pocket-sized seaside retreat whose reputation belies its modest population of
some 288,000, Brighton is a resort that punches above its weight. The coastal town
consistently attracts visitors, both in number and in prestige, significantly out of
proportion to its modest size and simple pleasures proffered. Part of that can be
attributed to the proximity of London, but that alone doesn’t account for why
Brighton is consistently voted one of South England’s most desirable places to live,
eat, drink and generally enjoy life.
Like many coastal English towns, Brighton can count on a history that traces right back to Roman
times, with “Brighthelmstone” referenced in the Doomsday Book of 1086. It would be fair to say
that most of the visitors who flock to its piers and beaches do so in search of more contemporary
attractions. Around Georgian times, Brighton became known as a fashionable seaside resort, a
mantle it has clung onto ever since.
The bulk of Brighton’s tourist trade these days owes little to the recuperative effects once attributed
to sea bathing – pleasing as they undoubtedly are. Colourful, vibrant, creative, eclectic: pick a
superlative and you’ll find ample evidence to fit the description in the bustling resort where the
nights, like the days, fly past in a kaleidoscopic blur of eye-popping sights and myriad sounds.
Where to start with Brighton? On the beach of course. It needn’t be your first port of call, but
whether you’re visiting the resort for business or pleasure, you’ll gravitate there sooner or later. The
beach has served as a mecca for tourists since Victorian times, though in truth the town’s attracted
its share of visitors since the Middle Ages. Head there today and you’ll find
pleasures of a more contemporary nature.
Take a stroll along the pier while you nurse a cool ice cream or
a steaming fish and chips; press your face against the glass
and ogle the nemos and other exotic fish at Brighton Sea
Life Centre. In summer, the ocean is for swimming in, in
autumn for tentatively dipping a toe in and in winter for
admiring from a safe distance as you stroll along the
beachfront, breath fogging the air.
As you explore the bustling town, you’ll be taken
by its beguiling Regency architecture and historic
buildings, from the Royal Pavilion toTheatre Royal.
Fabrica manages to combine the old with the new; the
contemporary art gallery is housed in a stunning former
Regency church. When it comes to dining, the town
offers everything from hip cafes to fine dining restaurants,
many of which are characterful, quirky and eclectic.
Choccywoccydoodah Cafe is as zany as its name, while The
Flour Pot does a divine pastry and the coffee of the gods, the sort
of dual elixirs that should kickstart every lazy Saturday.
INTRODUCTION
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