Car hire Brighton

The oldest working aquarium on Earth, a unique Asian-themed seaside royal pavilion and England's largest arts festival are just a handful of reasons why Brighton may be Great Britain's most famous beach holiday destination. Although the majority of Brighton's eight million annual visitors may come from London, just 76kms north of Brighton, growing numbers of overseas tourists have also discovered Brighton's namesake pier, beach and everything else this East Sussex getaway offers.

Transport

Although Brighton lies just over eight kilometres from Shoreham Airport, the United Kingdom's oldest licensed airport, the vast majority of tourists enter the seaside community by train or bus then get a car hire in Brighton. The latter is the preferred transportation option for Brighton visitors wishing to explore beyond the Brighton and Howe city limits.

Car Hire Brighton

Although it is easy to go online and compare car hire options in Brighton, many overseas visitors choose to rent their vehicles at one of London's larger airports before making the 76-km journey south to Brighton. Shoreham Airport offers car rental in Brighton through Europcar, National and a local company called Pavilion. The A23 is the main thoroughfare between Gatwick Airport and Brighton.

Driving

It takes under 90 minutes to reach Brighton from London along either the M25 or M23, except during peak holiday times and work commuting hours. Driving along the coastline, however, is far more relaxing than driving within Brighton itself. The city gets quite busy during Brighton's annual gay pride and children's parades.

Things To See and Do

Although London lies less than 90 minutes north of Brighton, England's capital is not Brighton's only popular day trip destination. History buffs will especially enjoy Arundel's 11th-century castle 32kms west of Brighton and the ruins of the Norman-era Lewes Castle 13kms away. There are also some stunning views from Ditchling Beacon's hill fort, which has been here since the Iron Age.

Best Time To Visit

There is no doubt summer is Brighton's high tourist season, but this southern coastal city enjoys higher than average temperatures all year long. Even during the coldest winter months, Brighton's temperature rarely plummets below 8°C, warm enough for tropical plants to flourish in local parks. Spring and autumn are ideal times to explore Brighton's mild weather without the summer crowds.