Welcome babies to the Royal Pavilion!
Brighton’s historic Royal Pavilion is welcoming its tiniest visitors with the Baby Pavilion Guide, a helpful wayfarer for babies, designed with researchers from the Sussex Baby Lab. This resource shows parents and carers which parts of the Pavilion are most captivating for babies, based on scientific research into what little ones love to look at. From glittering chandeliers and shiny surfaces to rich colours and intricate patterns, the Pavilion offers a beautiful environment that supports babies’ cognitive growth and curiosity. Families are even invited to get down on the floor of the Music Room to enjoy the full sparkle and colour spectrum of this stunning space with our special baby basket!
On arrival, visitors receive the Baby Pavilion Guide, highlighting the areas that babies found most interesting in the academic research, along with information showing how the Pavilion benefits early brain development. Please note that no baby cams are in use, they were part of the original research, but anyone interested in joining future studies can sign up via the Sussex Baby Lab waiting list.
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!
Baby Pavilion Guide
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. This is available from the front desk.
The accessible toilet with changing facilities is located by the front desk.
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. They will try their best to accommodate you, especially during busy periods.
We have also used the research from Sussex Baby Lab to develop
- A helpful guide for you and your baby when exploring the Royal Pavilion
- A small basket of sensory toys and play blanket in the Music Room
- An emergency kit of nappies and baby wipes available from the front desk
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!
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?
Find out more
- Kids in Museums website – Welcoming babies to museums and galleries
- Sussex Baby Labs research from the Royal Pavilion.
- Babies in the Pavilion and interview with Professor Anna Franklin –