Brighton is famous for its stony beach and its piers – those still standing and those no longer intact. Early spring may not be the right time to make the most of the former, but having travelled over with family for a short stay, we were lucky enough to get weather that ensured we could enjoy the latter.

As a group of four adults and one three-year-old, we went the AirBnB route and found an ideal modern apartment right in the centre of the city within a short walk of the seafront. In the popular area known as The Lanes, we stayed in Duke’s Lane. It was noisy at the weekend, but a small sacrifice to make for the great location.

We flew Dublin to Gatwick with Ryanair and then used Southern Rail (around £8 to £12 depending on time of day) to travel directly to Brighton train station.

Our first morning in Brighton wasn’t amazing weather-wise, with a heavy mist – almost drizzle-like.

We enjoyed breakfast in The Bright Helm before strolling down to the seafront to enjoy the King’s Road Arches. There is a plethora of tiny craft stores, cafés and eateries of all description right along the length of this boardwalk, just off the main road at beach level. It’s well worth spending a few hours strolling around, taking in the atmosphere and enjoying this unique feature.

As the clouds and mist finally cleared, we made our way up to King’s Road towards Brighton Pier. We had an absolute ball here, from start to finish.

After enjoying the fun of the old-fashioned beach-style wooden cut-outs, we walked the length of the pier, taking in some fantastic sights and all the fun that the stalls, food huts, seats and funfair have to offer.

Our three-year-old loved the carousel rides that were age-appropriate for him. Other rides were available if he was accompanied (which his mother willingly volunteered for!), as well as others that were height-dependent. There was also a range of payment options available, which was great for us tourists.

To round it all off, we enjoyed traditional fish and chips from one of the huts in the middle of the pier and refuelled for the rest of the afternoon.

Walking back up towards the city, it’s worth strolling up Old Steine and Steine Gardens, which will take you to the Royal Pavilion.

Built as a seaside pleasure palace for King George IV, it has also served as a civic building and a World War I hospital.

There is a guided tour available (£13 for adults) but we chose not to. Brighton Dome and the museum and art gallery are directly behind the pavilion, so there is plenty in this area for the historians.

The Lanes

For those looking for something a little more unconventional, you simply must visit The Lanes area. It’s a throwback to really old England, to a time when there were no cars to worry about, a time when places were more intimate. The walkways are barely four feet wide at times, but the buzz and the atmosphere around the little nooks and crannies is amazing.

We found the famous chocolate confectionery store Choccywoccydoodah on Meeting House Lane.It’s also worth venturing further afield. We went up Bond Street and Gardiner Street to get to North Lane, a slightly wider pedestrian lane, with access to around 200 shops that vary from food and drink to vintage, niche and even quirky.

We stopped at Littlebird Café for a coffee and some delicious freshly-made cakes. I must admit, the White Rabbit Pub across the street looked very tempting too!

Seafront

Take a stroll along the entire seafront at Brighton. Head down as far as Hove to the west and the new Brighton Marina to the east.

It’s a hive of activity all the way to Hove, with many sports activities dotted around, from paddle boarding and water-based activities at sea, to basketball and beach volleyball on land.

We enjoyed a nice lunch at the Bucket and Spade Café, while our son played in the nearby sand-based playground.

We had already been on the 162m-tall viewing tower called the British Airways i360 – it’s well worth the £16 (£8 for children) admission fee. The views are stunning.

There will always be peak times for popular tourist attractions. But there is a clever online ticketing system for the British Airways i360, which means you book a time slot in advance of your visit, so there won’t be any hanging around for your turn to go up to the viewing pod.

We spoiled ourselves by having a glass of champagne at the Nyetimber Sky Bar as we ascended – there are other options available too, such as afternoon tea or two-course meals in the restaurant on ground level, but, as always, prepare to pay a premium.

Do not leave Brighton without dining in Bill’s Restaurant. On a recommendation from my sister-in-law, we dined here as a family and had an absolutely wonderful dining experience. Not only was the food stunning, the staff were superb and went out of their way and above the call of duty to make our time here memorable. The setting is an old bus depot at North Road – it’s still got the old hustle-and-bustle feeling to it. CL

Read more about Brighton - and other destinations - on Brian Murphy’s travel blog at www.brianstraveblog.blogspot.ie.