N

o visit to Brighton would be complete without a slow stroll through some of England’s quaintest shops in the The Lanes/Laines.

Confused? No one is quite sure where the spelling anomalies came from, but Brighton has the North Laine Area - a grid-system of quaint shops, independent eateries and plenty of pubs - and The Lanes; the old, twisty, narrow alleyways, snickleways and ‘twitterns’ (a name unique to Sussex), where crowds meander over the cobbles to check out the jewellry quarter and the hidden coffee shops.

Divided by North Street, the two areas have differing atmospheres. The Lanes are old with a higgledy-piggledy layout, where narrow, car-free lanes meander with no apparent direction, means it’s easy to take a wrong turn into dead-ended twitterns and alleys, creating an almost maze-like atmosphere. Sprinkled with olde-world shops and eateries, it’s a charming world, where getting lost is part of the fun.

Head further away from the sea and you’ll find the North Laine area, which has much wider roads. Though some roads are pedestrianised, this is the more modern shopping area, with car access. Expect a pub on each corner, art shops, restaurants, record shops and shoe boutiques at every turn.