If you're thinking about vacationing with a little English flair, I suggest Brighton, known by many as England's favourite city by the sea. Why Brighton? How do royal palaces, Victorian Piers and world-class Regency architecture strike you? These are just a few of the numerous other attractions that drawn international visitors yearly. Brighton is equally known for its breathtaking beachfront, the maze-like Lanes area, the reknowned Royal Pavilion palace, and the Brighton Festival, the largest mixed arts festival in England.
I'll break down these facets for you in a little more detail.
Land, architecture and landmarks
From the maze of Brighton's famous Lanes -- there since the 17th century -- to the Royal Pavilion, its Regency architecture, to the famous Brighton Pier and the Victorian seafront promenade, there is a lot for even the most jaded tourist to explore.
The Royal Pavillion was originally built as a residence for the Prince Regent and King George IV. Its layout is very elegant and reminds one of Indian designs, with a great traverse down Victorian promenade and seafront, where there is a fishing museum holding archives of local fishing and family history.
The Lanes consist of a maze of cobbled alleyways connecting larger streets, which in itself holds a lot of attractions, such as the Old Ship hotel, and undergound spots you can dine in that used to be cellars. To get around, check out England's oldest electric railway, the Volks; it still works!
Sussex Square gardens is the inspiration for many literary classics, such as Lewis Carroll's Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland and Charles Dickens' Dombey and Son. The most famous Brighton book, Graham Greene's Brighton Rock, became a classic film, and was filmed in the city. In fact, Brighton as a city has served as a perennial scenic backdrop for the motion picture industry; famous other movies filmed here include On A Clear Day You Can See Forever, starring Barbara Streisand, and The End of the Affair. So film buffs, take note!
Arts and the Brighton Festival
There is a lot to see on the artistic front as well in Brighton. The Brighton Museum and Art Gallery houses nationally important collections, and other items from various aesthetic flavours.
Arts festival and performance-wise, generally, Brighton never provides a dull day. It has over 20 performance spaces, staging opera, dance, concerts, and stand up comedy nights. The venues range from Grade II elegance to the colloquial, so ask for the best venue for each type of fare.
Then there is the aforementioned Brighton Festival, which celebrated its 40th birthday in style in May 2006. It boasts 700(!) events over 3 weeks. Other festivals abound with a myriad of themes. The Fringe is, simply, the second biggest Fringe in the World. There is the Brighton Food and Drink Festival in September, and The Paramount Brighton Comedy Festival in October. Other festivals to look out for include the Early Music Festival, Brighton Live, London to Brighton Bike Ride, Brighton Art Fair, Burning the Clocks, Blatantly Brighton, and Great Escape.
Eats and accomodations
Brighton's beachfront, whose arches were formerly (and equally) used by fishermen and smugglers alike, houses bars, cafés and restaurants, with a great view of sunsets over the English Channel. Some of the arches have been turned into studios where Brighton’s artist community make and sell unique souvenirs. Sample fine wine at The English Wine Centre near the village of Alfriston.
Brighton is also home to the concept of 'boutique hotels,' such as Hotel du Vin, Hotel Seattle at Brighton Marina, Drakes, Maison Mascara and The White House for a relaxing a picturesque stay in Brighton.
Natural beauty
Imagine a calming seaside, chalk downlands and countryside, rolling hills, hidden valleys and dense woodland. There are the chalk escarpments of the South Downs, while the Cuckmere Valley and Seven Sisters Country Park runs from Lewes to the sea, set against breathtaking white cliffs on the coastline.
Also not to be missed are the gardens of Merriments, Groombridge place, Leonardslee and Borde Hill. Castles and historic houses, including Bodium Castle, Uppark, Elizabethan Hertsmonceaux Castle, and the Bloomsbury Group’s country retreat, Charleston Farmhouse, are all for tourist viewing.
There is so much to experience in Brighton, that even my English friends speak of it with knowing affirmations of how nice, enchanting, historically and culturally captivation it is. If you're planning a trip to Europe -- or even if no vacation plans are yet on your itinerary -- make a point of visiting Brighton for an hearty experience and wonderous delve into 'tymes of olde' like no other.
