North Laine
North Laine is a busy, historic area in central Brighton, England, just north of The Lanes. It’s known as Brighton’s bohemian and cultural quarter, with independent shops, pubs, cafés, restaurants, theatres, a museum and an art gallery. It’s also a conservation area with many old terraced houses from the late Georgian to early Victorian era.
Laine is a Sussex word for a field at the base of the Downs. In the past, Brighton grew from these open plots. By the 19th century, farming plots became streets as the town expanded, and a rail hub appeared near North Laine in 1840. The area wasn’t officially called North Laine until the late 1970s, when it was saved from plans for a flyover and designated a conservation area by planning officer Ken Fines. A plaque on Infinity Foods Workers Co-operative on North Road remembers him.
Today, North Laine is a popular place to live and visit. It features period houses and main shopping streets like Trafalgar Street, Kensington Gardens, Sydney Street, Gardner Street and Bond Street, with many pedestrianised areas. Komedia on Gardner Street is a well-known comedy venue with its own cinema. The area is famous for independent shops selling art, antiques, fashion, music and more. Jubilee Square, opened in 2005, added a new library and public space and changed how people move through the area. The North Laine Community Association represents local residents.
This page was last edited on 2 February 2026, at 16:35 (CET).