Brighton's bohemian shopping quarter — independent shops, vintage, street food, arts venues, and a market. Immediately north of the station.
North Laine is the bohemian shopping and cultural quarter immediately north of Brighton station, bounded roughly by Trafalgar Street to the south, New Road to the east, and the Seven Dials roundabout to the north-west. The area takes its name from a corruption of "lane" — the medieval field strips that once defined this part of the town.
Today it is one of the most distinctive urban neighbourhoods in England: a dense grid of narrow streets packed with independent shops, vintage clothing, record stores, head shops, tattoo parlours, cafes, and vegetarian restaurants. Kensington Gardens, Sydney Street, Gardner Street, and Bond Street are the main retail spines. There are almost no chain shops in the core of North Laine — it is among the most successful examples of independent retail in the country.
The area is also home to Brighton's arts scene. The Komedia theatre and comedy club is on Gardner Street. Numerous art galleries, small music venues, and makers' studios are tucked into the side streets. The Saturday market on Upper Gardner Street is a weekly fixture.
Brighton station sits immediately to the south, making North Laine the first neighbourhood most visitors encounter. Bus connections radiate outward from the station to all parts of the city. Parking is difficult and expensive — the area is best accessed on foot or by train.