Baby Pavilion

Welcome babies to the Royal Pavilion!

Brighton’s historic Royal Pavilion is rolling out the sensory carpet for its tiniest visitors with the Baby Colour Trail – the first of its kind in the UK! From glittering chandeliers and colourful ceilings to dragons, phoenixes, and vibrant patterns, the Pavilion is a feast for curious little eyes. Created with scientists at the Sussex Baby Lab, this trail shows exactly what babies love to look at, making a visit full of wonder, colour, and discovery for both infants and their families.

We understand that the little things can make a big difference when planning a day out with your baby, we’ve tried our best to think of everything to make your visit easy and enjoyable.

Did you know that your ticket is an annual pass, you can pop back whenever you like for a whole year!

Making your visit easier

There is pushchair access at the main entrance, and the ground floor is buggy friendly with a buggy park should you wish to park and explore further. Feel free to ask the front of house staff for a hip carrier option for your baby.

Changing facilities are available and we have an emergency baby supply kit at the ticket desk which includes nappies, wipes and other essentials.

We all know that babies, and their carers, sometimes need a quiet place, maybe to feed or just a place to sit down and reset. If you would like somewhere a little quieter, please ask a member of staff for some suggestions.

Working in collaboration with the University of Sussex Baby Lab

We have been delighted to work with the scientists at Sussex Baby Lab as they explore how babies see, think and learn in museums. They used head cams to find out what babies like to look at… it turns out the Pavilion has all of these things!

The scientists created fascinating heat map images to show where the babies spent the most time looking as they explore the Pavilion with their carers. Red means the most time.

Even though your baby’s vision is poor at this stage they will always find something to enjoy looking at! Each time you visit, your baby’s vision will have developed and the multisensory experiences on offer at the Pavilion will always provide something new and exciting for your baby to experience.

The scientists found that babies love to look at and explore things that are reflective and shiny, objects with faces such as the figurines and dragons and they absolutely love colour and pattern, which is lucky because here at the Royal Pavilion, colour and pattern is everywhere!

Visit University of Sussex – Baby Lab

What can I do with my baby?

There are so many opportunities for sharing a special moment with your baby at the Royal Pavilion.

Pick up a copy of your free mini guide for babies at the ticket office, this will help you with all you need to know for your visit as well as giving you some hints and tips of what your baby will especially like to see.

Your baby will follow where you point, can you direct their gaze? Don’t forget to look up, down and all around, there is so much to see!

Interact and describe what you can see, your baby will love to hear you talk.

Try something different and lie down on the carpet with your baby in the Music Room, what can you see? Feel free to ask the staff to use the baby mat provided in this room if you would like.

While you are in the Music Room, you can take advantage of using the Baby Basket which is filled with interactive, sensory toys and take a moment to enjoy the beautiful room as you play. Just ask a member of staff for it.

Remember, you can pop back whenever you like for a whole year with your ticket, what will catch your baby’s eye today?