Brighton

Overview

Perched on the Sussex coast just an hour from London, Brighton has been drawing pleasure-seekers since the Prince Regent built his extraordinary seaside palace here in the early 19th century. Today the city is celebrated for its bohemian spirit, world-class festivals, pebble beaches, and a food and nightlife scene with outsized range for a city of its size. The Lanes and North Laine neighbourhoods offer some of England's best independent shopping, while the South Downs National Park rises dramatically just minutes from the seafront. Whether you're here for a weekend escape, a Pride celebration, or a deep dive into British seaside culture, Brighton rewards every kind of traveller.

Why visit Brighton

Brighton offers a rare combination of iconic British seaside charm, world-class arts and nightlife, and easy access to the South Downs — all within an hour of London. Its progressive, creative energy and packed festival calendar make it one of England's most exciting city-break destinations year-round.

At a glance

• Located on the East Sussex coast, approximately 50 miles south of London
• Home to the Royal Pavilion, one of England's most distinctive historic buildings
• Hosts Brighton Festival and Brighton Pride, two of the UK's largest annual events
• Famous for The Lanes and North Laine independent shopping districts
• Gateway to the South Downs National Park and scenic coastal walks
• One of the UK's most prominent LGBTQ+ friendly destinations

Best time to visit Brighton

May to September is the peak season, with the warmest weather, beach crowds, and major events including Brighton Festival (May) and Brighton Pride (August). May and June offer the best balance of good weather and manageable crowds, while winter visits are quieter but reward visitors with the Royal Pavilion Ice Rink and Christmas Market. Read our best time to visit guide.

Places to visit in Brighton

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  Brighton Seafront

  Brighton Seafront runs along the English Channel from the Hove boundary in the west to the Marina at Black Rock in the east, forming the city's most recognizable and heavily visited corridor. It anchors the entire city experience, connecting major landmarks, beaches, and entertainment across a single, walkable promenade. Whether you're after fish and chips on the shingle, a fairground ride at the end of the pier, or a quiet sunset walk past Victorian ironwork, this is where Brighton's identity comes into sharpest focus.

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  Photo: Nigel Thompson (CC BY-SA 2.0)

  Hove

  Hove is the western half of the city of Brighton and Hove, offering a longer stretch of quieter beach, wide residential avenues lined with late-Victorian and Edwardian architecture, and a shopping and café scene that feels decisively local rather than tourist-facing. It sits directly adjacent to central Brighton but has a noticeably different tempo.

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  Kemp Town

  Kemp Town is Brighton's eastern seafront neighbourhood, stretching from the Old Steine to Black Rock along Madeira Drive. It combines some of the city's most ambitious Regency architecture with a closely-knit, proudly diverse community centred on St James's Street.

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  North Laine

  North Laine is Brighton's most distinctive urban quarter, a tight grid of Victorian terraces running north from the city centre to the railway station. It's where the city's independent spirit is most concentrated, with streets lined by record shops, vintage boutiques, plant-filled cafés, and arts venues. Whether you're passing through on arrival or spending a full day exploring, North Laine sets the tone for everything Brighton does well.

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  The Lanes

  The Lanes is Brighton's oldest surviving quarter, a compact network of narrow pedestrian alleys built on the footprint of the original fishing village of Brighthelmstone. Packed with independent jewellers, boutiques, seafood restaurants, and centuries-old pubs, it sits at the heart of central Brighton, just minutes from the seafront and the Royal Pavilion.

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Guides

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  Best Beaches in Brighton & Nearby: Your Complete Guide

  Brighton's coastline is one of England's most famous, but there's far more to it than the main pebble beach by the pier. This guide covers the best beach spots in Brighton and Hove, plus the coastal walks and waterfront attractions that make the most of the seafront.

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  The Best Museums in Brighton: A Complete Guide

  Brighton has a strong museum culture for a coastal city. From a royal palace to a Victorian toy trove and a natural history collection currently closed for essential works, here are the finest museums the city has to offer, covering art, history, heritage, and the sea.

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  Best Time to Visit Brighton: A Complete Seasonal Guide

  Brighton rewards visitors differently depending on the season. This guide breaks down the weather, crowds, events, and costs month by month so you can pick the right time for your trip — whether you want sunshine on the beach, festival energy, or a quiet winter escape.

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  Brighton Day Trip from London: The Complete Guide

  At roughly 47 miles and one hour by train, Brighton is London's most accessible seaside escape. This guide covers every transport option, the best things to do in a single day, and the practical details that make the difference between a good trip and a great one.

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  Brighton Festival & Fringe: The Complete Visitor Guide

  Brighton Festival and Brighton Fringe run simultaneously across three weeks each May, turning the city into one of England's most concentrated arts events. This guide covers the key differences between the two, how tickets work, where events happen, and how to plan your visit without the usual confusion.

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  Brighton Hidden Gems: Off the Beaten Path

  Brighton rewards those who look beyond the pier and Pavilion. From Victorian curiosities under railway arches to dramatic chalk cliff walks, these lesser-known attractions reveal a city of real depth and character.

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  Brighton in Summer: What to Expect (Weather, Crowds, and What to Do)

  Brighton in summer draws hundreds of thousands of visitors to its shingle beach, Regency architecture, and independent neighbourhoods. This guide covers what the weather actually delivers, when crowds peak, what to book ahead, and how to get the most from the city between June and August.

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  Brighton in Winter: Is It Worth Visiting? (Honest Guide)

  Brighton in winter is quieter, cheaper, and surprisingly rewarding. This guide covers what stays open, what closes, what the weather actually feels like, and how to make the most of a visit between November and February.

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  Brighton on a Budget: How to Enjoy the City Without Overspending

  Brighton has a reputation for being pricey, but the reality is more nuanced. From free beaches and seasonal pier admission (often free for residents) to paid museums with resident discounts and a walkable city centre, this guide covers every practical angle for stretching your pounds further on the Sussex coast.

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  Brighton Pride: Complete Visitor Guide

  Brighton Pride is the UK's largest Pride festival, drawing hundreds of thousands of people over the first weekend of August. This guide covers the 2026 dates and headline acts, how to get tickets before they sell out, travel logistics, road closures, and the honest breakdown of what costs money and what doesn't.

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  Brighton's Regency Architecture: A Self-Guided Tour

  Brighton holds one of the most complete collections of Regency architecture in Britain, from John Nash's exotic Royal Pavilion to Charles Busby's sweeping Brunswick Town terraces. This self-guided tour walks you through the key buildings, explains what makes each significant, and gives you the practical information to plan your visit.

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  Best Day Trips from Brighton: Where to Go and How to Get There

  Brighton sits at the centre of one of England's most varied day-trip networks. Within two hours you can reach chalk cliffs, medieval towns, Roman ruins, and island ferries, most of it without a car. This guide covers the best options by transport type, season, and budget.

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  Getting Around Brighton: The Complete Transport Guide

  Brighton is one of the easiest UK cities to navigate without a car. This guide covers every transport option — from the city's excellent bus network to bike share, taxis, and rail connections — with clear guidance on what works, what to skip, and how to keep costs down.

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  Shopping in Brighton: Best Areas, Independent Shops & What to Buy

  Brighton is a strong shopping city for independents. The Lanes and North Laine together offer hundreds of independent boutiques, vintage dealers, and artisan makers within walking distance of the seafront. This guide covers the best spots to browse, buy, and discover across every corner of the city.

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  Things to Do in Brighton: The Complete Guide to England's Favourite Seaside City

  Brighton packs more into 82 square kilometres than almost any seaside city in England. This guide covers the iconic attractions, the best neighbourhoods for exploring, seasonal considerations, and clear guidance on what to skip — everything you need to plan a trip that actually delivers.

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  Vegan & Vegetarian Brighton: The Best Plant-Based Restaurants in the City

  Brighton has a very high concentration of vegan and vegetarian restaurants in the UK, with well over 150 plant-based listings. This guide covers the best spots across every neighbourhood, budget, and food style, from fine dining to vegan junk food.

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  Vintage Shopping in Brighton: The Definitive Guide to Best Shops & Markets

  Brighton is one of the UK's best cities for vintage shopping, with dozens of shops, indoor markets, and antique dealers concentrated around North Laine, Kemptown, and Hove. This guide covers where to go, what to expect to pay, and how to plan your visit season by season.

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  Weekend in Brighton: The Perfect 2-Day Itinerary

  Brighton packs a remarkable amount into a small area: a historic pier, a Regency palace, independent shopping streets, serious restaurants, and one of England's most distinctive seafronts. This two-day itinerary cuts through the noise and tells you exactly how to spend 48 hours in the city, season by season.

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  What to Eat in Brighton: A Local Food Guide

  Brighton's food scene is unusually strong for a coastal city of its size. This guide covers the essential dishes, best neighbourhoods for eating, market options, plant-based dining, and practical tips for every budget — from a quick seafront chippy to a full evening meal in Kemp Town.

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  Where to Stay in Brighton: The Complete Neighbourhood Guide

  Choosing where to stay in Brighton shapes your entire trip. This guide breaks down every major neighbourhood by character, price range, and who it suits best, so you can book with confidence rather than luck.

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Top attractions in Brighton

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  Photo: Hassocks5489 (CC0)

  Booth Museum of Natural History

  Founded in 1874 by naturalist Edward Thomas Booth, the Booth Museum of Natural History is Brighton's free natural history collection housed in a Grade II listed Victorian building on Dyke Road. With over 525,000 specimens, from British birds to butterfly drawers and dinosaur bones, it is one of the most significant natural history collections in southern England. Note: closed to the public since 20 April 2025 for essential works; special event days only, with reopening targeted for later 2026 or early 2027.

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  Photo: Paul Gillett (CC BY-SA 2.0)

  Brighton Racecourse

  Perched on Whitehawk Hill roughly a mile from the coast, Brighton Racecourse is one of England's most unusual flat racing venues. The horseshoe-shaped track, open from April to October, offers panoramic views across the city and out to the English Channel, alongside a race day atmosphere that ranges from relaxed midweek afternoons to packed summer festivals.

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  Photo: Andy Li (CC0)

  Devil's Dyke

  Perched around 215 metres above sea level on the South Downs, Devil's Dyke is a National Trust countryside site just north of Brighton. Claimed to be the longest, deepest and widest dry valley in Britain, it offers panoramic views stretching from the English Channel to the Surrey Hills, free access year-round, and walking routes ranging from a gentle ridge stroll to a steep valley descent.

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  Photo: Jnicho02 (CC BY-SA 4.0)

  Preston Manor

  Preston Manor is a Grade II* listed historic country house museum in Brighton, open seasonally beside Preston Park. With rooms preserved as they were in 1905 and a history recorded in the Domesday Book, it offers a rare glimpse into upper-middle-class Edwardian life — a world away from the seafront crowds.

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  Photo: Paul Gillett (CC BY-SA 2.0)

  Preston Park

  Preston Park is Brighton's largest public park, spanning 63 acres north of the city centre and open every day at no charge. Opened officially in 1883, it offers sports facilities, formal gardens, open lawns, and a rare sense of genuine local life away from the tourist trail.

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  South Downs National Park

  South Downs National Park begins where Brighton ends, rising from the city's northern edge into over 1,600 square kilometres of chalk hills, ancient footpaths and open farmland. There is no ticket booth, no fixed opening time, and no single entrance. What you get instead is one of England's most accessible national parks, free to use and rewarding at any season.

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  Photo: Hassocks5489 (CC0)

  St Nicholas Church

  Standing on a hill above Brighton's shopping streets, St Nicholas of Myra is the ancient parish church and one of the oldest surviving buildings in the city. With medieval stonework dating to around 1380, a Norman font carved in 1170, and a churchyard that predates the resort by centuries, it offers a rare moment of historical depth in a city better known for its seafront spectacle.

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  Photo: Dominic Alves (CC BY 2.0)

  Stanmer Park

  Stanmer Park is Brighton's most expansive green space, generally cited as covering around 485–495 hectares of 18th-century designed landscape, ancient woodland and working heritage estate. Entry is free, and while the wider parkland is accessible year-round, some car parks and facilities have specific opening hours, so it rewards visitors who go beyond the car park to explore its quieter corners.

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  Undercliff Walk

  The Undercliff Walk stretches just over 5km along Brighton's eastern coast, running between Brighton Marina and Saltdean beneath towering white chalk cliffs. Free, flat, and open year-round, it offers some of the most dramatic coastal scenery in East Sussex without the crowds of the main seafront.

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  Brighton Bandstand

  Standing on Brighton's Kings Road promenade since 1884, the Brighton Bandstand is a Grade II listed cast-iron landmark that hosts Sunday afternoon concerts through the summer months and often across a broader April–September season. Whether you catch a performance or simply stop to admire the ornate ironwork above the English Channel, it earns a place in any seafront walk.

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  Brighton Beach

  Brighton Beach stretches for miles along the English Channel, offering a free, accessible seaside experience unlike any sandy resort. Shingle underfoot, sea air, and the city right behind you — this is coastal England at its most characterful.

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  Photo: Colin Smith (CC BY-SA 2.0)

  Brighton Fishing Museum

  Tucked inside the Kings Road Arches on Brighton seafront, the Brighton Fishing Museum is a small, free attraction that tells the story of the city's working fishing community with surprising depth. At its heart sits a 27-foot clinker-built punt boat, surrounded by old photographs, nets, and tools that bring the Fishing Quarter's heritage to life.

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  Brighton i360

  Standing 162 metres tall on Brighton's seafront, the i360 observation tower lifts a glass pod of up to 200 visitors to 138 metres above sea level for sweeping views of the English Channel, the South Downs, and the city below. Designed by the architects behind the London Eye, it opened in 2016 and is billed as Europe’s tallest moving observation platform.

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  Brighton Palace Pier

  Standing 525 metres into the English Channel since 20 May 1899, Brighton Palace Pier is the last of Brighton's three historic piers still operating. Entry is free outside the seasonal admission period, but the experience varies enormously depending on when you visit and what you're looking for.

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  Photo: C.Suthorn (CC BY-SA 4.0)

  Brighton Zip

  Brighton Zip is a 300-metre dual zip wire that launches riders from a roughly 30-metre tower on Madeira Drive, sending them along the seafront east of Brighton Palace Pier. Operating mainly at weekends and during holiday periods (weather permitting), it offers one of the most unusual views of the Sussex coastline available without a boat or aircraft.

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  Photo: Mike Peel (www.mikepeel.net) (CC BY-SA 4.0)

  Kings Road Arches

  Constructed around 1890, the King's Road Arches form a row of 76 brick vaults beneath Brighton's seafront promenade. Free to explore and home to an ever-changing mix of independent businesses, they offer one of the most atmospheric stretches of the Brighton seafront — especially at low tide, when the smell of salt and seaweed fills every opening.

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  SEA LIFE Brighton

  Opened in 1872 and still drawing crowds on Marine Parade, SEA LIFE Brighton is the oldest continually operating aquarium in the world. Housed in a Victorian structure conceived and designed by Eugenius Birch, it combines genuine historical architecture with over 5,000 sea creatures. This guide covers what the visit actually feels like, who it suits, and how to get the most from your time there.

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  Photo: Chris j wood (CC BY-SA 4.0)

  Volks Electric Railway

  Opened in 1883, Volk's Electric Railway runs for about one mile along Brighton's seafront between the Palace Pier and Brighton Marina. It is the oldest operating electric railway in the world, and a ride on it combines a genuine piece of transport history with one of the best sea-view journeys on the south coast.

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  West Pier Ruins

  The West Pier Ruins are the skeletal remains of what was once Brighton's grandest pleasure pier. Closed since 1975, ravaged by storms and fires in 2003, and now standing offshore as a Grade I listed ruin, the structure is viewed from the Kings Road promenade and beach. Few sights on the south coast are quite as atmospheric.

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  Photo: JThomas (CC BY-SA 2.0)

  Hove Lawns & Beach

  Stretching along the Kingsway in Hove, Hove Lawns is a wide ribbon of seafront green space backed by a pebble beach. Less crowded than the Brighton Palace Pier end, it draws dog walkers, picnickers, swimmers, and anyone who wants open sky over the English Channel without the amusement arcade noise. The area is undergoing a significant upgrade with the newly named Hove Beach Park, voted into existence in 2024.

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  Photo: Hassocks5489 (CC0)

  Hove Museum & Art Gallery

  Formerly known as Hove Museum & Art Gallery, Hove Museum of Creativity occupies a handsome Victorian villa on New Church Road and covers an unusually wide range of subjects: early cinema, studio craft, decorative arts, and rotating contemporary exhibitions. It is one of the quieter, more rewarding cultural stops on the western side of the city.

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  Photo: Andy Li (CC0)

  St Ann's Well Gardens

  St Ann's Well Gardens is a free public park in Hove with roots stretching back to an 18th-century chalybeate spring. Spread across a green wedge about half a mile from the seafront, it offers tennis courts, a scented garden, a fish pond, children's play areas and a café, all within a surprisingly calm residential setting.

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  Photo: Andy Li (CC0)

  Brighton Open Market

  Tucked between London Road and Ditchling Road, Brighton Open Market is a covered community market with over a century of history and more than 40 independent traders. Free to enter and open most days, it offers a grounded, local counterpoint to the more curated shopping streets nearby.

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  Brighton Toy and Model Museum

  Tucked into four Victorian railway arches directly under Brighton Station, the Brighton Toy and Model Museum holds more than 10,000 exhibits spanning over a century of childhood. From intricate model railways to rare tin toys, it rewards curious adults as much as it delights children.

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  Photo: Andy Li (CC0)

  St Bartholomew's Church

  St Bartholomew's Church on Ann Street is one of the most architecturally remarkable buildings in Brighton, a soaring brick nave that rises higher than Westminster Abbey's interior. Free to enter during opening hours and quietly tucked into the North Laine grid, it rewards anyone willing to look up from the vintage shops for five minutes.

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  Photo: Hassocks5489 (CC0)

  The Level

  The Level is Brighton's most historically loaded patch of open ground. Free to enter, flat underfoot, and sitting at the northern edge of North Laine, it has served as a cricket ground, a fairground, a protest space, and a festival site across three centuries. Here's what the park actually looks and feels like today.

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  Brighton Dome

  Brighton Dome is a Grade I listed arts complex on the Royal Pavilion Estate, comprising the Concert Hall, Corn Exchange, and Studio Theatre. Originally built as William Porden's royal stables and riding house for the Prince Regent, it now hosts everything from classical concerts and comedy to trade fairs and festivals across three distinctive spaces.

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  Photo: PAUL FARMER (CC BY-SA 2.0)

  Brighton Museum & Art Gallery

  Brighton Museum & Art Gallery sits inside the Royal Pavilion Gardens and holds one of the south coast's most engaging collections, spanning Art Nouveau, Surrealism, Modernism and Brighton's own social history. It's a serious museum that rewards curiosity without demanding a full day.

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  Photo: Hassocks5489 (CC0)

  Brighton Police Cells Museum

  Beneath Brighton Town Hall, the Old Police Cells Museum preserves Brighton Borough's historic main police station and holding cells, in use from the early 19th century through much of the 20th century. Tours run on a handful of days each week and must be booked in advance, making this one of the most distinctive and intimate history experiences in Brighton.

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  Photo: Ian Muttoo (CC BY-SA 2.0)

  Brighton Theatre Royal

  Theatre Royal Brighton has been staging professional productions continuously since it opened in 1807, making it one of the longest-running working theatres in England. Located on New Road in the heart of The Lanes, its restored Regency auditorium seats around 952 people and hosts everything from West End transfers to touring opera and dance.

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  Royal Pavilion

  The Royal Pavilion is a Grade I listed former royal palace in the centre of Brighton, combining Indian exterior domes with Chinese-inspired interiors. Built as a seaside retreat for King George IV, it remains one of the most architecturally distinctive buildings in England.

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  Royal Pavilion Gardens

  Surrounding one of England's most extraordinary buildings, the Royal Pavilion Garden is a fully restored Regency garden in the UK. Entry is free, the setting is unlike anything else in Brighton, and it rewards visitors who take their time.

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