A Classic Brighton Treasure Hunt Route. The Difference Is The Black Cat Treasure Hunts Influence.

Posted on: 20/03/2023

By Tim Carter
(Owner of Black Cat Treasure Hunts)

One of the benefits of going on a Brighton treasure hunt is that it is a compact city. You can cover a lot of the big attractions and interesting things to see within a couple of hours. Black Cat Treasure Hunts doesn`t forget though that everyone sees things differently, hence why I like to offer personalised treasure hunts. Read this article to discover a classic route through Brighton but find out how a Brighton treasure hunt gets the Black Cat Treasure Hunts treatment on the way round!

1. It`s not where you start that counts, but where you finish...but a good place to start helps a lot!           If I can choose then I like to use inside Brighton train station as a great place to start. I wasn`t going to mention this little secret of mine but it is kind of key to maximising your visit and time. As Brighton can be expensive to park in it is worth mentioning that the station car park is good value behind it and of course the trains deliver you right to the starting point. There is a neat cafe called the Passenger Lounge which is handy for teams setting off in Brighton team building treasure hunts. The station owners have kindly put up all sorts of fun facts inside the station too which serve as easy `starter` questions.
Just outside the station, as you go down Trafalgar St, through the tunnel, you are proudly told that you have come into the North Laine area of Brighton. I would call this the first proper `zone` of a top Brighton treasure hunt route.

2. North Laine (please don`t call it North Lanes)...it`s quirky and curious.
Take your pick of the side streets running off Trafalgar St. You are in `North Laine country`. A quirky and independent part of Brighton. Marvel early on at the musicians` mural on the side of the Prince Albert pub. Take your pick of all the amazing street art that Brighton has a big reputation for now. I creep along the unspoilt Trafalgar Terrace to access Gloucester Rd. Go down here and you will start to see the colourful and interesting shops associated with the area. This is just a warm up though for when you turn right along Kensington Gardens. Anita Roddick`s first ever Body Shop started along here and Snoopers Paradise is a renowned flea market/antique shop that featured in a recent episode of The Apprentice. If your treasure hunt hasn`t taken you along here if you are in this part of the city, then ask for your money back! 
Around the corner you go and up to the GAK music emporium. Quickly go around the corner on Upper Gardner St to see the changing artistry of `The Postman`. Always great street art of musicians. My favourite last year was Kylie, but now there is a selection including Amy Winehouse. Head back and left onto Gardner St. You know you are still in the North Laine because there is a massive, spiky snail above a tattoo shop and nearby is the famous, Komedia and above that is a huge stiletto shoe and stripy stockings (of course...why wouldn`t there be?!)

3. The Cultural District. Don`t miss this...
If you go to Agra in India and don`t go to the Taj Mahal that is pretty much as bad as going on a Brighton treasure hunt that doesn`t take you past the Royal Pavilion. However, a Black Cat Treasure Hunt will also find time to introduce you to the Brighton Museum and Art Gallery, the Brighton Theatre Royal and go close to The Dome (venue for ABBA`s Eurovision success in 1974).
A personalised treasure hunt can have a lot of fun in this area with questions and challenges to suit. Squirrels are here, as is a statue of the Cheeky Chappie (Max Miller) - not my type of comedy to be fair, but his unusual pose makes for a good photo opportunity. 
I aim to exit the Pavilion Gardens in the far corner, going past the Indian Archway. Find out why this was donated to the people of Brighton by a Maharajah! This naturally leads across to East St and the start of The Lanes.

4. The Lanes (or `The` Lanes if you want to make a point).
I read somewhere (or maybe I dreamt) that The Lanes are the most visited part of Brighton. If you consider the emphasis on Brighton beach then that is quite a claim. Intricate lanes, jewellery shops, dolphins, Italian restaurants, pubs and an armoury all pop up to keep you entertained. A hen party treasure hunt will be checking out the jewellery and a personalised one will challenge a single in the group to propose to a passing stranger. Good chance he or she might say yes around here!
This is the oldest part of the city and of course another must see, as mentioned above, before you head down to the beach. Depending on which end (or side!) of The Lanes you come out of will affect where you land up when you get to the seafront.