The United Kingdom is home to many famous cities, from London to Edinburgh, Manchester to Cambridge. And while many people abroad may not at first think of Brighton and its £1 minimum deposit casino uk gambling venues, it is a favourite destination for many British travellers. Despite its small size and population, it is truly impressive and has a lot to offer!
Royal Pavilion
The Royal Pavilion is a grand building located in the centre of Brighton. It is the former palace of the royal family and was particularly favoured by King George IV, who reigned from 1820 to 1830. Queen Victoria sold the Pavilion to the City of Brighton in 1850, meaning it is now a public building.
The Pavilion is particularly notable for its Indo-Saracenic style, inspired by 19th-century Indian architecture. Today, the interior is in the style of George IV’s 1820s residence. The Pavilion also has some beautiful gardens, should you wish to take a walk in nature after visiting the Pavilion.
Lookout Tower
Brighton Lookout Tower is a 162-metre-high tower on the UK seafront. It is officially known as the British Airways i360 and is designed by the same architectural firm as the famous London Eye.
Visitors enter the observation tower capsule at ground level. The capsule then rises into the sky, from where a circumferential view of the city, the South Downs and the English Channel unfolds. The ascent lasts around 25 minutes, giving you plenty of time to explore your new surroundings.
Seaside
Brighton is known throughout the UK as a seaside resort. It is one of Britons’ favourite places for a day trip to the sea. It is particularly popular with Londoners and those living in the south, which can be reached in just an hour by train from central London.
Brighton’s pebble beach stretches for 8.7 kilometres. In winter, it’s likely to be too cold to stay in the water for too long. Instead, the beach is likely to be busy with pedestrians. In the summer, hundreds of locals and tourists flock to the beach to freshen up or sunbathe.
The city is also known for its Brighton Marina, which has a working harbour and some wonderful residential homes overlooking the sea.
Brighton Palace Pier
Brighton Palace Pier has been a landmark in the city for over a century, having been opened in 1899. In fact, it is so popular that over four million people visited it in 2016.
For those who don’t know, piers are a very British phenomenon: a sort of iron and wood structure going into the ocean at seaside resorts. This was the third pier built in the city, but the only one still in operation after the infamous West Pier fire in 2003.
There is no charge to visit the pier, which has plenty of activities for all ages, from arcade games to fairground rides. The Booster ride is particularly famous for tossing riders 40 metres above Brighton’s famous sea.
Brighton Fringe
And if all the art lovers can’t get enough of the Brighton Festival, the city also hosts the second annual Brighton Fringe Arts Festival. The Fringe runs for four weeks in May and June and is considered the second most important event in the UK arts world after the famous Edinburgh Fringe.
Some commentators have even suggested that the Brighton Fringe is fast becoming as big as the Edinburgh Fringe!
The Fringe is unique in that it is open access. This means that the Fringe does not book the performers, but the artists themselves approach the Fringe to ask for support for the event. This creates an exciting atmosphere where performers range from beginners to professionals (sometimes you can’t even tell for sure). Fringe takes place all over the city, utilising well-known venues such as the Pavilion as well as private homes and the beach. Once a performance even took place in a bathhouse.
Street Art
If you’re into street art, Brighton is a great place for you. The city is well known for its street art, which is natural for such an artistic and young city. Areas of the city that are particularly notable for their street art include Trafalgar Street, Trafalgar Lane and Gloucester Street.
Unconventional cafes and shops
Brighton is home to a large number of independent cafes and shops, especially when compared to other cities in the UK. These independent shops add to the charm of the city and create a friendly atmosphere.
The North Line area is particularly famous for its independent businesses, over 400 of them, as well as a great flea market. You’ll also find plenty of Brighton street art here!
There are two weekly flea markets on Sundays, one at Brighton Harbour and one at Brighton Racecourse. Be sure to stop by for bargain craft goods or vintage clothing.
