Royal Pavilion Brighton: storia, orari e prezzi

Info and trivia about the Royal Pavilion in Brighton, London

Do you know the Royal Pavilion in Brighton? If you plan to visit this seaside town in East Sussex, you absolutely must! The special features that characterize Brighton's Royal Pavilion are endless. It is no coincidence that the residents themselves consider it a bizarre building, but at the same time imposing and majestic to the point of becoming the symbol of the city.

With the Chinese style strongly desired by King George IV of Hanover, this palace is able to impart an oriental atmosphere miles and miles from where the Orient begins!

A visit here is therefore a must if you are passing through the City of Seagulls, but before you leave find out more about the Royal Pavilion's history, admission prices, and hours. That way you can better plan your trip and find the best time for each activity.

If you are a boy between the ages of 12 and 17 and you are participating in our Brighton study vacations, expect to visit this incredible palace with us because we will take you there!

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Royal Pavilion Brighton: A story that starts with George IV

Everyone in Brighton knows the Royal Pavilion, and everyone knows why it is there and looks so different from the rest. So different from the rest of the United Kingdom, in fact, making it stand out as something abnormal, almost "wrong," but at the same time enchanting.

Many people do not know, however, that this majestic palace began as a farm that George IV rented when he visited Brighton still as a prince.

He liked being in a city with such a relaxed and laid-back atmosphere so much that he decided in 1787 to commission British architect Henry Holland to build a mansion in the classical style: the Marine Pavilion.

A few years pass and George IV's tastes change, influenced by the oriental prints of the time. So in 1802 he commissioned his architects to make radical changes in the aesthetics of the villa, both in the interior decoration and the appearance of the exterior. Thus porcelain, chandeliers and dragons filled every corner of the villa with the Orient, while the Mughal architecture of its exteriors made it look more and more like an Indian building.

It is important to note, however, that the Royal Pavilion is only a transposition of George IV's fantasy of the Orient, having never visited it. Added also to the pomp and circumstance typical of a prince regent, this explains why there was so much decoration and such an excessive style.

George IV later became king (1820-1830), and during his he had his mansion expanded once again, adding a room decorated with hundreds of shells covered in gold.

When the Royal Pavilion passes to Queen Victoria

If George IV's brother William IV shared his passion for the city of Brighton as a vacation venue, it was not the same for his niece Victoria. When the crown passed to her in 1837, she immediately felt she did not feel very comfortable in the city. Having become accessible to Londoners around 1841, Brighton turns out to be really crowded at this point, too crowded for Queen Victoria's taste, who decides to sell the royal mansion to the city. This happened in 1850, however, after emptying the building of all its furnishings and furniture, most of which is now in Buckingham Palace and Windsor Castle.

The deed of sale of the Royal Pavilion to the city of Brighton makes it unique. In fact, we are talking about the only British Royal Residence that is not owned by either the Crown or the State.

Royal Pavilion Brighton: What to see?

Visiting the Royal Pavilion in Brighton is a must on your trip: having become a symbol of the city, it is a real landmark. Consider that the building is large but not too large, so at least an hour to an hour and a half will take you to appreciate each room to the fullest.

Among the absolute favorite areas is the Music Room, where you'll find nine lotus-flower chandeliers illuminating the room. There is no shortage of carved dragons on the domed ceiling, and red canvases on the walls. This room is large enough to accommodate an orchestra of seventy instruments.

Don't miss the Great Kitchen, or the palace kitchen. In its innovative modernity for its time, it turns out to be a real gem: think that it was already equipped with the equipment to steam, and had a constant supply of water.

Going up to the second floor you will find the apartment area, with the bedrooms of the royals. An incredible feature is the original bed of the king, who was severely overweight: the structure is equipped with state-of-the-art tilting technology that served to ease his movement when he stood up.

Also not to be missed is the main hall with the Long Gallery, a long interior walkway where you can admire paintings, artworks and exotic objects of various kinds. Finally, the Banquet Hall: immense and opulent, it is the real heart of Brighton's Royal Pavilion. This is where lavish royal parties were held, eating and drinking under an imposing chandelier 9 meters high and weighing a ton.

In short, walking inside the Royal Pavilion will allow you to step back in time and live, for a morning, in full royal style. And just outside find some healthy relaxation in the manicured green gardens surrounding the palace, where people like to stop er a picnic.

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Royal Pavilion: Times and prices for visiting it

Brighton's Royal Pavilion is one of the most visited attractions in the city, if not the most beloved ever. For this reason it offers extensive hours to make one's visit:

10:00 a.m. - 5:15 p.m. from October to March (last tickets sold by 4:30 p.m.)
09:30 a.m. - 5:45 p.m. April through September (last tickets sold by 5 p.m.)

Il palazzo rimane chiuso il 25 e il 26 dicembre, mentre il 24 chiude alle 14:00.

The building is closed on December 25 and 26, and closes at 2 p.m. on the 24th.

Of course, expect to find it a bit crowded, especially if you leave at a time like August when so many people are on vacation! In general, it's a very busy attraction for tourists, so it's best to plan to avoid excessive queues. It turns out that the best time of day to visit the Royal Pavilion is between 09:30 and noon. This means that to avoid queues and enjoy the Royal Halls without too many people, it would be best if you arrive before the opening. It is also recommended that you book your tickets online rather than on the spot to make it quicker.

As for the cost, admission for adults is priced at £18, or €20.71, while students and those over 65 pay £13.50.

Children and young people aged 5 to 18 pay a reduced ticket of £11, while children under 5 can enter free of charge.

You can also take advantage of special family packages to save money when traveling all together under the following terms:

One adult with up to 4 children: £29
Two adults with up to 4 children: £47

Also remember that children under the age of 14 can enter as long as they are accompanied by someone over the age of 16.

Where is the Royal Pavilion in Brighton and how to get there?

In Brighton, not finding the Royal Pavilion is virtually impossible: not only because of its majesty, but also because of its location. Indeed, it is located in the center of the city, very close to The Lanes, or the iconic narrow alleys filled with stores. Only a five-minute walk from the sea, getting to the Royal Pavilion is very easy by any means:

Train: Brighton train station is only a 15-minute walk from the Pavilion. Even if you are on a study vacation in London you can then conveniently set off to visit it, making a journey lasting about 1 hour and starting from London Bridge or Victoria.
Bus: Depending on your starting point you can use the 7, 18, 27, 37 and 56 lines of the public transport service. The stop to get off at is Old Steine, just outside the Pavilion, or North Street (five minutes away) depending on which bus you take.
On foot: As we said, the building stands in the heart of the city, so walking to it after taking a stroll along the waterfront or the shopping streets will not be a problem.

Getting around Brighton by bicycle is also possible and recommended, while if you want to reach the Royal Pavilion, a car is not the best means. In fact, because of its exclusive location and the preservation of its beauty, the building does not have indoor parking. There are several parking lots near the building, designated for Blue Badge holders, and some other options for visitors with disabilities, but in case better inquire further.

In any case, the advice is to reach the Royal Pavilion in Brighton by any other way except by car, which is inconvenient and complicated to park.

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