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Andrew Waller |
| Registered: | 28 March 2006 | | Last visit: | 30 March 2006 |
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| Brighton Travel Guide: Brighton Travel Guide
| | Written by Andrew Waller on 30 Mar 2006 about a trip in Mar 2006.
Trip was for a single traveller.
| Brighton shopping | | The City is split into four very distinct shopping areas, which combine together to create an unbeatable shopping experience!
Brighton Marina is home to a range of Outlet Shops where you can buy designer labels at discounted prices. For antiques and curiosities, gifts and clothes boutiques then head straight for the "The Lanes" which is located between the Royal Pavilion and the seafront.
All of the High Street names can be found in the main shopping area of Western Road and the indoor Churchill Centre. For street fashion and footwear, fabrics or fireplaces or just an unusual gift, the bohemian area of the North Laine is bursting with independent shops. |
Brighton nightlife | | Brighton Rocks! Whatever entertainment or nightlife you're looking for, Brighton has it.
Theatreland offers a wealth of culture, the Brighton Centre plays host to Rock & Pop bands, and for Jazz fans the Joogleberry is a must visit.
Pubs & Bars are now generally open until about 1 am, later on weekends and then the club scene takes you through to the early hours.
A vibrant live music scene results from the city having two Universities and a Music Academy. For all the latest listing for gigs and events its worth checking out the Virtual Brighton website http://www.brighton.co.uk
Brighton is also famous for its gay nightlife. Most of the bars and clubs can be found on the seafront in the St James's area of Kemp Town. |
Brighton restaurants | | With more restaurants and eateries per head than anywhere in the country outside of London, you really are spoiled for choice. Every cuisine you could think of is represented ranging from the Southern American by Momma Cherri and her now famous Soul-Food-Shack to the acclaimed Gingerman Restaurant which has recently located to the boutique Drakes Hotel.
Buddies on the seafront is open and serves breakfast 24 hours a day. Its always busy, catering for families in the daytime and hungry clubbers in the early hours.
Theatreland, Jubilee Street and the surrounding area is home to Yo! Sushi, Carluccios, and Wagamamas.
As you would expect Brighton has its fair share of Fish & Chip Restaurants, most of which can be found along the lower promenade from the Palace Pier through to Hove. |
Brighton attractions | | The jewel in Brighton's crown is without doubt the Royal Pavilion. This unique palace was once the home of the Prince Regent [George IV] which was gifted to the town by Queen Victoria. Many original works of art on loan Queen Elizabeth II are on display throughout the palace which is open to the public all year round.
The Royal Stables and Riding School have been converted to what is now the Brighton Dome and Corn Exchange which hosts a variety of concerts and events, the most famous of which was when ABBA won the Eurovision Song Contest there with Waterloo! Since then the Dome has been totally refurbished and is a more intimate music and performance venue.
Over the years Brighton has lost two piers - the Chain and West Piers, however the Palace Pier is going strong and with free admission is open to visitors every day.
The Aquarium now home to the Sealife Centre with its fantastic underwater observation tunnel is a must visit for adults and kids alike.
Some of the many other attractions worth visiting include: Brighton Racecourse, Toy & Model Museum, the Engineerium, the Fishing Museum and the umissable Volks Railway [Britain's oldest electric railway]. |
Brighton events | | The City plays host to hundreds of events each year, the most popular is the Festival which combines with the Brighton Fringe Festival to provide spectacular entertainment ranging from music, theatre, art and street performance. For three weeks every May the city is home to the largest arts festival in England.
Madeira Drive runs from Brighton's Palace Pier to the Marina and throughout the year is host to a vast array of world-famous events including the National Speed Trials and the British Heart Foundation Bike Ride. Also on many weekends during the year Madeira Drive is closed to general traffic while it hosts motoring events such as MG Rally, Classic Car Run, UK Coach Rally, Mini Rally and perhaps the most famous of all, the London to Brighton Veteran Car Rally which attracts thousands of visitors each November.
For a week in August, Brighton celebrates its unique culture of diversity and tolerance with over 70 events culminating in the Pride Carnival Parade & Festival.
In December the Burning of the Clocks takes place. A parade through the City is followed by a ceremonial burning of paper clocks on the Kemp Town beach to celebrate the Winter Solstice. |
Brighton day trips | | If you're looking for a break away from the City, Devils Dyke is a great place for a day out. Situated high on the downs here you can enjoy fresh air, country walks, pinics, watch the paragliding or enjoy a pub lunch!
Lunch in France is another good option. Its easy to forget that France is a lot closer than London! You can catch a Transmanche Ferry from Newhaven to the heart of Dieppe for a great day out shopping at the markets or feasting on fantastic french cuisine.
Or for something a little different, from Brighton [Shoreham] City Airport you can catch a scheduled flight to either Le Touquet or the Channel Islands for the day. |
Brighton History and Culture | | The Domesday Book records the little fishing village of Brighthelm having a population of 400 and by the 1300's had grown considerably in size and was awarded a charter by Edward II. The town first really became famous when King Charles stayed there in 1651 prior to escaping to France.
In the early 1800's the town became fashionable with royalty and aristocracy and Regency Brighton was born. Major developments such as the Royal Pavilion, the Stables and Riding School were built together with the grand Squares and Crescents, many of which remain today.
The opening of the London to Brighton railway in 1841 saw visitor numbers increase dramatically to over 1/4 million a year and the towns prosperity grew from strength to strength.
During the 1930's 40's Brighton became known for being a seedy place run by London gangs and racketeers as described in Brighton Rock by Graham Greene.
Later the 60's saw the town overtaken by mods and rockers, but in the 1970's Brighton transformed itself once again with the opening of the Brighton Centre as a destination for international conferences. Ongoing development was rewarded in 2000 with the Queen granting the newly combined Brighton & Hove with City status.
Brighton & Hove today has regained its crown as one of the most fashionable resorts in the UK attracting in excess of 8 million visitors a year. |
Getting to Brighton | | Brighton is situated on the south coast just 30 miles south of London Gatwick airport and only 50 from London. The Brighton Express runs twice an hour from London Victoria and takes around 49 minutes. Other London routes are operated by Thameslink serving stations from Bedford, Luton Airport to Kings Cross, City Stations, London Bridge and Brighton. There are also direct links from Reading and Manchester with Virgin Trains.
The main routes into Brighton, the A23 & A27 provide easy connections to the national motorway network, however if you are driving it's worth remembering that parking is very limited in the City and regulations are vigorously enforced.
Transmanche Ferries operate a twice daily RoRo service to Dieppe from Newhaven Ferry Terminal. |
Getting around Brighton | The best way to get around Brighton is on the award winning Brighton & Hove Buses. Real time information displays throughout the city combine with the Metro Lines, a network of five lines with services running every few minutes, to provide one of the best bus services in the country.
CitySavers are cheap and provide unlimited travel throughout the day. SuperSavers offer unlimted travel throughout Brighton and beyond to Eastbourne, Lewes and all other Brighton & Hove Bus destinations [excluding NightClub buses]. |
When to visit Brighton | Brighton is at its liveliest from May through till about October time with a huge array of events and attractions for visitors.
While the main beach between the piers is packed in the summer months a short walk to the much quieter eastern Kemp Town beaches means you'll have as much room as you want.
Weekends are busy throughout the year and are especially popular with Hen and Stag parties. |
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