Dreaming of living by the seaside during uni?

Hi everyone, my name is Susmera and I'm a MSc in Marketing and Consumer Psychology student at The University of Sussex, living with aparto in Brighton, from India! I am here to tell you about some great city attractions to check out this spring/summer whilst exploring the town.

The sun is finally out, and winter is slowly coming to an end! There is no better time than these next few months to make the most of living in Brighton or visit for the perfect weekend getaway.

Stoneworks and Vogue Studios, the two aparto student accommodations in Brighton are located only 15 minutes away from the city center and around 15 minutes away from University of Sussex and University of Brighton. The location of the residences are the ideal location for any student, right in the middle of campuses and the city centre.

It is a no-brainer that a trip to Brighton is not complete without visiting the beach, admiring the beauty of the ocean and catching the beautiful sunsets. The Brighton Palace Pier, right on the beach has fun attractions, rides, an arcade and great food. Right next to the pier is the Sea Life Brighton aquarium, it is the operating aquarium in the world with a whole new and vibrant underwater world inside of it.

To truly get the best panoramic view of the beach and the entire city, Brighton i360 is the place to go. It is an observation tower on the seafront where viewers can experience a mesmerizing 360-degree view of the city from an enclosed viewing pod. They even have a bar inside to complete the experience!

Right next to the tower is a quirky little attraction of an Upside-Down House – a unique concept where you can take amusing photographs by creating an optical illusion of being upside down.

To know more about the history of Brighton, the Brighton Museum & Art Gallery has it all. Everything from fashion, style, 20^th Century art and design can be found here. The architecture of the museum looks amazing even from the outside and even if you are not interested in the museum, the Royal Pavilions Gardens where the museum is located is a great place to relax and take in the beauty of the surrounding nature.

The best way to explore the city would be by walking around, every little street has a charm to it. One of the most famous areas in Brighton is The Lanes – a lively neighbourhood with a variety of restaurants, cafes, pubs, quirky stores and a little something for everyone. For the more famous brands and fashion outlets, the Churchill Square Shopping Centre is your one-stop shop for some retail therapy. As a student, most places offer discounts so be sure to ask them for a special price.

This covers most of the exciting things to do in the city side of Brighton, but on the other side of the aparto student living, we get to see a different side of Brighton – Falmer Village.

This quaint side is filled with nature, beautiful houses, lush lawns and parks. These parks are perfect for a picnic with your friends on the weekend to soak in that summer sun! The biggest attraction in Falmer would be the iconic American Express Community Stadium – home of Premier Club Brighton & Hove Albion. If you have the chance, going for a game here would be an unbelievable experience with an atmosphere like no other.

There is so much to love about this city and almost half a year after moving here, I still have so much to explore but have loved calling Brighton my home during my studies. Make the most out of your visit/life in Brighton and explore everything the city has to offer; you will surely not be disappointed.

By Susmera Cholayil - MSc in Marketing and Consumer Psychology student at University of Sussex

ECA and resident at aparto Brighton.