Brighton Private Self-Guided Tour

3.0 (2 reviews) 2–3 hours Private tour

out of 5

2 reviews

3.0

Brighton Private Self-Guided Tour — Photos: the activity supplier, via Viator

Brighton Private Self-Guided Tour, photo 2 — Photos: the activity supplier, via Viator

About this activity

See the best of the city of Brighton, learn all about its history—and explore totally independently, without worries of crowds—on this private, self-led audio tour. The creator of this amazing experience is Spencer, who will be your audio voice and "virtual" companion during the whole experience.

Upon booking, download the app to your smartphone and use when, and as often, as you’d like, for up to three weeks. You’ll see neighbourhoods and landmarks like Brighton Palace Pier, Kemptown Village, St. Nicholas Church, The Royal Albion Hotel, North Lane, South Lane and much more, and will learn behind-the-scenes stories from the audio narration of a Local Expert.

Please note: when booking, you will get a separate email with instructions on how to download our app and redeem your unique code (this code is different from your booking reference number!).

Private and Luxury Private Sightseeing Tours Audio Guides Cultural Tours Historical Tours Walking Tours City Tours Short term availability

At a glance

Duration: 2–3 hours
Confirmation: Instant confirmation
Ticket: Mobile or paper ticket accepted
Group: Your group only
People per booking: 1–15
Audio guide: English
Written guide: English
Operated by: Exploro Limited

Ages: Adults (5–90 years)

What is included

Included

Included: Audio guide, videos, pictures, recommendations and all the info you need
Included: You will get an email with instructions to activate your tour
Included: Unlimited access to this Self-Guided Tour on the app
Included: Spencer will guide you through an audio guide (no computer-generated voice!)
Included: Map, directions, GPS route and stops of each tour

Not included

Not included: In-person Guide
Not included: Any entrance fee for the attractions mentioned during the tour have to be paid separately

Itinerary

Brighton Palace Pier

10 min

We start our tour at one of Brighton’s most famous landmarks; The Palace Pier, commonly known as ‘Brighton Pier’. The pier was the third to be constructed after the Royal Suspension Chain Pier, (which now no longer exists), and the West Pier, the remains of which stand to the west of the Palace Pier that we will see on a later stop.
Stop 2

Passing by

Located behind its imposing gated entrance, The Sealife Centre (previously ‘The Brighton Aquarium’) is the oldest operating aquarium in the world. Opened in 1872, the Brighton Aquarium was designed by English architect Eugenius Birch.
Stop 3

Passing by

The first thing you may notice about this beautiful lift is its striking green gingerbread roof tiling. Please note that it is open from Good Friday to the last Sunday in September.
Concorde 2

Passing by

Just below Madeira Lift, If you are able to travel down, you will alight the lift in Concorde ll, a sixteen-foot ceilinged, black-painted, 600-capacity indie entertainment venue, which has seen performances over the years from such celebrated musical artists as Melanie C, Sophie Ellis Bextor and Jarvis Cocker.
The Regency Town House

Passing by

Architecture and literary fans alike will thoroughly enjoy the next stop of our tour, when, approaching an imposing crescent of white Regency townhouses which lead from Lewes Crescent to Sussex Square. This impressive and stately neighbourhood forms part of the 19th-century Kemp Town Estate, designed by Charles Busby and Amon Henry Wilds after it was financed by Thomas Read Kemp, from whom the area takes its name.
Kemptown

15 min

This attractive artisan quarter of the city provides two contrasting environments for visitors and residents; the area to the east of Lower Rock Gardens, which is the next part of the tour, where we will see the many independent pubs, restaurants, boutiques and markets that make up this historical sanctuary, far from the madding crowd, that later leads to the more vibrant and bustling St. James Street area of Kemptown.
Stop 7

10 min

In present times this thriving area of Brighton is arguably most famous for housing its LGBTQ+ community, holding a street party for Pride each year away from the main venue at Preston Park. However, starting out as a quiet fishing village in the early 1800s, St. James’s Street has seen many dramatic changes over the years.
Royal Pavilion

Passing by

Fighting its place as the most famous Brighton landmark, the striking Royal Pavilion is a Grade l listed, former Royal residence which dates back to 1787. It was originally built as a seaside residence for the Prince of Wales, who later became the Prince Regent in 1811.
North Laine

10 min

Despite the singular term, North ‘Laine’, this much-loved area actually covers a succession of lanes and streets that give this sought-after location its name. Established as a fishing village at the time of the Doomsday Book, archaeological finds have proven that the area dates back to the Bronze Age. Discover the outstanding story behind these streets.
Stop 10

5 min

The third oldest surviving building in the city of Brighton and Hove is the beautiful St. Nicholas of Myra Church, which is located on a quiet corner at the junction of Church Street and Dyke Road.
Stop 11

Passing by

This is a location often overlooked by visitors to Brighton, yet is one of great interest due to its period charm, photogenic architectural exterior and deceptive maze of nooks, crannies and secret enclosed terraces. An eclectic array of bric a brac, pictures and artefacts can be found in every corner of this Aladdin’s Cave encased in a Regency public house.
Stop 12

Passing by

Originally known as Belle Vue Field, the site has seen numerous uses during its time, including often being used as a military encampment. It was heralded as a fine example of seaside architecture and provided unobstructed views of the sea, and later, what became to be known as The West Pier.
Stop 13

Passing by

Formerly known as the ‘Brighton i360’, the British Airways i360 is an observation tower standing 162m high on the central section of Brighton’s seafront.
West Pier

Passing by

The West Pier is just as iconic nowadays, in its skeletal state of disrepair, as it was back in its thriving, Victorian heyday. Designed by Eugenius Birch, the West Pier was opened in 1866. Discover the amazing history behind this incredible landmark with Spencer.
Stop 15

Passing by

The Grand is a stunning Victorian seafront hotel, which is arguably the most expensive and exclusive in the city of Brighton and Hove. The building was designed by John Whichcord Jr. and was built in 1864 to provide an executive place to stay for the upper classes visiting the city.
Stop 16

10 min

Whilst this section of our tour is entitled ‘Boyces Street’, it actually includes an enchanting journey through a collection of ancient, narrow walkways which remain some of Brighton’s best-kept secrets.
Stop 17

Passing by

Growing from a small fishing village to a thriving and fashionable seaside resort, Brighton had seen an extensive change in its development by the end of the 19th Century. In 1897, architect Lewis Karslake designed what is now The Hippodrome, but the site was originally intended as an ice rink.
Stop 18

Passing by

Just as Ship Street meets the seafront, on the right-hand side you will see the splendid, Gothic building which now houses the exclusive Hotel du Vin.
Stop 19

10 min

Not to be confused with the North Laine, Brighton’s South Lanes are positioned to the south side of North Street and stretch to the seafront from West Street and The Old Steine. Arguably one of the most famous attractions to tourists, visitors and indeed, locals.
Stop 20

Passing by

Formerly The Albion Hotel, The Royal Albion Hotel is a 3-star hotel on Brighton’s seafront. Facing the Old Steine Gardens to the North, (which accommodates a major part of the Fringe Festival each year), the hotel was built on the site of a house belonging to Richard Russell, a famous character of the city who will be largely described on our tour.

Meeting point and pickup

Everyone meets at the meeting point.

Meeting point

All our tours are self-guided. You will be led by the GPS in the app. Remember to check the "Before You Go" Section of your ticket and give Pandemic Tours App access to your location!

End point

All our tours are self-guided. You will be led by the GPS in the app. Remember to check the "Before You Go" Section of your ticket and give Pandemic Tours App access to your location!

Using your ticket

Your Exploro Tour is Ready!

Thanks for booking your self-guided tour with Exploro, we’re excited to help you discover the city at your own pace!

To avoid issues, OPEN THE TOUR A DAY EARLY and check everything loads correctly

Here’s everything you need to get started:

If you DON’T HAVE the Exploro app yet:

1. Download the Exploro app from our website: https://exploro.app

2. Open the app and sign up for a free account.

3. Follow the onboarding steps. When asked, select the platform where you bought your tour (e.g. Viator, TripAdvisor), choose your tour from the list, and enter your booking reference number to unlock it.

4. If you have any trouble unlocking the tour during onboarding, copy and paste the link below in Chrome or Safari (tap Allow if prompted) then enter your booking reference number to unlock it.

Already HAVE the app installed?

1. Make sure you're signed in to your account in the Exploro app

2. Copy and paste this link in Chrome or Safari to open your tour in the app (if asked click on allow):

https://exploro.app/tours/brighton-city-centre-self-guided-walking-tour?source=viator

3. Insert your booking reference number.

Helpful tips:

Make sure your phone is charged
We highly recommend bringing a portable charger
Bring earphones to avoid disturbing others
Wear comfortable shoes
The tour is completely flexible — explore anytime

Want to revisit the tour later?

You’ll find it saved under the “Saved” tab in the Exploro app anytime.

It is suggested opening the app a little earlier to familiarize yourself with the interface and to make sure you've given it access to your location. This will ensure you can fully utilize the map function for a seamless experience.

If you have any questions or run into any issues, feel free to contact us at [email protected] or drop a message via WhatsApp at +39 389 644 9134, we're happy to help!

Don't forget to rate the tour when you're done. Thanks!

Enjoy your journey,

The Exploro Team