Jonathan Bailey chose Brighton over London: What drew the ‘Bridgerton’ star to England’s coastal city?

English actor Jonathan Bailey's career keeps him busy with films, television and theatre, but home for the actor is Brighton not London. He moved to the coastal city in 2020 to be closer to the sea and his mother's side of the family.

Why Jonathan Bailey Left London for Brighton

Bridgerton star who played Anthony Bridgerton explained his decision to move to Brighton in a December 2024 interview with British Vogue. The sea was one of the reason and also the chance to live near his maternal relatives.

The move has given him a home to return to between acting projects. Bailey admitted that switching from a demanding role to everyday life can be difficult, he tries to catch up with friends or travel when he needs time away.


He told British Vogue, “It can be a hard, cold transition, so I get back to friends as soon as possible or I go traveling. I love Salento in Italy—I try and go every year.”

Bailey said that more than anything, he yearns for quiet. Spending time outdoors helps him find that calm. Bailey enjoys walking, paddleboarding, mountaineering, cycling and swimming in the sea. He also takes his noise cancelling headphones wherever he goes, saying he feels naked without them.

How Brighton Helps Bailey Step Away From Fame

Bailey's life changed after Bridgerton brought him widespread recognition in 2020. His portrayal of Anthony Bridgerton introduced him to a global audience, and his role as Fiyero in Wicked added another major film to his career.

During a TIME interview in September 2025, Bailey said, “In film and music, the silence is always more profound when there’s been a brilliant cacophony before it,” adding, “Everything’s slightly more extreme now than it has been in the past, so for every extraordinary thing that happens, the opposite of that is still and calm.”

His love of the outdoors also takes him beyond the coast. In 2018, he hiked to Everest base camp. A year later, he climbed Ben Nevis, Snowdon and Scafell Pike within 24 hours to raise money for a motor neurone disease charity, as per the Vogue report.

London Still Draws Jonathan Bailey Back to the Stage

Brighton is home, but London remains a big part of Bailey's working life. Theatre has been a constant throughout his career, and in 2025 he returned to the stage as Richard II in Nicholas Hytner's production at the Bridge Theatre.

Bailey has called theatre his personal “measure of time.” Speaking to TIME, he explained that returning to the stage between filmed projects helps him develop as an actor. He also completed 103 performances of Richard II without missing a show.

His relationship with Hytner goes back to 2013 when the director cast him as Cassio in Othello at the National Theatre.

Why Bailey Wants to Keep His Private Life His Own

Greater fame has changed how people respond to Bailey in public. In his TIME interview, he recalled how the audience at the theatre changed overnight after Bridgerton became a hit, people even reached out to touch him as he cycled to work.

Bailey told TIME, “It was instant recognition, which makes sense, because it can be incredibly intimate when you’re streaming something. You’re probably in bed, chilling out, and you get to watch eight hours of someone and then you get to see them [live]. That, for me, was a fascinating sociological experiment in a way.”

He has also ruled out moving to the United States for now. Asked by British Vogue whether he was tempted to relocate, he replied, “No. That’s a hard no.” He added that he loves New York theatre, but any move would depend on work.