Tucked away in Brighton's famous Lanes, LOOKING GLASS COTTAGE offers a glamorous retreat for girly get-togethers and posh hen parties. Step into this 1565 cottage and experience the whimsy of an Alice in Wonderland themed stay, complete with teacup lamps and pocket watch door knobs.
Reviews
9.69.6 out of 10
Exceptional
Entire home
3 bedrooms2 bathroomsSleeps 870 sq m
Popular amenities
Kitchen
Pet friendly
Outdoor Space
Parking available
Fireplace
Add dates for prices
About this property
Looking Glass Cottage Magical 'Alice in Wonderland' Cottage
Step Into a Whimsical Wonderland at Looking Glass Cottage®
Brighton’s Oldest Cottage, Perfectly Placed in the Heart of the Lanes
Welcome to Looking Glass Cottage®, a charming Alice in Wonderland-inspired haven nestled in the heart of Brighton’s iconic Lanes. Dating back to 1565, this historic gem is the oldest house in Brighton, beautifully blending vintage charm with modern elegance. Perfectly positioned for those seeking the best of Brighton’s world-renowned shopping, dining, and nightlife, Looking Glass Cottage® offers a truly unique experience for up to 6 guests.
A Magical Location in the Heart of Brighton
Tucked away down a charming twitten (a narrow, hidden alley), this cottage is just steps away from Brighton’s best bars, cafes, and boutique shops. With the seafront and Royal Pavilion just minutes away, it’s the perfect base for exploring the city’s vibrant culture, whether you’re strolling along the pier or indulging in a spot of retail therapy in the trendy Lanes. Brighton’s buzz is yours to enjoy year-round, making Looking Glass Cottage® the ideal destination for any occasion.
A Wonderland Escape for Every Occasion
Whether you’re planning a girly shopping weekend, a posh hen party, or a special group getaway, Looking Glass Cottage® provides the perfect backdrop. With its magical, whimsical interiors, every room tells a story, featuring teacup lamps, pocket watch door knobs, and teaspoon handles, all inspired by Lewis Carroll’s classic tales. This is Alice in Wonderland reimagined in the most glamorous way.
The house’s unique design makes it perfect for those looking to add a touch of glamour and fun to their celebrations. From relaxed evenings by the fire to intimate gatherings with friends, Looking Glass Cottage® will leave you with memories to last a lifetime.
Why Stay at Looking Glass Cottage®?
• Prime Location in Brighton’s fashionable Lanes—steps away from the seafront, top restaurants, and exclusive boutiques • A whimsical, Alice in Wonderland-themed interior, brimming with quirky details and luxurious touches • Perfect for groups of friends, special celebrations, intimate hen parties, or shopping trips • Award-winning with multiple mentions in the press and TripAdvisor Certificate of Excellence • Featured in The Guardian, The Sun, and Family Traveller—a must-see destination for unique stays in Brighton
In the Press:
• “The best Christmas breaks in the UK” – Family Traveller • “Storytime-inspired getaways” – The Sun • “Cool holiday cottages in Brighton” – The Guardian • “It has serious wow-factor, like walking onto the set of a glam Alice in Wonderland photo shoot” – Sunday Mirror • Top 10 Best Places to Stay for the 2012 Olympics – Sunday Mirror
Ideal for Intimate Gatherings and Creative Getaways
Looking Glass Cottage® is perfectly suited for those seeking a unique and stylish escape in Brighton. Whether it’s a photo shoot, a birthday celebration, or a bachelorette weekend, the whimsical charm and central location will elevate your stay to something truly special.
Need More Space?
If you’re looking for something larger or have a bigger group, don’t forget to check out our sister property, Wonderland House®, just a short distance away, for a grander experience.
Property amenities
Beach
Beach nearby
Internet
Available in the cottage: WiFi
Parking and transportation
Car not required
Parking on site
Kitchenette
Cookware, dishware, and utensils
Dishwasher
Electric kettle
Microwave
Refrigerator
Spices
Stovetop
Toaster
Bedrooms
3 bedrooms
Bedsheets provided
Sofa bed
Bathroom
1.5 bathrooms
Hair dryer
Shower
Soap
Toilet paper
Towels provided
Living spaces
Fireplace
Living room
Entertainment
Books
DVD player
Smart TV
Stereo
Outdoor areas
Patio
Laundry
Laundromat nearby
Comfort
Heating
Pets
Pet friendly
Welcoming dogs only
2 pets total (up to 55 lbs per pet)
Suitability/Accessibility
If you have requests for specific accessibility needs, please contact the property using the information on the reservation confirmation received after booking.
Upper floors accessible by stairs only
Smoking not allowed
Note from host: You may smoke on the patio
Services and conveniences
Iron/ironing board
Location highlights
In the city center
Near a health/beauty spa
Near a hospital
Near a zoo
Near the marina
Near the sea
Things to do
Casino nearby
Fishing nearby
Golfing nearby
Hiking/biking trails nearby
Ice skating nearby
Jet skiing nearby
Kayaking nearby
Motor boating nearby
Mountain biking nearby
Parasailing nearby
Sailing nearby
Swimming nearby
Water skiing nearby
Windsurfing nearby
Safety features
Carbon monoxide detector (host has indicated there is a carbon monoxide detector on the property)
Smoke detector (host has indicated there is a smoke detector on the property)
You will receive an email from the host with check-in and check-out instructions
Information provided by the property may be translated using automated translation tools
Pets
Pets allowed
Service animals are welcome, and are exempt from fees
Welcoming dogs only
2 total (up to 55 lbs per pet)
Restrictions apply; for more information contact the property at the number on the booking confirmation
Children and extra beds
Children are welcome
Events
Events allowed: family gatherings, birthday parties, weddings
Smoking
Smoking is not permitted
You may smoke on the patio
Important information
You need to know
Extra-person charges may apply and vary depending on property policy
Government-issued photo identification and a credit card, debit card, or cash deposit may be required at check-in for incidental charges
Special requests are subject to availability upon check-in and may incur additional charges; special requests cannot be guaranteed
Parties and events (including family gatherings, birthday parties and weddings) are allowed on site; maximum attendees: 8
Host has indicated there is a carbon monoxide detector on the property
Host has indicated there is a smoke detector on the property
Safety features at this property include a fire extinguisher
This property is managed through our partner, Vrbo. You will receive an email from Vrbo with a link to a Vrbo account, where you can change or cancel your reservation
We should mention
This property does not have elevators
A car is not required for transportation to and from this property
About the neighborhood
Located near the beach, this cottage is in Brighton City Centre, a neighborhood in Brighton. Brighton Pier is a popular attraction and the area's natural beauty can be seen at Brighton Beach and South Downs National Park. Looking to enjoy an event or a game while in town? See what's happening at The 1st Central County Ground Hove or Brighton and Hove Greyhound Stadium. Jet skiing and kayaking offer great chances to get out on the surrounding water, or you can seek out an adventure with mountain biking and cycling nearby. Visit our Brighton travel guide
Is Looking Glass Cottage Magical 'Alice in Wonderland' Cottage pet-friendly?
Yes, this property allows dogs (limit 2 total) with a maximum weight of up to 55 lbs per pet. Some restrictions may apply, so please contact the property for more details.
How much is parking?
Onsite parking is available at the property.
What time is check-in at Looking Glass Cottage Magical 'Alice in Wonderland' Cottage?
Check-in begins at 3:00 PM.
What time is check-out at Looking Glass Cottage Magical 'Alice in Wonderland' Cottage?
Check-out is at 11:00 AM.
Where is Looking Glass Cottage Magical 'Alice in Wonderland' Cottage located?
Located in Brighton City Centre, this cottage is steps from Brighton Fishing Museum and Brighton Beach. Brighton Centre and Brighton Pier are also within 15 minutes. Brighton Station is 12 minutes by foot and Brighton (BSH-Brighton Train Station) is 12 minutes.
Have a question?
AI iconBetaBeta
Get instant answers with AI powered search of property information and reviews.
Looking Glass Cottage Magical 'Alice in Wonderland' Cottage Reviews
Reviews
Exceptional
All reviews shown are from real guest experiences. Only travelers who have booked a stay with us can submit a review. We verify reviews according to our guidelines and publish all reviews, positive or negative.
Was more than we expected. Fantastic location, very cozy and charming. A Will definitely be back for longer!!
Per t.
Stayed 2 nights in Apr 2025
Verified
10/10 Excellent
Aiden
7 September 2025
Liked: Cleanliness, amenities, property conditions & facilities, communication
Clean, great communication, awesome theme with cutest little details. Small items that made the stay even better - tea, coffee, sugar etc
Super close to the bars, restaurants and seafront. The only negative is its very noisy on a fri/sat night from the surrounding bars but they supply earplugs which is a great touch!
Loved it and perfect for our girls weekend!
This is a compact location for six people right in the heart of Brighton with everything you need close to hand. The Alice in Wonderland theming is cute and perfect for the tiny cottage. A bit noisy at night because of its location, but nothing to spoil a great city break. Loved it
Cottage is great, very cosy and the location for being close to all the attractions of Brighton. The downside of the location is the noise when people using the alley way go home… one night students seemed to flow past making a racket till gone 1am… the other nights were not as noisy but when your on holiday doesn’t seem to matter. Would recommend
Booking was super easy and the host was extremely helpful and went above and beyond for us. They had supplied us some tea/coffee/sugar/milk wine and few bits which was lovely.
The bed description for rooms isn’t as shown but the host had messaged me saying 2 beds downstairs so this really wasn’t an issue for us. The sofa beds not that comfy so I would say 6 people max but this in no way ruined our 2 night stay. We were missing one duvet and the host got this sorted straight away with no problem.
The cottage was small but as we were on a girls weekend we didn’t spend much time in it so was perfect for what we wanted. The location was brilliant and had everything close by. A pub either side so be mindful its loud but we were supplied ear plugs which worked a treat so again this did not affect us at all. We are getting another date in the diary as we will 100% be returning.
We had a wonderful weekend in Brighton and can’t thank the host enough for allowing us to stay.
On arrival we were a little concerned at how little the cottage seemed in comparison to the photos but actually it was perfect. We were here for a 7 person Hen Do and it was the perfect location in the middle of all the hustle and bustle - not a great place for any light sleepers though as the lane is busy and the bass from surrounding pubs/clubs is loud. (7th person had to sleep downstairs on the lane and the door doesn’t feel very secure so I’d suggest 6 people comfortably)
The cottage is so beautifully decorated which was amazing for our Alice themed hen do, clean and well equipped and the host went above and beyond supplying coffee/tea/sugar, ear plugs and toiletries.
Only additions we could suggest would be have extra toilet roll and bin bags, have fans in the rooms as they were warm and outside too loud to open the windows. For those staying for the first time, the bin is in the cupboard under the stairs!
Had a wonderful time. The place was nice and clean and right in the centre of the city and close to the beach and Brighton pier. I would definitely recommend it and will stay here again if I will be back to Brighton. Thank you for making our holiday so nice.
A real quirky property settled in the heart of the lanes. An amazing use of the small property, with lovely touches throughout, with a bottle of Prosecco to start things off. Due to the nature of the central position, it can be noisy later in the night when the windows are open, but if you’re there for a fun weekend, you can join in. There are plenty of ear plugs provided in the rooms to help. We were a group of 51-73 yr olds. The host was absolutely excellent in providing extensive information and didn’t mind me calling him for further advice.
A beautiful property, with fantastic communication and help. However there are some negatives
The apartment is in a fantastic location, it’s clean and has beautiful decor. Jacqueline was extremely helpful before we arrived she was very quick to respond to questions and was accommodating with our requests.
There were 6 of us staying at the property which advertised 6-8 people, I would say 6 maximum should stay here. I think it fits 4/5 people comfortably. The 2 twin bedrooms are fine the 3rd bedroom with the double bed was so small, the room just about fits a double bed and a small gap between the bed and the sink. When in the bed your feet touch the wall and it feels very claustrophobic. There is no space to have any luggage at all! This room is suitable for 1 person. As the room was so small we had to use a sofa bed, this was probably the most uncomfortable thing I have ever slept on! So if your planning to use it I would recommend bringing extra bedding to give it some padding. We were a group of girls on a hens do so we were up late, the music in the fantastic pubs next door went on until 3am not 12am as described. It was so loud at 2.30 in the morning we were lying in bed trying to sleep and we’re singing along with the words to the songs. You can actually feel the room almost vibrating. So if you want to sleep before 3am take some ear defenders and some sleeping aids. We did have a nice stay here but we were very tired due to the lack of sleep.
Will definitely be back!
Super cottage and everything as described.
Wonderful communication with the owner.
Cannot fault it, wonderful attention to detail.
Book it now....you won't be sorry.
Wendy
Wendy T.
Verified
10/10 Excellent
Clair W.
17 September 2018
Gorgeous!
I booked the Alice in Wonderland cottage for my 40th birthday weekend and it was fabulous! The house is small, but perfect for our needs and the decor was amazing and incredibly cute, with clearly a lot of thought and detail put into it. It was exceptionally clean and well provisioned. Jacqueline the owner was excellent throughout the booking and went above and beyond with our welcome to the property! The location is perfect - right in the heart of the Brighton Lanes and about 2 minutes stroll from the seafront. I highly recommend staying here! Thank you Jacqueline! :) x
Clair W.
Stayed 2 nights in Aug 2018
Verified
10/10 Excellent
Janne L.
12 July 2018
Perfect Location - Cosy comfort
We were two families 4 adults and 3 children staying at the Looking Glass Cottage in the beginning of May. The apartment is small and cosy, and just what we needed to enjoy Brighton. Everything we needed was right at our doorstep: Food, restaurants, pubs, bars, shopping and the beach. The Looking Glass Cottage comes highly recommended for anyone under 2 meters tall - it's Brighton at it's best.
Janne L.
Stayed 3 nights in May 2018
Archival
10/10 Excellent
Sarah H.
15 January 2016
A wonderland place to stay
An excellent venue, close to all amenities: shops, restaurants, seafront and anything else you could want.
The house was perfect for our stay and had everything we needed. We were out most of the time, so it suited our needs.
Jacqueline was very helpful with any information required and prompt with replies.
Suggestions we made for tiny improvements were taken on board.
Only criticism is sofas little uncomfortable for long periods of time.
Well worth staying
Sarah H.
Archival
10/10 Excellent
Pooja P.
26 April 2014
AMAZING!!
Good sized property, clean (for a clean freak like myself everything was to 5 star standard!) and well maintained throughout.
Perfect for a week away with my 5 other friends, we had an amazing time and would love to go back again this year!
Our internet (Wifi) did not work but the problem was solved as soon as we rang Jacqueline.
Would definitely recommend this property to anyone looking for a quirky get a away property!!
Pooja P.
Archival
10/10 Excellent
uJDp436RyCWA4aMHx9jznIAf1PSmphJ9OX01fZaM7+GokavUMqZgNXQkcam/1eqJwzDP30JpDRYap5mNMluu6Sdg4YNZNzZbqNaS u.
11 May 2013
What a treat
I cannot recommend this beautiful city home highly enough! The attention to detail and ease of booking from start to finish was second to none.
Amazing location, secure, beautiful decor, quirky detail, thoughtful hostess, awesome shower, excellent little outside area, even ice trays!, good towels, comfortable beds! Not sure what more I could have asked for in all honestly. 1000/10!
Please visit!
uJDp436RyCWA4aMHx9jznIAf1PSmphJ9OX01fZaM7+GokavUMqZgNXQkcam/1eqJwzDP30JpDRYap5mNMluu6Sdg4YNZNzZbqNaS u.
Archival
10/10 Excellent
Anna D.
29 August 2012
A little wonderland!
This small but perfect little cottage takes you into a Alice in Wonderland fairytale world, the detailing across the cottage is outstanding! The location just off the lanes is pefect for moving around Brighton for a girls weekend of fun! Would recommend staying here without a doubt!