North Laine (note the spelling — it is not a lane) is Brighton's bohemian quarter, a grid of streets running north from the train station that fill up with independent record shops, vintage clothing stores, vegetarian cafes, and the kind of tattoo parlours that have been there long enough to be considered institutions. Sydney Street is the main drag; Kensington Gardens, Gardner Street, and Gloucester Road branch off it.
The area has a different atmosphere from The Lanes — younger, noisier, less precious. You will find everything from handmade jewellery to second-hand science fiction to locally roasted coffee. It gets lively on Saturday afternoons when market stalls set up along the Pavilion Gardens edge, and stays lively into the evening as the bars and music venues open.