Brighton and Hove is our home from home – it’s the last place we rented a house before we hit the road to travel as nomadic pet sitters, and it’s a city that draws us back in from time to time as we love to visit all our old haunts. We have so many favourite places in Brighton and Hove, and whenever we’re pet sitting nearby we love to take our four-legged friends on a day trip to enjoy them with us! We recently took 10 year old Pointer/Spaniel/Collie-cross Betty with us on a day trip to this beautiful, diverse seaside destination, that is hands down one of the most dog-friendly cities in England. So many people stopped to give Betty a good pat or a scratch behind the ear – everyone is super friendly and there are a variety of indoor places to go with your dog if the weather turns during your trip – as it did for us! Read on to find out where you can take your dog in Brighton and Hove.
Getting around
To take Betty for her day out in Brighton, we caught the train from East Worthing into Hove, a journey which takes around 20 minutes. All Southern Rail trains allow dogs on board, as long as they are kept under close control and remain on the floor. We had intended to alight at Brighton, but chose to get off at Hove station to give Betty a good walk into the centre. There are multiple buses that run throughout Brighton and Hove, all of which are dog-friendly at no extra charge. The Brighton & Hove buses website does state that it’s at the driver’s discretion to allow dogs on board, for example if the bus is overcrowded and would be unsafe for your pooch.
There is also a large cycle lane network all over the city, if you’re used to cycling and have a basket or backpack to fit your dog inside. There are Beryl bikes stationed at 82 hubs throughout Brighton and Hove, with pedal or electric options available to hire on a 2-30 day pass, or pay by the hour. While all public transport in Brighton and Hove is incredibly dog-friendly, we usually prefer to get around on foot as not only is everything in the city within walking distance, but it gives us and our doggo a good walk too! (Though we do love being able to easily hop on a bus at the end of a long day!)
Shopping
If there’s a specific shop you’re looking to visit in Brighton and Hove, it may be worth phoning ahead to make sure they’re dog-friendly. A lot of stores will have stickers on their doors to tell you if they allow dogs inside, but we found the best way was to have one of us pop in and check with staff before we brought Betty inside.
Brighton’s famous Laines are the go-to spot if you’re looking for quirky independent stores filled with treasures. Lucy & Yak, selling all kinds of clothing but particularly their trademark dungarees and jumpsuits, state that ‘dogs are not only welcome in our stores, but encouraged!’. As such you can expect lots of fuss if you visit here with your dog. Bert’s Homestore have multiple locations across Brighton and Hove, all of which are dog-friendly, so we love to stop in at their colourful store in the North Laines for everything from kitchenware, candles and decor to toys, books and games. For a real taste of vintage shopping in Brighton, take your pooch to Snoopers Paradise – just as the name suggests, this sprawling space crammed full of retro goods is a real Aladdin’s cave, and you’re sure to find something to take home. The Laines themselves are a gorgeous place to walk – the narrow cobbled streets, beautiful street art and jumble of coloured shopfronts are a feast for the eyes.
Around Brighton centre, you’ll be surprised how many shops are dog-friendly (Brighton is just so wonderful)! On the hunt for a pair of hiking boots to replace Suze’s very-well-loved pair, we stopped in at Mountain Warehouse, Blacks, Cotswold Outdoors and Millets – all of which welcomed us and Betty into their stores. Most of these shops even had dog water bowls and a jar of dog biscuits on standby to reward pooches for a day of following their owners around shops!
Some everyday chain stores, such as the heavenly-smelling cosmetics shop Lush, are dog-friendly and the staff excitably greet four-legged friends. The equally highly scented tea shop Bird and Blend are also dog-friendly, and your pooch will be able to potter around their stores with you while you find your new favourite tea blend. We’d recommend visiting the cute location on the seafront, as it’s just a few shopfronts over from Archie’s Empawrium! This small but well-stocked shop is full of everything you can think of for your dog, from food and treats to accessories and even doggy ice cream! The owner has a reputation for being incredibly welcoming and friendly to all pooches – it’s well worth a visit here to pick up some bits for your dog after indulging in retail therapy for yourself!
Where to eat
As with the shops in Brighton, you’re spoilt for choice with just how many eateries and cafes in Brighton and Hove are more than welcoming to dog owners. For a familiar favourite where you know what you’re getting, Caffe Nero is dog-friendly, and has comfy armchairs and the kind of layout where you can tuck yourself away in a corner so your doggy won’t be disturbed. For a more hipster vibe, coffee specialists Wolføx allow dogs at each of their locations, and you’ll experience a more indie, Brighton vibe as well as a perfectly brewed cup of coffee. If you’re looking for the best brunch in Hove, look no further than Baked. Their fluffy pancake stack with lashings of maple syrup is worth the wait at busier times – be sure to book in advance, and let them know you’ll be bringing a dog as only their ground floor inside and the outdoor area are dog-friendly.
The vegetarian and vegan restaurant Wai Kika Moo Kau provides respite from the bustling crowds in the Laines, with a bright and cosy seating area inside to enjoy their completely vegan cake selection while your dog snoozes by your side. Further South, in Kemptown, we visit Redroaster most times we come into Brighton when we fancy a cuppa in a beautiful setting. The sleek marble surfaces and botanical backdrop, paired with their varied all-day brunch menu, make it a delicious and Instagrammable spot to stop in with your dog.
On our day out with Betty, we tried a new lunch spot that turned out to be a new favourite! Shelter Hall, along the seafront, is an indoor food market offering a variety of dishes from 7 different independent stalls. We were greeted at the door and shown to our seats in the downstairs area – the mezzanine level upstairs is off-limits to dogs, though the space is so large and airy that we think downstairs is the better place to be! There’s a QR code on the table for you to scan, browse the menus and order, and before long a server brought the dishes to our table. It’s such a simple system and it works perfectly for those of us with dogs – Betty could lay on her mat and snooze undisturbed, instead of us having to get up and browse the stalls. There’s something for everyone here, from bao buns and pizza to cake and gelato! On a fair weather day the spacious outdoor seating area provides a view of the beach, though for our visit the February wind chill kept us inside! For more cafe inspiration, check out our Dog-friendly cafes in Hove blog post!
Brighton beach
An obvious place to visit while you’re in Brighton, but one of our favourites! We chose to get off our train at Hove with Betty instead of Brighton so that we could walk her along the beach and into the centre. You’ll need to be mindful of which sections of the beach permit dogs – between May and September some areas of the beach are closed off to four-legged friends. During those months, it’s equally lovely to stroll along the promenade that runs adjacent to the pebbly beach, all the way into Brighton and beyond. We love to walk for miles in either direction, spotting the famous Brighton Pier (unfortunately not dog-friendly), i360 observation tower, ruins of the West Pier, plus a diverse abundance of cafes, shops and art installations scattered along the seafront waiting to be discovered. For a dog-friendly beach all year round, head to the Hove Lagoon end to let your doggos run free!
Parks
If you can’t trust your dog not to nick someone’s picnic on the beach, luckily there are many green spaces in Brighton and Hove to let your dog burn off some energy. Being in a city means many of the parks are wide open spaces that run parallel to busy roads – so be mindful if your dog is prone to wander or run off.
The Level, less than 10 minutes walk from Brighton station, is a small grassy area where you can let your pooch sniff their way around while watching skateboarders practice their tricks at the skatepark. Preston Park is much more spacious, with a rose garden, wildflower meadow, and large open grass area to let your dog chase endless tennis balls and make friends with other dogs! Down by the sea, if your dog loves to run but hates pebbles under their paws, Hove Lawns are a long stretch of grass where dogs can enjoy a good run – just be mindful of the adjacent cycle lane that runs the length of the Lawns!
If you need an enclosed, safe space to let your dog run free off lead, we highly recommend taking them to Withdean Park – locally known as the Puppy Park, as many owners of young dogs bring their pups here while they’re still learning recall! Inside the Park is a sprawling, completely fenced area that is secure for dogs to run without fear of them running into a road or cycle lane. We’ve spent hours up at the Puppy Park over the years, chatting with other dog owners while our dogs play together! It’s a little further out of the centre of Brighton (around 20 minutes on the bus from Brighton Pavilion), but a lovely way to spend some time with your dog if you’re tired of the hustle and bustle of the city.
While you’re in the area…
There are so many places to visit in this gorgeous part of the country that both you and your dog can enjoy! One of our favourite places to walk dogs in Sussex is Devil’s Dyke – this picturesque valley is almost a mile long, with rolling hills and spectacular views. It’s possible to hike a route from here to another of our all time favourite spots – Ditchling Beacon. We love to come to the Beacon with Betty as it’s not far from her home, and we often spend hours walking her along the South Downs, admiring the views in all directions while Betty sniffs and runs her way along the well-trodden paths. Closer to Brighton itself, Stanmer Park is a large public space that is equally lovely for a good countryside stomp – just be aware of grazing sheep and keep your dogs under close control. For more dog walking routes, check out our 5 dog walks in Sussex blog post!
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