The Lanes are a myriad twisting complex of traffic free pedestrian streets, packed with independent…read moreshops, corporate chain shops, pubs, restaurants, art galleries, eateries, coffee shops, overpriced jewelry shops...fun to wander and indulge if you have funds to do so. There are fun some quirky vendors in the mix to make this enjoyable for the average tourists. Treat yourself, a little retail therapy is always fun.

Hadn't been here in at least 10 years…read more Shops were much better and more plentiful. Some commercial shops thrown in here and there. You could easily spend a few hours here.

Banksy is one of those Brightonian artists (according to some, although his heritage is as unsure…read moreas his identity) whose stamp on our fair city has gone largely unnoticed compared to his national (and international) fame. However, this one piece of his urban vandilism has not only been kept, and not painted over, it has also been immortalised with a perspex cover. This piece of public art, now available for consumption (and probably completely anti- the artist's vision) makes for another fantastic Brighton tourist hot-spot, and is often hard to see for all of the tourists with cameras. I don't really think this is the place to critique the piece in terms of its artistic merit (not the biggest fan of Banksy's pseudo-anarchic street artwork), but I do think this makes a great addition to Brighton's general arty vibe. With so many galleries, fringe theatres, music venues and the like, it's good to have some publically vieweable artwork as well, and the wall with Banksy's Kissing Coppers also features a couple of similar pieces, including a George Best stencil and a large portrait of... someone (never worked that one out), making the Prince Albert (which these are all on the side of) an artistic mecca for urban artists: never a bad thing. Whether you like him or not, Banksy his left a pretty indelible stamp (ironic, considering how much of his work is painted over) on the British graffiti scene, and it's nice to know there'll be a piece of his kept for posterity in what may turn out to be his home town. Go and have a look, if you haven't already got a picture of you next to it.

Banksy is always going to be one of those characters that will be celebrated and loathed in equal…read moremeasure by the art world. Even though I could draw upon my History of Art BA to discuss this matter further, I think that the Kissing coppers is something that people will make their own minds up on. What does deserve mention is kudos to the council for recognising that this is something that should be preserved for the population to make a choice on. The perspex protection was a great idea. It is also well positioned on the side of the Albert pub for a quick detour from the station to have a look at if you are visiting the city for the day (just go under the bridge at the station and take your first right). I guess I will leave judgement up to you on the merits of the stencil, hence the sit on the fence 3 star review.

It's a monday night, you've got the monday blues and you want to escape the house. But what do you…read moredo? You don't want to get drunk because your too skint and a tuesday hangover is not what it's all about and the cinema is just not engaging enough. Irish Folk night at the Foundry, therefore, is just what you need. Buy yourself a nice pint of Guinness, sink back in your chair whilst basking in the warmth and cosyness of the Foundry and let your ears be taken away to a distant, forgotten land of leprechauns and travelling musicians. The performers are a little Troupe of Irish Folk enthusiasts from around Brighton who buy some Guinness (which you may have now realised is a requirement) and informally sit around in the lounge bar, humbly playing little ditties, silently. almost melancholically going from one song to the other. If you happen to play Irish Folk music, I was told by the bar lady that you can join in, and bring your own instrument. This is a really cool, relaxed and informal night, perfect for a monday, and is totally free (except of course the Guinness).

Any shop that has a picture of the Queen made out of jelly beans as its window display has got to…read morebe good. And Fizziwigs not only has that, but also lollies the size of my head in its window. These things lured me in, but I wasn't disappointed with what I found inside. Rows of gleaming old-school sweet jars full of colourful, sugary goodness, sticks of stripy rock and swirly lollies that my seven year old self would've adored. Come to think of it, my thirty year old self adores them too. This is a Victorian style fairytale sweetshop modernised, definitely the place to come for traditional sweets.

As sweet shops go, Fizziwiggs goes the old-fashioned route: instead of offering unique, handmade…read moreitems, every particular sweet you may like is on offer in droves. This is not a problem: I'm a fan of the old-fashioned sweet shop myself, it just seems a little dull next to all of the handmade chocolates and cakes the Lanes has to offer. Still, if you like your jellybabies and your white mice, this is the place for you! Fizziwiggs has gone out of its way to emulate the oldie-timey sweet shop, and the decor is exactly what you'd hope and expect for: lots and lots of glass jars, showing off their contents to all potential customers. However, instead of the classic wood and ladders on wheels, Fizziwiggs is decked with bright colours, creating an excellent, playful childlike environment: exactly what you want for enticing you to buy sweets. Speaking of sweets... There is literally everything here you might want. I'm not going to list them all, suffice it to say if you want it, they probably have it. This is, however, the biggest sticking point for Fizziwiggs... it isn't very original. Brighton, and the Lanes in particular, are full of lovely little shops selling unique, home-made sweets, from cupcakes to chocolates. A simple sweet-shop just isn't enough. Maybe I'm a little spoiled with all this choice, but I would rarely go here over the cupcake place around the corner, or the chocolatiers in the Arcade. It just isn't special enough, and for Brighton, that may as well be a death knell. If you're looking for basic sweets, including some old favourites, you couldn't do worse than Fizziwiggs: it offers exactly what's on the tin. However, with no original products of their own, Fizziwiggs is perilously close to be just another corner shop that specialises in sweets. It needs some sort of oomph to help it stand out from it's more original neighbours, and currently, I can't see any.

Snoopers Paradise is a must-visit for anyone coming to Brighton. Cluttered and bizarre, the shop…read morehas absolutely no apparent order, with bits and bobs scattered and hidden throughout stretching rooms full to the brim of treasures and, well, crap! There's literally something here for everyone - old furniture, jewellery, boxes of tatty old photographs, vintage clothing. Whatever it is you're looking for, Snooper's Paradise is likely to have it in some form or another. It's also likely to stock everything you're not looking for, which is why I especially love taking a stroll around here. First of all, let me state clearly - if you are not a browser, don't even come inside here. You will hate it. If you get stressed out by sales or TK Maxx, then back away slowly from Snooper's Paradise. It is, sadly, not for you. However if, like me, you love a good hoke around - you'll love this place! Many an afternoon can be spent wandering, trying on ridiculous hats, flicking through old books, pining after beautiful bits of furniture that you can't afford and that wouldn't fit in your flat anyway. It's that sort of place - you can get lost in there for hours, caught up in the wonder of it all! In terms of prices, this is obviously a very mixed bag. Some things are expensive, some things are a penny. Such is the way with big shops like this! That being said, there's always a bargain to be found in here somewhere! The staff are helpful and friendly! It always amazes me how they can find and price things in there without getting utterly frazzled by the sheer volume and randomness of the stock. Get down there and have a good rummage - you'll either love it or you'll hate it!

Snoopers Paradise seems to bring out the inner bargain hunter in everyone that steps through the…read moredoor. You walk in empty handed and somehow end up leaving half an hour later with a tin robot, a 1960s chair, an antique mirror or a pair of models legs! Situated halfway down Brighton's fantastic Kensington Gardens, its a sprawling, antique market that has dozens of different stalls offering everything from the brilliant to the bizarre. There are some cool furniture and homeware stalls, handy book and record stalls and a few inspired clothes stall selling great vintage clothes. There's also a lot of very odd bric a brac that I imagine will still be there in 2020!

A must for anyone interested in old fairgrounds and amusement arcades, Brighton's Penny Arcade…read moreMuseum is a small arcade housed in one of the arches on the sea-front. A few minutes walk from Brighton Pier, it's also a great place to take kids for half an hour's fun. There's funny mirrors that make you look taller, shorter and fatter and over 50 vintage penny slot machines. Since most of the machines were manufactured between 1895-1950 some of them seem to break down occasionally but most of them are in good working order. There's strength machines that test your endurance, fortune tellers that predict your future and love life and quirky machines like What The Butler Saw. For £1 you get 7 old pennies to play whatever machines you like. The arcade is open every day from 12am-6pm Easter til September and fine weekends in the winter. If you're planning to make a special trip, it's worth phoning to check.

This is a great break from beachlife and a true homage to the path that laid the way for xboxes and…read moreplaystations. Set in the King's Road arches and slap between the piers, you will find the museum. Inside are a wide range of truely oldschool arcades and eccentricities from the late Victorian era to the mid Twentieth Century. I especially find the 'What the Butler Saw' machines funny. I also like that they give you large old pennies to play, rather than have converted the machines to take contemporary currency. I'm sure a number of these end up leaving the arcade as souveniers, so I suppose they have them made to order or something! You are unlikely to find all the machines working at any one time, but there will certainly be at least £2-£3's worth of pennies to play with. The only thing I missed not being present was an old style automated organ or some 'traditional' snacks to buy. Certainly a fun way to spend a few quid doing something a little different.

Ok this guy is a bit of a local legend. You can talk to anyone who has spent much time down on Hove…read morelawns over a summer and I can almost guaranty they will have seen him but no one seems to know who he is or where in god's name he comes from. He spends literally hours on the wide asphalt bits between the lawns on the promenade wearing only hot pants and dancing round on roller boots, Quads to be specific, to the sound of his monstrously distorted home made boom box. I suppose in many ways this ruins the whole pleasant atmosphere of Hove Lawns but we should never forget it's all these little eccentrics that give a place like Brighton its' colour. Learn to love the freaks and the whole world can be a beautiful place. But if anyone can fill me in with any more details I would seriously appreciate it.

Great juices - particularly their Mean Green! Really friendly and informative staff too!read more

Whilst the main Brighton Festival tends to involve more high brow and mainstream theatre, dance,…read moremusic and literature events, Brighton Festival Fringe offers a platform for aspiring and underground artists and madhatters. As my fellow Yelpers photos show, there's always a fun circus / performance element to the fringe with free events involving stilt walkers, jugglers, flame-throwers and live performers. The real body of the fringe however, involves local and national comedians, performance artists, film-makers, theatre companies, artists and photographers putting on their own shows and exhibitions in venues right across the city. Most of the events are cheap as chips so it's well worth taking a risk and going to see a handful of different events. Pick up a free brochure around the city in the weeks running upto the festival or check the website for further details and teaser trailers. What have you got to lose?

Brighton Festival Fringe has, as the name suggests, grown out of the Brighton Festival. It is an…read moreopen access Arts festival, which brings together all sorts of events, including theatre, visual art, dance and comedy, to create a month long cultural extravaganza of fun! The intent is to entertain but also to educate audiences through varied and exciting art. What's great about Brighton Fringe is that its open to new and emerging talent as well as established performers and companies. This inclusive policy means that all sorts of people stage events and the Fringe festival continues to grow annually. As well as more traditional art forms, the festival also includes innovative new music as well as cinema, performance art and even club nights! The festival takes place in May each year. Every year I vow to myself that I will go to more events and every year I fail miserably. Even if you don't get yourself organised enough to check out specific events, you will feel the festival in the air, for the Fringe exploits Brighton's inherent spirit of fun and frivolity, and creates a happy buzz all over town! The Old Steine is an especially great place to soak up the atmosphere, as there is always a giant beer tent (some times the E4 Udder Belly) set up as well as the Speigeltent, where the Silent Discos are held.

I had to do a review of the graffiti in Brighton- it may not always be there but whilst it is...boy…read moreis it is something to see. I love a town that hands over huge stretches of brick wall to incredibly talented street artists and let's them paint whatever they feel relevant. The graffiti on Kensington Street is some of the best in Brighton- and though they regularly change certain sections- I hope that the idea remains for as long as possible.

Brighton is most artists' dream, with plenty of artistic happenings going on at most times of the…read moreyear, and a pretty sizeable selection of art out and available for all to see. One of the pieces in this ever-changing tapestry, which I always enjoy walking past, is the graffiti all the way down Kensington Street. It seems to change a little every couple of months, not always for the better but certainly towards the more dynamic, and the tongue in cheek style is great for newbies to the genre. As free art goes, this is quite the coup for Brighton! I've always had a mixed feeling about graffiti: when it's artistic and cool, I quite like it, but I'm not a big fan of the whole tagging and quick spray things. Luckily, most of Brighton's graffiti is much more artistic than that, and the work on Kensington Street is, by and large, some of the best I've ever seen. It's always worth a little meander down, although you will have to dodge all of the people with cameras, or join in! Well worth seeing, another of Brighton's artistic highlights.