Brighton does a fine line in all things festive. True Christmas lovers will know that Raymond Briggs’s Snowman takes flight across the South Downs and over the iconic domes of the city’s Pavilion. So where better to spend some time in the run-up to the big day? Whether you want to go skating or take part in an annual winter solstice ritual, these are the best things to do in Brighton this Christmas.
RECOMMENDED: Full guide to the best places to go shopping in Brighton
Brighton Christmas Festival returns in 2022, opening on November 18 and running until Christmas Eve. Set across a vast site that runs from the Old Steine, opposite the pier, all the way up the newly regenerated Valley Gardens, it’s got something for everyone. Santa has his own grotto, there are two dedicated entertainment venues, a ferris wheel which dominates the skyline and an apres-ski zone with mulled wine for those unencumbered by small kids.
A Brighton tradition dating back to 1994, Burning The Clocks finally returns in 2022. This annual event is designed to mark the year’s passing for everyone, regardless of their faith. Held on December 21, the shortest day of the year, it sees families parade through the city to the beach with homemade lanterns, which are passed onto a huge fire sculpture. Cue fireworks!
The ice rink at Brighton’s beautiful Royal Pavilion is open from October 29 all the way through to January 8. Found at the rear of the building on its main lawn, the rink is set up for families, with ride-along penguins for younger guests. There’s a bar and restaurant attached too, so you can get in the festive mood after you’ve done your best Torvill and Dean impression.
Brighton’s Artists Open Houses Winter Festival returns, running over three successive weekends from November 26 to December 11. It offers a chance to meet makers and pick up unique gifts from studios dotted throughout the city.
Panto not your thing? Then how about some immersive theatre that also doubles up as a festive escape-room experience. Based on Dickens’s Christmas classic, Pier Pressure: A Christmas Carol will let you pull together a team to take on characters such as Scrooge and Tiny Tim, while undertaking challenges set by the ghosts of Christmas past, present and future. It takes an hour and is designed for between four and eight players.
Discover Time Out original video
