Things to do this Autumn in Brighton

From autumn walks and Sunday roasts in cosy pubs to Halloween and Bonfire Nigh plus what’s on in theatres and museums, there are plenty of things to do this autumn in Brighton

A spectacular sunset over the ruined West Pier on Brighton beach with the clouds a vibrant mix of oranges and red contrasting against the azure sky with the sand and promenade in shade in the foreground
35mminstyle.com

With the days getting shorter and colder, how can we have more fun indoors? What does the autumn season look like in Brighton’s theatres, museums and galleries? With the leaves turning red and yellow, where are the best places in Brighton for an autumn walk? Where are the best and cosiest pubs in Brighton, and which does the best Sunday roast? These are the questions everyone’s asking, and so Culture Calling set out to find some answers - here they all are, in our list of the best things to do in Brighton this autumn…


Take an autumnal walk through one of Brighton’s beautiful outdoor spaces

A modern building with large windows and solar panels on the roof is surrounded by lush greenery and ornamental grasses. Several people are sitting at tables outside, while a person walks on a paved path nearby. Tall trees are in the background under a blue sky.
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Perhaps the best thing about this season is going for a long walk and wading through those autumnal leaves that fall from the trees in their yellows, reds and browns - it really is a sight to behold, and Brighton has plenty of brilliant parks where you can revel in the changing of the season…


Get back to nature

A seagull stands atop a green iron railing, overlooking a vast, calm ocean. The horizon is hazy, blending with the light sky, and gentle waves ripple across the water's surface.
unsplash.com

Venture a little further out of the city and you’ll find some truly stunning scenes, from manicured gardens to awesome sights in the East Sussex countryside.

After a long walk, sink into a Sunday roast at one of the best places for it

A plate of roast beef slices topped with a large Yorkshire pudding, accompanied by vegetables, roast potatoes, and rich gravy. The dish is placed on an outdoor table next to a glass of red wine and a fork and knife wrapped in a napkin.
Image © HovePlace via Facebook

Autumn means the return of the roast dinner - maybe you make a mean roast, or maybe it’s someone you know and love who does it best (or maybe not!), but if you fancy a slap-up Sunday roast from some of the best in the business - all without the hassle of cooking and washing up - check out our favourites…


Head indoors to one of Brighton’s best museums

The image shows the exterior of the Brighton Museum & Art Gallery, a historical building with ornate architectural features, including columns and arched windows. There are green trees and blooming flowers in the foreground, adding color to the scene.
Visit Brighton

Brighton has plenty of must-see museums that are entertaining and enlightening in equal measure on the best of days, and when the weather turns they become all the more appealing - check out our guide to the best museums in Brighton…


Catch the exhibition at Hastings Contemporary

Hastings Contemporary 21 Sep 2024 to 16 Mar 2025

Immortal Apples, Eternal Eggs is a meeting of two of the UK’s most significant collections – The Ingram Collection and the David and Indrė Roberts Collection – and will include work from artists including Phyllida Barlow, Louise Bourgeois, Sir Anthony Caro, Patrick Caulfield, Michael Craig-Martin, Dame Elisabeth Frink, Henry Moore, Ben Nicholson and Sarah Lucas.

The exhibition juxtaposes world-class contemporary sculpture, video and installation alongside traditional still life painted works. It aims to challenge assumptions about this familiar genre, inviting new perspectives and asking viewers: what really is still life? 

More than 50 artworks will be on display, created by more than 50 artists over the past 100 years. 


Discover the North Laines quirky shops

A vibrant thrift store filled with racks of colorful vintage clothes. The racks are arranged in rows with t-shirts, jackets, and shirts on either side. A mannequin in the middle displays a patterned sweater and a white tote bag. The walls are decorated with large flower cutouts and more vintage outfits on display.
tobewornagain.com

Brighton is beloved for many things – its pier, its notoriously pebbled beach, the magnificent pavilion - and its abundance of curious and quirky shops.


Celebrate Black History Month in Brighton

The words Black History Month stand in bold white capital letters in a black background. Behind each word, one on top of the other, is a paintbrush stroke in red, green and yellow, respectively - the colours of the Pan-African flag.
EqualiTeach.co.uk

Various 1 Oct 2024 to 31 Oct 2024

There are some great events happening to celebrate Black History Month in Brighton, and a lot of laughs to be had at the Komedia!


Pick some pumpkins for Halloween

Preston Manor & Gardens 18 Oct 2024 to 31 Oct 2024

Spectacular spooky family fun this Halloween. From tiny gourds to giant jack-o’-lanterns, Preston Manor's pumpkin patch offers a huge variety of pumpkins ready for you to pick, plus a spooky mystery trail through the manor and its gardens!


Halloween Events in Brighton 2024

You might associate Brighton with its sunny beaches, its cutes shops and its cafes galore, but there is a darker side to the seaside town - a spooooookier side, filled with creepy tales and ghostly apparitions, so we put together a ghoulish guide to the spooky adventures in Brighton.


Continue the scare well into December, with a Ghost Tour of The Lanes

The Lanes 1 Feb 2024 to 22 Dec 2024

Are you brave enough to venture on Brighton’s famous ghost walk? Enter the labyrinth of Brighton’s oldest and most haunted quarter...


Watch the starling murmurations over Brighton’s piers

Sunset over Brighton Pier, and hundreds of starlings fly through the air together in two groups, one close and one far away
Photo by Michael Steven Harris

Beginning in November, starlings from all over the UK and even as far as Eastern Europe use the Earth’s magnetic field to navigate and migrate to the south coast (where it is relatively warm) for the winter months. Every evening huge groups perform murmurations, or a stunning aerial dance, against the backdrop of the setting sun between Brighton Pier and West Pier. Scientists say that, although flying together like this actually makes them more vulnerable to some predators, the starlings do it just because they enjoy it! With as many as tens of thousands of starlings soaring through the air in unison, it really is a sight to behold and something to cheer your spirit as it gets colder.

If you want to see the starlings’ murmurations over Brighton, simply head to Brighton seafront around half an hour before sunset.


Watch the fireworks fly at a Bonfire Bonanza

In the distance, green jets shoot off from Worthing Pier and mushroom into a huge firework explosion in the sky above Worthing
TheArgus.co.uk

We know all the best places to celebrate Bonfire Night (or Guy Fawkes Night, if you prefer) in Brighton, so wrap up warm and grab some sprinklers!


Festive Wine Tasting at The Wine Cellar

A wine cellar with a metal ice bucket holding a bottle of Moët & Chandon champagne. In front of the bucket are three wine glasses filled with different types of wine: white, rosé, and red. The background shows shelves lined with various wine bottles.
winecellarbrighton.co.uk

The Wine Cellar Brighton 15 Nov 2024 to 25 Dec 2024

Indulge in the spirit of the season with a festive wine tasting in at The Wine Cellar -  uncover the perfect pairings and hidden gems that will elevate your holiday celebrations to a new level of sophistication and joy...