North Laine is the Brooklyn of Brighton.
North Laine named the Brooklyn of Brighton
August 4, 2026 - Brooklyn Of (brooklynof.com), a travel publication that names the coolest neighborhood in more than 150 cities worldwide, has named North Laine the Brooklyn of Brighton.
The "Brooklyn of" a city is a metaphor, of course: shorthand for the coolest neighborhood in town, the one where independent culture, serious coffee, and creative energy define the character. Not the old town, not where the hop-on-hop-off bus goes. Every big enough city has one, and the site names exactly one per city. In many cities the pick is close to consensus, the name locals would give without hesitating. In others it picks a side. Brighton's verdict went to North Laine ahead of Kemptown, Hanover and London Road, which take the runner-up positions.
"We named North Laine the Brooklyn of Brighton, and it was not a hard call. Record shops next to tattoo parlours, vintage stalls on the pavement, incense fighting coffee for the air, and nobody in a hurry even on a Tuesday. Brightonians are welcome to tell us we are wrong," says Per, creator of Brooklyn Of.
The verdict comes with a guide to North Laine's independent hotels, cafes, restaurants, bars and shops: no big chains, nothing sponsored, and placements are not for sale. Selections draw on research and local tastemakers in each city, and readers who disagree are invited to make their case.
The full Brighton verdict: brooklynof.com/brighton
Press contact: Per, creator of Brooklyn Of, hello [at] brooklynof.com
Press kit and images: brooklynof.com/press/brighton
Runner-up neighborhoods: Kemptown, Hanover, London Road
Free for editorial use in coverage of brooklynof.com. Credit: brooklynof.com.
hello [at] brooklynof.com · Per is available for interviews, quotes, and written commentary on this and every city in the index.