Best Brighton Christmas Events 2024: Festive What’s On Guide
Skate in front of the pavilion, get yourself to the panto and even take a freezing dip on Christmas Day...
By Charlie Walker | Updated Nov 7 2024
Typically a hotspot for the summer months, marauding Londoner's wouldn't miss an opportunity to take to the wintry English coastline for a wintertime respite. The whole town glows a different colour, turning from a summertime sprawl to an idyllic Christmassy retreat.
In the face of winter winds, Brighton turns cosy, warm, and strangely charming, its turn-of-the-century terraces taking on a new face in the cold December light, the Pavilion becoming an icy palace, more Red Square than Istanbul. Buskers brace the cold, and the kids come out to play, with many activities for the little ones to enjoy. Let's get started shall we?
Skate at the Pavilion
Of course, you can’t have a Brighton Christmas without slipping and sliding about on the ice. Nope, we don’t mean when it snows on the Lanes and you end up face-first in a freezing puddle - we’re talking outdoor skating at the Royal Pavilion.
As close to a wintry wonderland as you’re going to get, the rink is open into the evening, with indoor seating where you can treat yourself to a mulled wine or some nibbles. Just don’t have too many glasses of the mulled wine before you go on the ice - going face-first onto the rink will be even colder than that puddle.
You'll be hard-pressed to find a more impressive and festive ice rink anywhere south of London. Click here for more info.
Burning the Clocks
The Burning of the Clocks might sound like a weird tradition to other people, but it’s one of the city’s best-loved and most uniquely Brightonian expressions of Christmas spirit.
Taking place on the winter solstice, the celebration sees a day which begins with workshops for families to build huge paper lanterns together. After the sun sets, there’s a parade with the lanterns through the city down to the eastern side of Palace Pier.
The celebration ends with the burning of the lanterns and fireworks. Family, pretty lights and burning stuff - what could possibly be more Christmassy than that? Here's some more info.
A Christmas Walk from Devil’s Dyke
It wouldn’t be Christmas without a country walk ending in a pub, no matter where you are in the world. But in Brighton, your best bet is a walk to or from Devil’s Dyke.
Your first option is to grab the bus from Brighton up to Devil’s Dyke, then make the lovely walk down from the top. There you will find The Shepherd and Dog, Brighton’s nearest country pub, which also has two good walks that start and end at the pub.
If you want the pub without the walk, The Caxton Arms lies smack-bang in the city centre, but a hop-skip-jump away from the train station. Its traditional menu is sure to satisfy hungry bellies, and their meat and fish comes from local butchers and fishmongers to ensure they have the freshest ingredients to make the food.
There’s also a great selection of vegetarian and vegan dishes, so no matter whether you go with your uni mates or your mum and dad, everyone’ll be happy.
North Laine lights
What’s Christmas without some magical, twinkling lights? Every winter, North Laine gets a festive makeover with gorgeously Christmassy street lights, bringing a little extra sparkle to Brighton.
Going to check out the lights is also a great opportunity to fill up on Christmas stocking stuffers from the many stalls and shops that line the street, and even pick up a little treat for yourself in the form of a mince pie or hot drink as you shop.
Go to the Panto
If there’s anything Brighton does well, it’s camp, and what’s more camp than the panto? Beloved by little ones and big ones alike, there are several fantastic festive cross-dressing offerings available to Brighton residents this Christmas.
This year, Sleeping Beauty takes to the Brighton Family Panto, the biggest to be found in Brighton. If this wont lift your Christmas cheer, I don't know what to tell you. Have a look at their showtimes.
A Christmas Day Swim
For the fearless, for the aimlessly tough, the machines among us, for those who brush their teeth with WD40 and eat a bowl full of warm drillbits every morning. Join your merry band of nutters for a daytime swim on Christmas day in the English Channel. There are colder seas surrounding Britain, sure, but it's still not great is it.
Every year at 11am on Christmas day, the hardnuts gather for a brief dip, seeing how long they can last in the bitter, briny shallow before their legs turn to stumps of meat and fall off. No official organiser, this community-organised event has no real website, just an agreed upon time and a licence to chill. You’ll be out in time for your Christmas lunch at least.
What's on for 2024?
Each year comes with a new host of Christmas events, where all ages can find their Christmas spirit. Here's what we got on offer for you: