Stay on Sprachcaffe and read on to find out what the must-see attractions of this city are, the things you absolutely must do and the reasons why you shouldn't miss the chance to visit Brighton, the London by the sea.
Brighton Travel Guide: Top Things to See and Do
Royal Pavilion, the heart of the city of Brighton
If you happen to be in this wonderful pearl of East Sussex, one thing you absolutely cannot miss is a visit to the Royal Pavilion in Brighton .
Partly because it's so imposing and centrally located that it's impossible to miss, and partly because it's a true landmark of the city, this building is the absolute must-see in Brighton. But what is it?
It is a Chinese-style palace - unusual for the part of the world in which it is located! - purchased by King George IV, when he still held the office of prince.
He happened upon Brighton almost by chance, but as soon as he savoured its calm and relaxed atmosphere, he decided that this was where he wanted to settle permanently.
Over time, George IV's tastes changed, and the palace grew with him, both in style and size. By the time the Royal Pavilion passed into the hands of his granddaughter, the future Queen Victoria, the town of Brighton had become so crowded that she herself decided to sell the building to the city.
This decision means that today the Royal Pavilion is the only royal building that is not owned by either the Crown or the State : it belongs to Brighton, and its residents are particularly proud of it.
In short, if you're wondering what to see in Brighton, you can't help but start here: the visiting hours are very long, but we recommend going between 9:30 am and noon to avoid too many crowds.
Brighton Pier, the City's Pier
Another stop not to be missed is Brighton Pier , the pier of the English city.
Essentially, it's a large platform that juts out into the sea, but that doesn't quite capture the fun you can find in this part of town!
Yes, because the beautiful part is everything that's outside the pier, a sort of Toyland that will immediately make you feel like a child on Christmas Day.
Stalls of all kinds invade the street, selling sweets, waffles, popcorn and typical English sweets: it may not be the triumph of healthy food , but a little sweetness every now and then never hurts!
Even entering the pier, you'll find plenty of entertainment, but while it used to be a more childish type of entertainment, here adults will find something to their liking too. Imagine a huge casino suspended over the sea , with video games and slot machines in every corner: that's the inside of Brighton Pier.
As if that weren't enough, at the end of Brighton Pier there is a real amusement park , with rides and attractions not to be missed.
In short, a beautiful day is guaranteed here, and by climbing the steps near the slides you will also be able to feast your eyes on a wonderful view of the Seven Sisters , a series of chalk cliffs overlooking the English Channel.
Clock Tower
The hub of the city: this is how we could define the Clock Tower, or the clock tower, Brighton's little Big Ben.
This is an important point because it is located at the center of a crossroads: if you go north from the Clock Tower you arrive at the train station, while if you go south you reach the sea.
It is a classical-style structure, built in 1888 to celebrate the fiftieth anniversary of Queen Victoria , whose history is particularly linked to the city of Brighton, as we have discovered before.
The Clock Tower is always beautiful to see, but if you happen to visit Brighton during the Christmas holidays, it's even more so.
At that time of year, it's decorated with lights that extend from the clock tower out towards the city, illuminating the entire surrounding area: it's a real spectacle at that time of year!
Brighton Beach
One of the reasons to visit Brighton is that it's a seaside city . This sets it apart from other English cities, like London itself, because swimming in the sea isn't a given in this part of the world!
Don't expect warm waters and Caribbean beaches, though: you have to be realistic, and Brighton Beach is certainly no match for the Maldives.
In fact, the "sand" is actually a stretch of pebbles of a particularly reddish color, and the water is often much colder than we're used to. After all, the English Channel isn't known for being a warm place; on the contrary, only the Bournemouth area escapes this and enjoys a completely different climate!
In Brighton, on the other hand, the sun doesn't shine that often, so you won't have many opportunities to get a tan.
Despite all this, however, Brighton beach is particularly popular and loved by the inhabitants of this city, and its seafront in particular is very lively.
Here you'll find plenty of pubs where you can sit down to a beer and eat fish and chips, like a true Englishman, as well as events and concerts organized during the summer.
A very common custom is to organize barbecue evenings on Brighton beach .
That said, these are the five attractions to visit in Brighton to fully immerse yourself in the culture of this surprising English city: with its infectious cheerfulness, London by the sea will certainly win your heart from the first day of your holiday.
What to do in Brighton: Get lost in the Lanes
Now that you have some reference points, you can start creating your itinerary to visit Brighton in a very specific order.
Now, imagine starting from the Clock Tower and heading towards the Royal Pavilion: be careful because, on the way, you could get lost in the Lanes!
What is it? Very narrow streets , a bit like the alleyways of Genoa: walking here will give you the true atmosphere of Brighton, which began as a fishing town where this type of layout was important due to the fish market.
Today the reasons why the lanes are busy, needless to say, are completely different: they are in fact shopping streets, somewhere between bohemian and chic.
In reality, the most luxurious part is the southern area, with major brands and world-renowned brands. The northern lanes, on the other hand, are the most popular and characteristic.
At certain times of the year the Lanes are really crowded, with citizens and tourists looking for the best souvenir to take home: the atmosphere you breathe is that of a warm and sincere city, where you can feel at ease and at home.