A Break In Brighton

Among the many popular tourist destinations in the United Kingdom, Brighton tops the list as one of the major favorites simply because of its sheer charm and famous tryst with the sea. Located in England’s southern coast, in the county of Sussex, Brighton lies around 76 kilometers from London, the famed capital. The communities of Brighton and neighboring Hove are together known as the City Of Brighton and Hove.

You can reach Brighton by train from the cities of London, Hastings, Lewes, Portsmouth and Chi Chester. Trains from London generally take an hour to reach Brighton, while the rest may take anywhere within one to two hours depending on peak hour traffic. Tickets can be purchased for 3 pounds online, and can be collected from the automated machines at the station. The Brighton City Airport is located five miles to the west of Brighton and has sightseeing flights and regular lightweight flights for all major destinations around the city. The Brighton and Hove bus services provide buses to Brighton from Eastbourne and Tunbridge from the east and west respectively at rates hovering around one to three pounds. You can also take a road trip to Brighton, though it is not entirely advisable due to its reputation as a really congested city with almost non existent parking space. A23 is the major route from London by road. Also, it is wise to make sure that you do not depend on road travel through Brighton during the Children’s Parade Day, the day of the Annual Brighton Bike Ride and the Brighton Gay Pride Parade Day as most major roads are closed.

There is no dearth of sightseeing spots in and around Brighton for the ones among you with wanderlust in your blood. Make sure you visit Brighton Pier, one with the usual seafront attractions and the works. The Brighton Beach is bound to be crowded during the summer when tourists and locals alike gather to cool off in the clear waters of the pebble beach. Nudists can find their calling at a designated beach located along the east of Brighton. The Royal Pavilion, an architectural marvel, is another tourist favorite in Brighton. The palace is famous for its Indian exteriors and Chinese-styled interiors. The Sea Life Center is another major attraction. A walkthrough aquarium basically consisting of an underground tunnel, it is also one of the World’s oldest working walkthrough aquariums. Take a walk through the Fabrica, an art gallery that showcases important and latest works by international artists. The gallery is located in the City Center, and entrance is free. Connoisseurs of art can also check out the Lighthouse, an art gallery located in North Laine that is led purely by artists and does not sell works of art. The Grand Parade, Phoenix and Ink D are some other art galleries that display works worth mentioning, pillars of a growing artistic culture in Brighton. Theater buffs should visit Theater Royal, Theater Pavilion and the Dome Concert Hall, all famous venues of drama and music.

Getting around Brighton should be easy, for cycles are available for local pollution-free transport as a new English initiative. Maps are available for cyclists online. There is also an extensive network for bus travel within Brighton; however, services are pretty moderate and not cheap. Taxis are yet another costly mode of transport within Brighton, and the basic hire charge for hailing a taxi can rang between 4 to 5 pounds during the weekend. The Grapevine Seafront and the Grapevine North Laines provide excellent accommodation for decent rates, so just book up your tickets and stretch a leg in the quiet English seaside.