Last Updated on 20 May 2026 by Dave King
Brighton has been used as a filming location since the 1890s, when George Albert Smith and James Williamson pioneered early British cinema here. Since then the city’s pier, seafront, Regency architecture and backstreet alleys have appeared in everything from gangster thrillers and Mod culture epics to period romances and Netflix productions. This guide covers the major films in Brighton, the exact locations they used, and a walking route that connects them. If you are a film fan visiting the city or a local who wants to know what was filmed where, these are the films in Brighton worth knowing about.
Table of Contents
Films and Their Brighton Locations
| Film | Year | Key Brighton locations |
|---|---|---|
| Brighton Rock | 1947 | Palace Pier, Brighton Railway Station, North Laine |
| Oh! What a Lovely War | 1969 | West Pier, Madeira Drive |
| Quadrophenia | 1979 | Quadrophenia Alley (East Street), Palace Pier, Madeira Drive, The Grand Hotel |
| Mona Lisa | 1986 | Brighton Palace Pier |
| The End of the Affair | 1999 | Royal Pavilion, King’s Road Arches, Madeira Drive arches |
| London to Brighton | 2006 | Brighton seafront, town centre |
| Brighton Rock (remake) | 2010 | Royal Pavilion, Madeira Drive, Duke’s Mound, Beachy Head, Eastbourne Pier standing in for Brighton Palace Pier |
| 20,000 Days on Earth | 2014 | Various Brighton locations, including The Retreat Recording Studio |
| My Policeman | 2022 | Royal Pavilion, Palace Pier, Brunswick Square, Regency Square, Brighton Beach |
| Bridgerton | 2020-present | Theatre Royal Brighton |
| Gladiator II | 2024 | Firedown Farm near Brighton, on the edge of Devil’s Dyke |
| The Sandman | 2025 | Royal Pavilion |
The Major Films
Brighton Rock (1947 and 2010)
Graham Greene’s novel about gangster Pinkie Brown was first adapted in 1947, directed by John Boulting with Richard Attenborough starring as Pinkie. Key scenes were filmed at Brighton Palace Pier, Brighton Railway Station and the streets around North Laine. The 2010 remake, directed by Rowan Joffe and starring Sam Riley, was largely filmed in Eastbourne, with Eastbourne Pier standing in for Brighton Palace Pier. Real Brighton locations include the Royal Pavilion, Madeira Drive and Duke’s Mound, while the climactic cliff scenes used Beachy Head.
The 2010 version used a mix of real Brighton and nearby East Sussex locations, with Eastbourne standing in for some Brighton seafront scenes.
Quadrophenia (1979)
Franc Roddam’s film about the 1964 Mods and Rockers clashes was filmed extensively in Brighton and is probably the film most closely associated with the city. The main locations are Quadrophenia Alley (a narrow passage between 10 and 11 East Street), Brighton Palace Pier, Madeira Drive and The Grand Hotel. The alley is now covered in Mod-related graffiti and is one of Brighton’s most visited spots.
The real Mods and Rockers clashes happened on Brighton Beach over the May Bank Holiday weekend in 1964. The resulting arrests and media coverage inspired The Who’s rock opera, which became the basis for the film. Phil Daniels, Leslie Ash and Sting all starred.
My Policeman (2022)
Amazon Studios’ adaptation of Bethan Roberts’ novel was filmed across multiple Brighton locations in 2021, starring Harry Styles and Emma Corrin. The Royal Pavilion Gardens, Palace Pier, Brunswick Square, Regency Square and Brighton Beach were all used as 1950s settings. Production caused a stir locally, with residents cast as extras and Harry Styles spotted on the pier during filming.
Other Notable Productions
The End of the Affair (1999) starring Ralph Fiennes and Julianne Moore used the Royal Pavilion, King’s Road Arches and Madeira Drive arches for its Brighton weekend sequences. Oh! What a Lovely War (1969), Richard Attenborough’s directorial debut, used West Pier and Madeira Drive for its satirical World War One sequences. 20,000 Days on Earth (2014) is a documentary about Nick Cave, who was long associated with Brighton after moving there in the early 2000s, filmed across various city locations. London to Brighton (2006) used the seafront and town centre for its gritty modern thriller. Mona Lisa (1986) with Bob Hoskins includes scenes on Brighton Palace Pier.
More recently, Bridgerton (Netflix, 2020-present) features Theatre Royal Brighton in its first series. Part of Gladiator II (2024) was filmed at Firedown Farm near Brighton, on the edge of Devil’s Dyke. The Sandman season 2 includes scenes shot at the Royal Pavilion. VisitBrighton maintains a full list of films and TV shows with Brighton connections.
Brighton’s Place in Cinema History
Brighton’s connection to film goes back further than most people realise. George Albert Smith and James Williamson, known collectively as the Brighton School, were among the earliest British filmmakers. Working in Brighton between 1896 and 1903, they developed techniques including close-ups, editing between scenes and special effects that influenced the development of cinema worldwide. Brighton was genuinely at the forefront of British cinema before the industry moved to London.
A Film Locations Walking Route
You can visit the main filming locations on foot in about 90 minutes:
Start at Brighton Railway Station, where Brighton Rock (1947) filmed Fred Hale’s arrival scene. Walk down Queens Road to Theatre Royal Brighton (Bridgerton). Continue through The Lanes towards East Street. Head through to East Street and find Quadrophenia Alley between numbers 10 and 11, the escape and romance scene in Quadrophenia. Walk south to Brighton Palace Pier, which has appeared in Brighton Rock, Quadrophenia, My Policeman and Mona Lisa.
Head east along the seafront to Madeira Drive for the Quadrophenia scooter procession and Oh! What a Lovely War. Walk back west along the seafront past Brighton Beach (My Policeman) to Regency Square and Brunswick Square, used as 1950s townhouse settings in My Policeman. Finish at the Royal Pavilion, featured in My Policeman, The End of the Affair and The Sandman.
FAQs
What is the most famous film set in Brighton?
Of all the films in Brighton, Quadrophenia (1979) and Brighton Rock (1947) are the two most closely associated with the city. Quadrophenia in particular has made Brighton a pilgrimage destination for Mod culture fans, with Quadrophenia Alley on East Street still attracting visitors from around the world.
Where is Quadrophenia Alley?
It is a narrow passage between 10 and 11 East Street in central Brighton. It is covered in Mod-related graffiti and is free to visit at any time. It is easy to miss if you are not looking for it.
Was My Policeman actually filmed in Brighton?
Yes. Amazon Studios filmed extensively across Brighton in 2021, using the Royal Pavilion, Palace Pier, Brunswick Square, Regency Square and Brighton Beach as 1950s-era settings. Harry Styles and Emma Corrin starred.
What other films were shot in Brighton?
Beyond the major titles, other films in Brighton include Mona Lisa (1986), London to Brighton (2006), 20,000 Days on Earth (2014), Angus, Thongs and Perfect Snogging (2008) and Mr Holmes (2015). Bridgerton features Theatre Royal Brighton, and part of Gladiator II was filmed at Firedown Farm near Brighton on the edge of Devil’s Dyke.
Can I do a self-guided film locations tour?
Yes. The main locations are all within walking distance of each other in central Brighton. Start at the station, walk through The Lanes and East Street to the pier, then along the seafront. The walking route in this guide covers the key spots in about 90 minutes.
Final Thoughts
Brighton has been a filming location for over 130 years, and the list of films in Brighton keeps growing. The city keeps appearing on screen because its mix of Regency architecture, seafront, backstreet alleys and distinctive atmosphere works for everything from period drama to gritty thriller. Most of the major filming locations are within a short walk of each other, which makes Brighton one of the easiest cities in the UK for a film locations day out.
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