Beautiful Brighton

Brighton (50 miles/80km due South of London), the legendary dirty weekend destination for Mr and Mrs Smith is a must see town for visitors to the UK and British Tourists alike. It has a unique “San Francisco” South Coast vibe with a high proportion of students (many at the nearby Sussex University and Brighton University) and ex-students who just could find no good reason to leave after their studies.

Yes the beach is all pebbles – but there will not be sand in your sandwiches, and no big bully will kick sand in your face. The Beach promenade has a good mix of bars, cuisine high (maybe Ciabatta with tapenade and humous dips) and low (fish and chips of course !), shops selling kiss me quick type merchandise next to art galleries and the internationally rated clubs like Zap. The pier is fun for families with rides and beautiful panoramic views to savor while the seagulls squawk and the kids squeal. The other pier (the old West pier) is a relic, which is a shame, but has been captured in many an atmospheric photograph since its decline – take your camera with you and you may be able to catch the beauty of sea, ruin and sunshine.

The Brighton Pavilion is a sensational treat, a palace built by the Prince Regent (who later became King George IV) that has to be seen to be believed. It really is stunning.

Brighton is full of independent shops and boutiques, the Laines and the famous North Laines area are great places to meander and drink coffee or something stronger. Here you will also find great venues like the Komedia club which has a massively diverse range of entertainments from Theatre and Caberet to Music gigs, standup comedy and club nights. For a relaxing cup of tea after wandering the streets try the Pavilion Gardens cafe opposite the Theatre Royal, the kids can frolic on the lawns with the beautiful Royal Pavilion as their backdrop (another chance for a top notch photograph). There have been a number of pedestrianisation developments recently, including New Road (Theatre Royal) which have made Brighton even more relaxing to wander around and introduced more of a continental street feel with plenty of cafe bar and restaurant tables out in the open air.

For kids there is of course the Sea Life Centre, The pier, Peter Pans Playground, The old Victorian train that goes along the coast from the Pier to the Marina known as the Volks Railway.

Try these sights for information on family fun in Brighton and on the rich and diverse Brighton cultural scene.

http://www.brighton.co.uk/
http://www.brightonlife.com/
http://whatson.brighton.co.uk/
http://www.visitbrighton.com/

Brighton hosts its cultural festival every May, the town has a special buzz in this month, it was great in 2007 and should be even better in 2008, living up to its status as the biggest cultural festival in England - with a thriving Fringe and hundreds of acts, free street theatre, parades, fireworks and a great vibe .
http://www.brightonfestival.org/

Brighton is one of the UK's best cities – come and see it for yourself !