Brighton · Student city guide
Two universities between the South Downs and the sea, a pebble beach, the UK's biggest Pride and a creative, anything-goes vibe. This is how Brighton actually works for students: where to live, what it costs and where to go out.
2
universities, both with campuses at Falmer
£140–£200
a week for a room in a shared house
£4.60
for a student day ticket in the Brighton & Hove Buses app
1 hr
by train to London
Last checked: November 2026
Downs to the sea
The University of Sussex's campus is at Falmer on the edge of the South Downs, with the University of Brighton at Moulsecoomb, Falmer and Grand Parade in town. The Lewes Road links them all to the city centre and the beach. Here's how the student map fits together.
Getting around: buses run every few minutes along the Lewes Road to Falmer. Student tickets in the Brighton & Hove Buses app start at £4.60 for a day, and there's a train station right by both Falmer campuses.
1
The University of Sussex's campus and the University of Brighton's Falmer site, next to the Amex Stadium and the South Downs.
2
The student corridor into town, lined with shared houses, takeaways and the University of Brighton's main campus.
3
Vintage shops, cafés and bars in North Laine, and the narrow twittens of The Lanes.
4
The Palace Pier, the beach and the clubs in the arches along the promenade.
5
The heart of Brighton's LGBTQ+ scene, with bars, cafés and the University of Brighton's Grand Parade campus nearby.
“Like any busy city, Brighton is lively and generally welcoming, with the usual big-city common sense.”
Anjali Dhingra, Unifresher Brighton writer · Read: is Brighton a safe place to live? →
Universities
Where you study shapes where you'll live. Most students at both universities end up along the Lewes Road corridor, in Hanover, or closer to town.
Falmer campus
A research university on a green campus at Falmer, on the edge of the South Downs National Park. Most first-years live on campus.
Moulsecoomb · Falmer · Grand Parade
A big, career-focused university with campuses at Moulsecoomb, Falmer and Grand Parade in the city centre, strong in art and design, health, sport and engineering.
Also in Brighton: Brighton and Sussex Medical School and BIMM. Compare universities across the UK →
Neighbourhoods
Six areas cover most of Brighton's student housing. Brighton is one of the most expensive student cities outside London, so the pound signs show how areas compare with each other.
££ · Classic studenty
01
Brighton's main student corridor, with frequent buses to Falmer and town, and the University of Brighton's Moulsecoomb campus.
Best for: students at both universities who want an easy commute
££ · Hilly and lively
02
Steep, colourful terraced streets packed with students and great pubs, a walk from both town and Lewes Road.
Best for: second-years who love a local pub
££ · Good value
03
Cheaper shops and cafés around London Road, with leafy Preston Park and a station to the north.
Best for: students who want a quieter base near town
££–£££ · Creative
04
Brighton's LGBTQ+ heart, with independent bars and cafés, close to the seafront and Grand Parade.
Best for: art and design students and anyone who wants the beach close by
£££ · City living
05
Purpose-built student flats and old townhouses near the station, North Laine and the beach.
Best for: first-years and anyone who wants to walk everywhere
££–£££ · Calm
06
Brighton's calmer neighbour, with wide streets, the seafront lawns and Church Road's cafés. A longer commute to Falmer.
Best for: final-years and postgrads
Ready to find a house? Our guide covers the student letting agents worth knowing in Brighton, and what to check before you sign.
Find a letting agentNot sure where to live?
Tell us where you're studying, what matters most and your budget, and we'll point you to an area to start your search.
1. Where are you studying?
2. What matters most?
3. What's your budget?
Shared houses on the student corridor, with buses to Falmer and town every few minutes.
Find a letting agentWhere to book
Compare Brighton's letting agents and student accommodation providers, or work out which type of housing suits you.
Shared houses · Brighton
The student letting agents worth knowing in Brighton, and what to check before you sign.
Read the guide →
Purpose-built · Brighton
Our overview of Unite Students' rooms, prices and what's included, including its Brighton buildings.
Read the overview →
Second year
How to decide where to live after first year, and when to start looking in a busy market like Brighton's.
Read the guide →
Not sure yet?
The pros, cons and costs of each, so you know what to look for.
Compare your options →
Money
Brighton is one of the priciest student cities outside London, mostly because of rent and bills. Pick a lifestyle to see what a typical month looks like.
Shared house on the Lewes Road or in Hanover, a weekly night out and the odd takeaway.
Rent
£720
Bills
£100
Food shop
£175
Buses
£70
Going out
£110
Phone and everything else
£70
About £14,940 a year
£1,245 a month
Estimates to help you plan, not quotes. Brighton rents vary a lot by street and by year, and many houses don't include bills, so check before you sign anything.
Where a typical £1,245 month goes
■ Rent · 58%
■ Food · 14%
■ Going out · 9%
■ Bills · 8%
■ Everything else · 5%
■ Buses · 6%
Money tips
1
Buy student bus tickets in the app
Brighton & Hove Buses sells student day tickets from £4.60 and 30-day tickets from £71.40 in its app. If you're on the bus every day, compare the longer tickets.
2
Use the beach and the Downs
The seafront, the South Downs and Preston Park are free and some of the best things about living here.
3
Go out midweek
Wednesday is Brighton's biggest student night, with cheap drinks deals across the big clubs.
4
Shop around North Laine and Open Market
Charity shops, vintage stores and the Open Market on London Road are great for bargains.
5
Never pay before you've seen it
Brighton's housing market is busy, so view in person or by verified video and only pay deposits to registered agents once you've signed.
“Brighton's biggest student night is undoubtedly Wednesdays.”
Anjali Dhingra, Unifresher Brighton writer · Read: the best student nights in Brighton →
Going out
Brighton's nightlife runs from the seafront arches to Kemptown, all within walking distance. Pick an area to see where students go.
Talk like a local
Brighton has its own vocabulary. Guess what each one means, then tap to check.
Twitten
Sussex word for a narrow alleyway, like the ones in The Lanes.
"Cut through the twitten to North Street."
DFL
"Down From London", someone who moved from London to Brighton.
"Our whole street is DFLs now."
Hove, actually
What Hove residents say when you say they live in Brighton.
"You live in Brighton? Hove, actually."
The Lanes vs North Laine
Two different areas! The Lanes is the old twittens near the sea, North Laine is the shopping streets by the station.
"Meet in North Laine, not The Lanes."
Groyne
The wooden or stone barriers running into the sea along the beach. Don't climb on them when it's rough.
"Let's sit by the groyne."
The Seagulls
Brighton & Hove Albion's nickname, and also the real gulls who will steal your chips.
"Watch your chips, the seagulls are out."
The Downs
The South Downs, the hills right behind the city and both Falmer campuses.
"Fancy a walk on the Downs?"
Lewes Road
Not just a road, the whole student corridor between town and Falmer.
"Where do you live? Just off Lewes Road."
Written by Brighton students
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Partner with usJust arrived?
Eight small jobs that make your first term in Brighton much easier. Most take ten minutes.
✓
Register with a GP
Sign up near your term-time address before freshers' flu hits. Your uni will point you to a local practice.
✓
Download the Brighton & Hove Buses app
Student tickets start at £4.60 for a day, and longer tickets save more if you travel to Falmer most days.
✓
Get a 16–25 Railcard
A third off most rail fares, so it pays for itself after a couple of trips home.
✓
Find your Students' Union
Go to the Freshers' Fair and join a society or two. It's the easiest way to meet people outside your flat.
✓
Save campus security's number
Every university has a 24-hour security line. Put it in your phone now.
✓
Check your contents insurance
Bikes, phones and laptops do get stolen in student areas. Find out whether your halls or house already include cover.
✓
Learn your route home
Know which night bus gets you back up the Lewes Road, stick to busy, well-lit roads and stay well away from the sea after a night out.
✓
Sort a TV Licence if you need one
You need one to watch live TV or use BBC iPlayer, even on a laptop or phone.
Useful links
University accommodation offices, travel tickets and the admin every student needs to sort.
FAQs
Is Brighton a good city for students?
For most people, yes. It's creative, welcoming and right on the beach, with the South Downs behind it, great nightlife and fast trains to London. The big downside is the cost of rent.
Which area of Brighton is best for students?
Most students at both universities live along the Lewes Road, in Moulsecoomb or in Hanover. London Road and Kemptown are popular too, and Hove suits final-years who want somewhere calmer.
How much is student rent in Brighton?
A room in a shared house often costs about £140–£200 a week in 2026/27, and many houses don't include bills. Purpose-built rooms in the city centre can cost more.
Is Brighton safe for students?
Most students feel safe in Brighton. Use the usual big-city common sense: stick to well-lit routes, plan your late-night transport and stay away from the sea at night, especially in rough weather.
How do students get around Brighton?
Mostly by bus and on foot. Buses run along the Lewes Road to Falmer every few minutes, with student day tickets from £4.60 in the app. Falmer and Moulsecoomb also have train stations.
What is Brighton famous for?
The Palace Pier, the Royal Pavilion, The Lanes, its pebble beach, the UK's biggest Pride, Brighton & Hove Albion and a famously creative, inclusive spirit.
Pitch a guide or join our team of student writers. We're always looking for people at the University of Sussex and the University of Brighton.
Write for UnifresherRankings, halls, costs and student life at each university in Brighton.
