Brighton is a very popular seaside resort in East Sussex and the major part of the city of Brighton and Hove, formed from the previous towns of Brighton, Hove, Portslade and some other villages.
Brighton Pier © flickr/OliverN5
And as every proper coastal resort Brighton of course has a pier too. Work on the pier began in 1891 and it was opened in a grand ceremony on May 20th 1899. By 1901 the building of the pier with its minaret corner towers housed dining, smoking and reading rooms and a concert hall. By 1911 the concert hall had become a theatre attraction. 21 years later a big wheel was added and Brighton Pier grew in length and width. After WW2 business was booming and day sea trips from the pier became very popular until 1960.
In 1984 new features were introduced. There now are a traditional fish & chips restaurant, new food outlets on the forecourt, free deck chairs and free admission to the pier. When you visit Brighton Pier you should also pay the funfair a visit. The roller coasters and bumper cars are fun for all family. Numerous side-stalls are selling everything from ornaments, jewelry to tarot card readings.
Brighton Beach is the most popular beach in England not only with tourists but many day trippers, locals and even business people. The best place to do sunbathing is right by the pier as there are parking facilities and stalls and shops offering food and drink. But sunbathing is not the only reason to visit Brighton Beach. It is also popular for its many restaurants, attractions, pubs and clubs on the beachfront. And the popular hotels on the sea aren’t far away either.
Along the inland edge of the Brighton Beach to Black Rock runs Volk’s Electric Railway, which is the world’s oldest operating electric railway created in 1883.
A must-see attraction not only in Brighton but within the whole of the UK is the Royal Pavilion. When you approach it you probably wonder if you are somewhere in India because its exterior is about as non-English as could possibly be.
on Brighton Pier © flickr/subcircle
The Royal Pavilion was built in 1787 under command of the Prince Regent with the architect being the famous Henry Holland. It was originally known as ‘Marine Pavilion’ but was redesigned between 1815 and 1823 b y John Nash when the East was pretty much in vogue with royalty. In 1850 the Queen sold the pavilion. The inside of the Royal Pavilion is very Oriental and luxurious taking on a Chinese theme. Some of the chandeliers contain of crystals in the shape of lotuses held by a giant dragon. It is almost beyond belief and worth a visit.
Rooms you should see, once you are inside, are the Music Room, which was built because of King George IV’s love for music, the Banqueting Room, with its elegant artwork showing various scenes from China, a huge banquet table and a beautiful huge dragon Chandelier hanging above the diners heads, and the Great Kitchen which is a steam-power kitchen and a state of the art system in its time, King George IV was very proud of.
The Sealife Centre might be the world’s oldest aquarium as it dates back to 1872. Its interesting architecture seams to fuse Victorian style designs with modern day high-tech. It hosts over 150 marine species and 57 unique displays. Interesting is the underwater tunnel where you can see sharks, turtles and other fishes float above your head. The Sealife Centre for sure is a great adventure for all the family.
Another very popular building besides the Royal Pavilion is Preston Manor. It was initially built around the 1600s and over 20 rooms over 4 floors can be explored. Do note that it is closed between October and March. The old Manor House makes you feel like stepping back into the early years of the 20th century. There are also the 13th-century parish church of St Peter, a fascinating pets’ cemetery and walled gardens.
Royal Pavilion © flickr/huygens
In the narrow streets of ‘The Lanes’ you can imagine what Brighton was like during the Middle Ages, even though some of the buildings have been modernised. It is the oldest area of Brighton and offers superb shopping facilities. There are little shops as well as fashionable new boutiques and charming restaurants and cafés.
Rather weird but certainly worth a visit is the Booth Museum of National History. It contains a large collection of British creatures, including birds, butterflies, whales, skeletons and more.
If you happen to come to Brighton in May you will certainly enjoy the Brighton Festival which officially is the second largest arts festival in Britain and usually held over a few weeks in May. It offers music, dance and theatre from artisans all over the world.
It is believed that Brighton is one of the top five cities that tourists want to visit during their stay in the United Kingdom.
