I am not a Harry Potter fan. Before you shun me, hear me out. It’s not like I haven’t given it a chance. When I was in middle school, I attempted to read the first book but couldn’t get through it. A few years later, I tried to watch the first movie, but fell asleep after about a half an hour. Fast forward to 2017. My friends wanted to do an all day Warner Bros. studio tour of the props and sets of the movies. I knew I didn’t want to shell out $50 for a tour I wouldn’t enjoy, nor did I want to hold them back. So instead, I decided to spend the day exploring Brighton by myself. Here are some spots worth visiting, if you ever find yourself in town:

1. Clock Tower – of course, it’s nowhere near as impressive or beautiful as the Big Ben, but it’s still worth a look; especially since it’s along the way to the rest of the attractions
2. British Airways i360 – what better way to see Brighton, than from 531 feet up in the air, on the world’s tallest moving observation tower? It’s not just any view. It’s a (you guessed it) 360 degree view of the town. I was extremely lucky because the weather was clear when I was at the top. Not long after I got back down, you couldn’t even see the tower through all the fog. Each roundtrip “flight”, as they call it, lasts about 25 minutes. Purchase your tickets online to skip the lines, and if you have a valid student ID, you can save £2.50.

   

   

   

   

3. Brighton Beach – it was a pretty chilly day in May when I went, but I can see it being a popular spot for tourists and locals in the summertime. Plus, it’s only an hour and a half train ride from London, so it’s a nice little getaway. 
4. Brighton Pier – this has a mini amusement park, an arcade, and all of your typical greasy amusement park food. It’s nothing too special but it’s just fun to walk around and feel like a kid again. Fun fact – the Spice Girls performed here in 1996 before they hit it big.
5. Royal Pavilion – it used to be a royal residence back int he 1800s. Today, it’s a tourist attraction, wedding venue, and a great place for photo ops.