Brighton to walk the pier, grab some fish and chips, maybe have a photo on the beach, and then leave thinking they’ve done Brighton. But beneath the surface of this vibrant seaside resort lies a whole world of hidden experiences that regular visitors – and even residents – often overlook. Whether you’re a local looking to explore your own backyard or a visitor keen to go deeper, here are six genuinely interesting things you probably didn’t know you could do in Brighton.
1. Explore the city’s only waterfall in Preston Park Rock Garden
If you’ve walked through Preston Park dozens of times and never ventured into the Preston Park Rock Garden, you’re missing one of Brighton’s best-kept secrets. Hidden away just opposite the main park, this Victorian rockery contains a modest but beautiful 20-foot waterfall that gushes down into a pond below. The fact that most people walk past it without ever knowing it’s there makes it feel genuinely special.
The garden itself is properly atmospheric. You can wander through shady, winding pathways, cross giant stepping stones over the pond, and explore different sections, including a wildflower bank, an arboretum, and a winter garden. There’s even a bird hide if you fancy spotting some local wildlife. Head to the top of the garden and you’ll get decent views across Preston Park itself.
2. Step inside a fisherman’s accidental sculpture garden
On the seafront, just past the Palace Pier and around a 15-minute walk from the i360, there’s something that at first glance looks like a ramshackle pile of fishing nets and rubbish surrounded by a fence. Look closer, though, and you’ll discover the Flint Grotto – a genuinely remarkable collection of eight larger-than-life sculptures crafted from beach flints and shells.
The story behind it is brilliant. Rory McCormack is a local Brighton fisherman. About a decade ago, he started decorating the area around his fishing equipment with sculptures. Without any formal art training or intention to become famous, he’s created something genuinely special. It’s the sort of place that genuinely stops you in your tracks because it’s so unexpected and honest. It’s just someone putting things together because they interested him.
3. Try your luck with some gambling
What surprises a lot of people is that Brighton actually has a decent gambling scene. The city has proper casinos like Genting Casino and Grosvenor Casino offering table games from American Roulette and Blackjack to more unusual options like 6-shooter Dice. There are also plenty of arcades and smaller gaming venues scattered around.
At the same time, you won’t actually have to visit a physical gambling location in order to test your luck anymore. Today, you can explore online casinos offering instant withdrawal, large game selections, and lucrative bonuses. So if you need to fill some time in between attractions or wish to wind off a long day with some casual fun, some light-hearted gambling is a good option.
4. Experience Nordic wellness
Tucked away behind the Volks Railway Workshop on Madeira Drive, the Beach Box Sauna Spa offers something you wouldn’t expect to find on a British beach: proper Scandinavian-style saunas housed in converted horse boxes. Here, you can book a session and then spend a couple of hours moving between the wood-fired saunas and cooling off in the ice bath, the sea or on the pebbles.
It’s genuinely one of the most unusual wellness experiences in the city. What makes it special is the attention to detail. The staff prepare homemade body treatments like clay face masks and salt body scrubs, served in coconut shell bowls on wooden platters. The whole thing feels properly designed and considered, not just thrown together.
5. Follow a hidden art installation
London Road has the London Road Stone Circle – a genuinely clever bit of public art that almost nobody notices. It’s an installation consisting of 50 numbered stone paving slabs set in a circle around the area. They were created by art grads from the University of Brighton a few years back using old stone slabs that were about to be thrown away, now placed all over the London Road area – on pavements, in private gardens, and scattered about in various spots.
The brilliant thing is that you’ve probably walked over several of these stones without realising. If you want to do a proper hunt, you can try to spot all 50 (or at least a good number of them) and piece together the installation yourself.
