to add an item to your Itinerary basket.
Time Out has published their list of the 20 most walkable cities in the world and we are chuffed to see that Brighton is number 3 on the global list, making it the most walkable city in the UK!
While it is always gratifying when our small city tops the list of any poll, survey or study I admit I was a little surprised by this one. Not that I am disputing the fact that this is a walkable city, far from it, as this has been a key tagline for my colleagues in the conference office for many years! I guess what surprises me is the idea that a city might not be walkable. Mind you I was lucky enough to grow up in Brighton so clearly, I’ve taken it for granted that walking from A to B is not only an option, but my first choice, when it comes to travelling around the city.
Whenever I visit a new destination, I make sure I have some time to simply wander about and get a feel for the place and as I’ve grown up here, I’ve never had to consciously make the effort to do that in Brighton, it is just a given that if we’re going anywhere then we’re going on foot. And that doesn’t just apply to the city centre, last year when The White Horses opened in Rottingdean we still walked there. It was a lovely stroll along the seafront from Brighton Palace Pier to the Marina to join the Undercliff Walk along to Rottingdean. The only times I don’t walk is if there is a time pressure but other than that travelling by foot is always my first choice.
If someone asks me what they should do on their first trip to Brighton, in addition to the main attractions and key things to do, I recommend making time to simply wander around. Walk the streets of the North Laine and soak up the atmosphere, admire the street art on every corner and then when your feet grow weary pick whichever independent bar or café catches your eye, find a window seat and watch the world go by. This being Brighton you will see all sorts of people pass by; it really is the best way to appreciate the vibrancy & creativity that abound.
But it’s not just about the city, as mentioned earlier it is possible to walk along the coastline of Brighton. In fact, thanks to the King Charles III Coastal Path, it is now possible to walk by the sea for most of Sussex – from West Wittering to Eastbourne. I’m very tempted to do that one day, well it would need to be over the course of a couple of days, but you know what I mean! You could easily spend a whole day just on the seafront, from breakfast at Rockwater to a ride on the Brighton i360 followed by fish ‘n’ chips on Brighton Palace Pier, say hello to the giant turtle at Sea Life followed by a swim at Sea Lanes or a game of volleyball at Yellowave before moving on for a quick round of crazy golf at Globalls and finally a well-earned dinner at Malmaison.
But there is still more to explore as the city is home to green as well as blue spaces. Your feet can soon carry you away from the brilliantly, bonkers city centre and take you to tranquillity of the Pavilion Gardens, the Level or Preston Park. Surrounded by trees & flowers you can enjoy a moment with nature to revive yourself before heading back to the city centre for more madness.
I could go on, but I'd better not however before I walk away I would like to thank Time Out & their readers for not only recognising the walkability of our compact city but also for reminding me not to take this for granted. I must remember to reassure our lovely visitors that they will be able to put their best foot forward as they explore the UK’s most walkable city.
Charlotte
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