North Street, Brighton

North Street in Brighton serves as a significant boundary between two of the city's most vibrant districts: the North Laine and The Lanes. This central street is a bustling commercial hub, lined with a variety of fashionable shops, including well-known brands like Mango, Body Shop, and Boots, as well as some more unique stores such as Kurt Geiger Shoes and LOMBOK Interiors.

Historically, North Street has been one of Brighton's primary commercial thoroughfares. By 1770, it already boasted twenty-eight buildings, reflecting its early importance to the town's growth. The street's development accelerated in the eighteenth century, particularly as Brighton grew as a resort, and by 1770, the number of buildings had increased to eighty-eight. The street's commercial prominence continued to expand, with shops gradually spreading up from Castle Square, establishing North Street as the town's principal commercial artery by the end of the century.

North Street marked the medieval town's northern limit and was likely developed in the 14th century. By the early 19th century, it became densely built-up, with squalid slums like Durham, Petty France, and Air Street. These were cleared in 1845 to build Queen’s Road.

Throughout the twentieth century, North Street was significantly altered by widening projects in the 1870s, 1927-36, and early 1960s to handle increasing traffic. Today, few pre-mid-nineteenth-century buildings remain, mostly west of Ship Street and New Road. The northern side has been largely redeveloped, with notable structures like the pink-granite Leeds Permanent building on the corner of New Road.

Despite these changes, North Street remains a vital and dynamic part of Brighton, balancing its rich history with its role as a contemporary shopping and commercial destination.