Where is Brighton located?
Surely you have already heard of it; located in England about 70km from London, it could be defined as the English rimini. Due to its proximity to the capital, it can be reached in less than an hour by train and in summer it is besieged especially by Londoners looking for a bit of tan… weather permitting.
First, let's see where it is: I've been talking to you about Brighton for 200 words and passes and I haven't explained where it is yet. So, as usual, I always try to be very direct: take the map, or, if you want to be a 3.0 tourist, Google Maps. Find London and pretend to draw a vertical line over half of England, here Brighton is positioned on the sea and is exactly under London.
Brighton as a gay destination? Not only!
Brighton consolidated its important position at the same time as the affirmation of the LGBT tourism. Every year in August theimportant gay pride which involves and animates the entire city. In reality it has not only this appeal. Over time it has developed numerous cards to play in tourism and with this post I will try to make them known to you.
WILL YOU VISIT BRIGHTON? HERE IS AN INTERESTING POST:
- Seven Sisters: how to visit them from Brighton and London
What to see in one day in Brighton in England
It might seem like Brighton has little to offer tourists, it's actually a city worth visiting in England. She is alive, full of initiatives, numerous important events take place every year as well as the aforementioned gay pride in August. And that's not all, even from a cultural point of view it is very interesting. It is possible to visit the Royal Pavillion, the Brighton Museum or the splendid medieval church set in the context of the beautiful Preston Park.
If you want to indulge in some wild shopping you are spoiled for choice, you can immerse yourself in the south lanes or in north lanes rather than wandering through Churchill Square, I swear you can waste hours in lanes.
Do you want to be children again? The Brighton Pier is what is right for you, a playground built on a pier that extends directly onto the sea. You can really find everything: giant colored lollipops, hundreds of videogames, myriads of slot machines and finally, at the end of the pier, a real amusement park.
And we want to talk about the landscape instead? The Brighton seafront is very interesting and particular, many people go to have barbecues on the beach and spend their evenings in company in this way. But that's not Brighton's biggest selling point. In about an hour and a half it is possible reach the Seven Sisters and take an excursion into the English countryside which always holds great surprises.
Changing the subject but always remaining on the subject of things to do; Brighton has established itself as one of the reference cities for those who intend to learn or even simply improve their English, in fact there are many who choose Brighton as a study destination and several specialized schools have been established in this field.
What are the must-see things to visit in this southern England city:
The Old Pier: the West Pier
The history of West Pier begins in 1866 when it was built. Initially it is a pier then expanded to also accommodate a hotel, it was become a worldly point of the city. Over the years the economic situation led to the dismantling of the Pier.
Around the beginning of the third millennium arson occurred which destroyed it completely and now only the framework of the structure remains. The Brighton administration has decided not to renovate it because it is too expensive and it also represents the history of the city. Unfortunately, in February 2014 there was a severe storm that damaged the structure even causing it to split in half. If you stand in front, you can clearly see the separation.
Brighton Pier
It is the new pier in the city. A giant platform that goes into the sea. It is practically a playground, it really feels like being a child again, it almost feels like entering the Pinocchio film.
sOutside is a riot of stalls with candies, sweets, waffles, popcorn ... in short, a riot of unhealthy things that in one way or another attract you until you buy them.
And inside? Imagine yourself a great casino, here Brighton Pier is a large casino of slot machines and video games suspended over the sea. You can have great fun and you can also spend a nice day in the company of your children, if you are traveling with them.
At the end of Brighton Pier you can see a kind of funfair with many attractions that you can try. Of course there is one that if you don't have stomach problems allows you to have a beautiful view over the entire city.
Another peculiarity is that from the pier, if you go up the stairs near the slides you can glimpse:
- Brighton marina, one of the largest ports in England and Europe.
- Rodin's middle school, which is the second most expensive school in England.
- Le Seven Sisters, although far away you can see them.
Inside Brighton Pier you will also find a good and not too expensive fish and chips restaurant; it is not the best in town, in fact the best restaurant to try this characteristic food is the Bankers.
Near the pier you will also find the Sealife aquarium which is supposed to be the oldest in Europe. It is very nice but a little expensive and it is strongly recommended to buy entrance tickets directly online so you have a chance to save 30%.
Brighton seafront and beach
Although in this post I defined the city as rimini english, forget the sandy beaches. Here it is made up of stones and the tan you can take a few times a year, perhaps you count them on the fingers of both hands.
Despite this it is very lived and on the promenade there are several pubs. In Brighton it is custom to make many barbecues and there are many guys who do not miss the opportunity to find themselves in front of some rib on the embers. Disposable barbecues, or disposable grills, are very popular.
Churchill Square and the Clock Tower
Churchill Square is simply a shopping center where you can enjoy shopping, it is not very large but it is well stocked and also on average expensive. Not far away is the Clock Tower which since it is right on an intersection can be understood as a hub of the city. From the Clock Tower to the north you reach the Brighton train station while going south you reach the sea and in this area there are numerous pubs famous for live music and even a cinema.
The North and the South Lanes
Proceeding from the Clock Tower towards the Royal Pavillion we find ourselves in the territory of the lanes.
What are lanes?
They are narrow streets and lanes means just that. Brighton was born as a fishing town and therefore the structure of the city in this district reflected the needs of the fish market, obviously now the buildings are no longer the same but the conformation has remained the same. These are the streets where Brighton is now shopping, reflect a very bohemian Brighton, are very small and characteristic and are divided into the north and south. The difference between the two "factions" is that the southern part is a bit more chic with stores of major brands.
In the north we find the most popular shops. To see the Vegetaria Shoes, Fudges Shop, Bonsai-Ko and Snapper Paradise, that is the paradise of the "dated", of the second hand, where you can find an infinity of objects.
The Royal Pavillion in Brighton
Very important and to be seen absolutely, it was the residence of King Charles V, I will not tell you about it history of the Royal Pavillion, I will tell you a curious anecdote. Between the Royal Pavillion and the Brighton Dome, the stables where the horses were kept, there is a tunnel connecting them and it was built especially for the king. The reason? He had become so fat that he did not want to be seen by his subjects.
How to get to Brighton from London?
There are several ways to reach Brighton, I point out those departing from London because I assume you necessarily pass through the capital.
You can take:
- The train from London from Victoria Station which costs around £ 26 and takes just under an hour to reach Brighton train station, you can find tickets on Southern Railway rather than on National Railway.
- The buses that depart from London Victoria Coach Station and reach Brighton Coach Station in about 2 hours and 15 minutes, prices are on average between 8 and 16 pounds. One of the most used companies is National Express.
Tip: the train is the most convenient way to get to Brighton from London, and if you are a group of 4 or more you can benefit from quite significant discounts. Just go to the site and try to do a simulation, you will be able to spend even £ 10 less each.
