Where are the best places to park in Brighton & Hove? There are plenty of big car parks and displays on the main roads into the city showing how many parking spaces are available. But there’s a much cheaper, more fun and easier way to explore our fabulous city centre, suburbs, outlying towns, villages and wonderful Sussex scenery. It’s the bus. And it’s how thousands of us get around the city every day, leaving our cars at home.   

I don’t want to write about the bus timetables or cover the practical stuff. It’s easy to find out everything you need to know online, on the buses.co.uk website or at the new One Stop Travel shop on North Street, where you can also pick up the bus timetable book, Bus Times. Instead, I thought it’d be more useful and interesting to talk about the experience itself.

First, punctuality. In my experience the buses are usually bang on time, remarkable when the city’s traffic can be such a nightmare. Many buses run every ten, fifteen or twenty minutes, which means there’s always one on the way. If there are delays, they’re announced via the electronic boards next to major stops so you know what to expect. 

Second, efficiency. The buses run to and from every suburb as well as the city centre, out towards Newhaven and Seaford and on to Eastbourne. You can get to Tunbridge Wells and Lewes, and travel west to places like Shoreham and picturesque Steyning. Wherever you need to go, you can get there by bus quickly and efficiently. 

Third, comfort. Some of our buses are older, others are brand new with digital displays and super-comfy seating. Either way it’s a comfortable ride. You can open the windows in summer and in winter they’re heated. There’s a good choice of seating, with sideways-facing pull-down seats along the sides as well as two seater units and long multi-person back seats. Plus standing room. The city centre buses tend to be busiest and commuter times are busiest of all. 

Fourth, the views. Whether you’re on the top deck or the lower floor, the views from buses are great. No having to drive, keeping your eyes on the road and missing all the fascinating sights Brighton’s streets are so famous for. Just sit back and take in the Pavilion, the seafront, the coastline, the countryside and all our vibrant shopping areas. And get off whenever you like to explore. You can always get the bus back or hop on another and explore further afield.

Fifth, sociability. Sometimes everyone’s chatting on the bus, other times most people are reading or lost in headphones and smartphones. If you fancy a chat our buses can be as sociable as you want the experience to be… or not. Unlike some towns and cities, we habitually say thank you to the driver before getting off, which makes for an extra-friendly experience. 

Sixth, the price. Buy a Saver ticket for £4.60 and you can leap on and off buses with gay abandon all day long, with no restrictions unless you venture farther out of town than Shoreham, Steyning, Lewes or Seaford, in which case you’ll need a Super-Saver. They’re £7 for a day’s travel all over Sussex for one adult, £10 for 1 or 2 grown-ups with up to 3 kids. Which is absolutely brilliant compared to parking charges.

PS. You can also hop on a tour bus and enjoy a tour of the city complete with commentary – pick one up along the seafront. 

(Thanks to freefoto for the image)