West Hill & North Laine

West Hill & North Laine is a compact central ward in Brighton and Hove that centres on the famously eclectic North Laine, a tight grid of Victorian streets known for independent shops, vintage stalls, cafés and a lively market atmosphere. The area sits within sight of the Royal Pavilion and Theatre Royal, and its name reflects the old Sussex word "laine" for open fields - North Laine was notably saved from wholesale redevelopment in the 1970s and is now a valued conservation and creative quarter.

The West Hill side of the ward is more residential, rising up from the station area around Brighton railway station with a mix of terraces and later infill; it offers quieter streets and good views back down towards the seafront. Economically the ward blends tourism and small-scale retail with long‑standing local communities, and like much of central Brighton it has seen both gentrification pressures and active local campaigning to retain its independent and social character.