11 Things to do in Brighton this August
Fun things to do in Brighton this August with kids, festivals and foodie treats
We spend every month scouring Brighton for the best things to do, keeping a close eye on the city’s food and drink scene so you do not have to. Our team are constantly trying and testing new venues, menus and events across Brighton, Hove and Sussex, and this August round up is our most action packed yet. From Pride weekend to Afternoon Tea Week, sizzling summer menu launches to a bank holiday send off, there is no shortage of things to do in Brighton this August. Here is The Scoop on our eleven highlights for the month ahead.
1. Brighton Pride 2026, 1st and 2nd August, RAYE and Diana Ross
This August, top of our list has to be Brighton Pride, the UK’s biggest Pride celebration and one of the most unmissable things to do in Brighton all year. Taking place on the first and second of August, the parade winds through the city centre and down to the seafront before the festival takes over Preston Park with headline music from RAYE and Diana Ross, along with cabaret and citywide parties. Kemptown and the seafront become the beating heart of the action, packed with street food, casual dining and vibrant LGBTQ + bars within easy walking distance of the parade route. Book tables early, as the whole city fills up fast for Pride weekend. It really is simply unmissable and plenty of restaurants have an action packed line-up.
2. Brighton for the kids, offers and free things to do
Keeping little ones entertained in the school holidays does not need to cost a fortune, and our Brighton for kids guide is packed with free things to do in Brighton alongside seasonal offers worth knowing about. From splash pools to museum days out, we round up the best family friendly ideas for August. And with the sunshine sticking around, our ice cream round up has been going down a storm with readers this summer, spotlighting the best gelato and ice cream parlours across the city and beyond.
So the real question this August is not whether you should treat the kids to ice cream, but where you will be taking them. Boho Gelato, Marrocco’s or Gelato Gusto, the choice is yours.
3. BRAVO winners for the summer holidays
With the school holidays in full swing, there is no better time to revisit this year’s BRAVO Restaurant Award winners for family dining. Voted for by the public in their thousands, our Best Family Friendly winner is Jo & Co in Hove, a bright, buzzing all day restaurant known for its build your own pancake kids menu, high chairs and colouring books that make eating out with little ones effortless. Jo & Co also claimed Best Brunch at the 2026 BRAVOS, so grown ups are just as well looked after, with a menu that runs from brioche French toast to hearty savoury plates. It is easily one of the best things to do in Brighton with children this August.
4. Food and drink events this month
Our August food and drink events guide is refreshed all month, so keep checking back for the latest additions. Head to Pearly Cow on the seafront for Friday DJ nights, where cocktails and open fire cooking meet a lively soundtrack to see the weekend in. For something more laid back, The Better Half Pub hosts acoustic afternoons with live jazz, the perfect excuse for a long, easy Sunday session. Fancy learning a new skill? Book onto a croissant making class at the Open Bakery and master the art of lamination for yourself. This is just the beginning of our August food and drink guide, so keep an eye on this page for more things to do in Brighton as the month unfolds.
5. The Bell Tower launches a new Mediterranean menu
Kemptown favourite The Bell Tower has unveiled a brand new Mediterranean menu this August, built around small plates for sharing and cooked over charcoal and fire. Highlights include a charcoal grilled pork chop with bitter leaf salad and burst cherry tomatoes, a pan fried lamb barnsley chop with cumin olive tapenade and confit garlic courgettes, and a wonderfully creamy burrata served with warm panzanella salad and salsa verde. There are plenty of plant based options too, from confit celeriac finished on the grill with romesco sauce to stuffed padron peppers with Calabrian chilli jam. The Bell Tower has quickly become one of Kemptown’s most popular pubs since opening, and this new small plates format is well worth the trip, whether you are settling in for a long lunch in the beer garden or stopping by after a walk along the seafront.
6. Dishoom Permit Room’s new sharing lunch menu
In the heart of the Lanes on East Street, Dishoom Permit Room has launched a brand new lunch menu designed to get you fed fast. Choose a small plate to start, then devour a curry with rice, all for fourteen pounds fifty per person, no fuss required. Pick from the airiest onion bhajia or crisp samosas to begin, followed by favourites like Permit Room Fried Chicken, Dishoom Chicken Ruby, Prawn Moilee or Dishoom Mattar Paneer. It is Bombay inspired comfort food at its best, the perfect pit stop whether you are on a lunch break or settling in for a long, lazy catch up with friends. Leave happily fed, and call it one of the best things to do in Brighton for lunch this August.
7. Staycations, stay and dine in Sussex
Why not swap a flight abroad for a Sussex staycation this August, keeping your money in the local economy while discovering some of the county’s best restaurants with rooms. Tottington Manor’s Terra restaurant pairs South Downs views with a heated pergola for evening cocktails, while Morley’s Bistro in Hurstpierpoint offers a slower pace on a charming high street lined with independent shops. The Jolly Sportsman near Lewes and Wingrove House in Alfriston both combine excellent modern British cooking with comfortable rooms, and Woodfire Camping offers live fire feasts under canvas for something a little different. With Sussex walks right on the doorstep, a stay and dine break is one of the most rewarding things to do in Brighton and beyond this summer.
8. Summer festivals as the season draws to a close
August might be the final full month of summer, but Brighton’s festival calendar is not slowing down yet. Brighton and Hove Pride takes over Preston Park and the city centre on the first and second of the month, with a huge parade, live music and citywide parties. Just a few days later, the Festival of Racing brings three days of horse racing and summer entertainment to Brighton Racecourse overlooking the sea. Both events are the perfect excuse to explore the seafront and Kemptown’s buzzing restaurant scene before or after the action. For the full lineup of what is on across the city and Sussex this month, our festivals in Brighton guide is updated regularly with all the latest dates.
9. Celebrate Afternoon Tea Week in style
Afternoon Tea Week runs from the tenth to the sixteenth of August, and Brighton has no shortage of ways to celebrate. Climb aboard the Brighton Regency Routemaster for a vintage bus tour paired with tiered stands of sandwiches, cakes and a soundtrack of classic sixties anthems, or head to the award winning Grand Hotel for afternoon tea on the Victoria Terrace overlooking the seafront, complete with a Champagne upgrade if you fancy pushing the boat out. Expect finger sandwiches, warm scones with clotted cream and jam, and beautifully presented cakes wherever you choose to go, alongside speciality teas and a glass of something sparkling for those celebrating in style. It is one of the most indulgent things to do in Brighton this August.
10. Bank holiday Monday, 31 August 2026
The last Monday of August brings the final bank holiday of the summer, and Brighton always makes the most of it. Whether you are planning a lazy brunch, a long pub lunch or an evening out to mark the end of the season, our Brighton food and drink guide is the place to start for inspiration. Keep an eye on this page as it will be updated with the latest bank holiday events and offers as the weekend approaches, from seafront gatherings to last minute festival dates. Whatever you choose to do, a bank holiday in Brighton is always one of the best things to do in Brighton before autumn arrives.
11. More BRAVO winners worth visiting
While you are exploring the city, do not miss two more of this year’s BRAVO Award winners. Fatto a Mano took home Best Value Restaurant, with handmade Neapolitan pizzas cooked in wood fired ovens and dough proved for twenty four hours, proof that great food does not need to break the bank. Meanwhile Kindling was voted Best Lunch in Brighton, and its powerhouse lunch offer of a flatiron steak and chips or house burger and chips for fifteen pounds, served Monday to Saturday between midday and four, is one of the best value lunches in the city. Both are proof that some of the best things to do in Brighton this August do not require a big budget.
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Brighton is a foodie’s dream, with events like the Brighton Foodies Festival, Seafood & Oyster Festival, Cocktail Week, pasta-making workshops, and wine tasting at Sussex vineyards. Restaurants Brighton’s Things to Do in Brighton guide highlights monthly food and drink events, from fine dining guest chef evenings to casual street food markets. You can also see our daily food and drink events guide which features all the food and drink things to do in the city.
Yes – throughout the year you can enjoy seasonal events such as the Brighton Festival food pop-ups in May, Sussex vineyard tours in summer, Brighton Cocktail Week in autumn, and festive markets with mulled wine in December. Our monthly guide lists every seasonal highlight so you never miss out. the guide is updated monthly, plus we also have the Brighton events guide with daily updated events.
Families can enjoy the Brighton Pier, the SEA LIFE Centre, and child-friendly restaurants offering dedicated kids’ menus. The guide also covers activities like outdoor fun at Woodfire Camping, or events at the Secret Vineyard, seafront bike rides, and kid-friendly workshops such as cupcake decorating or pizza making. You can see a list of daily changing things to in Brighton on our events guide.
Absolutely – take a stroll along Brighton beach, enjoy fish and chips with a view, explore the Palace Pier, or visit beachside bars and dog-friendly cafes. Our guide also highlights seafront events like seafood festivals, outdoor concerts, and alfresco dining at beachfront restaurants. See our daily Brighton events guide which lists all the food and drink in the coming days and weeks. This is updated daily.
Brighton offers rich cultural attractions including the Royal Pavilion, Theatre Royal, Brighton Dome, Brighton Centre, and the Brighton Museum & Art Gallery. Our monthly things to do guide for Brighton often links these venues with nearby dining spots for a full day or evening out. Have a look at our Brighton Events guide too, which gives you a list of daily activities, what’s going on in Brighton and Hove.
Yes – from romantic Sussex vineyard tours and sunset cocktails at rooftop bars to intimate fine dining experiences and live jazz nights, there’s plenty for couples. Our guide curates the most romantic activities alongside where to book the perfect table in Brighton. We also have a seperate designated page just for couples so you can make the most out of your stay or visit to Brighton.
Brighton has a thriving hands-on food scene with pasta-making workshops, cocktail masterclasses, wine and cheese pairings, and baking courses. The guide lists the best classes each month, ideal for date nights, birthdays, or team-building experiences. You can see individual food and drink events on our Brighton Events Guide. You can also have a look at the Brighton Community Kitchen which hosts a range of food and drink events every month.
During Brighton Pride, the city comes alive with colourful parades, themed Brighton brunches, and Pride parties at bars and clubs. In May, the Brighton Festival and Brighton Fringe bring street food markets, theatre, music, and unique dining experiences. Our guide covers all the highlights so you can plan your visit.
Yes – our Things to Do in Brighton guide includes free attractions like the beach, street art tours, and open-air events, plus affordable Brighton dining deals such as 2-for-1 offers, happy hours, and midweek restaurant promotions.
