In and around Brighton you’ll find some classic English coastal villages.
Saltdean a little further east has a wide open beach, a striking Art Deco Lido, and big sweeping cliffs. Great for swimming in the summer and for peaceful coastal walks year round. Still connected to Brighton but much less busy.
Rottingdean just east of Brighton is known for its white chalk cliffs, small high street, and Rudyard Kipling’s former home. Here you can walk there along the Undercliff Walk from Brighton Marina. Expect cosy pubs, a windmill on the hill, and a calm shingle beach.
Shoreham by Sea just west of Brighton has a working harbour, long beach and a charming old town around the church and high street. The wooden footbridge over the River Adur is a good photo spot. Shoreham Beach is wide, windy, and perfect for long walks.
Ovingdean is small and quiet with more of a residential village than a tourist spot, but it sits between Brighton and Rottingdean with easy cliff-top walking paths. Great if you want open sea views without the crowds.
Southwick between Brighton and Shoreham has a small marina, a long beach, and a relaxed atmosphere. Good for cycling along the seafront routes that link the two towns.
Further west is Lancing. Big open beaches that feel endless at low tide. Popular with paddleboarders and kite surfers. There are cafés right on the beach, and the Downs rise behind it, so you get both sea and hills in one visit.