Out & About in Brighton

Brighton is a town located in Sussex on the South East coast of England. It is part of the city of Brighton and Hove, which is formed from the towns of Hove, Brighton and Portslade. The town of Brighton began life before 1086, but grew considerably as a health resort in the 18th century. When a railway was constructed, linking Brighton with London and other areas the coastal town became a popular destination for day-trippers, who flocked to the beach and nearby pubs and cafes. By the mid-20th Century Brighton had experienced a huge population growth and had over 150,000 inhabitants. Nowadays Brighton is a thriving town that boasts a vibrant arts and social scene. This draws a large number of tourists each year, who come to absorb some of Brighton's lively atmosphere and beautiful beach. Brighton is also home to some beautiful and historic buildings. For example during Victorian times many splendid buildings were constructed including the Grand Hotel, the Royal Pavilion as well as both the Palace and West Piers. Unfortunately the West Pier recently suffered from a fire that all but destroyed it. As well as a booming tourist industry the town can also claim a large business conference industry as well as a two excellent universities offering a range of well respected courses.

Shopping

Brighton is a place that offers a massive variety of excellent shops. In fact whatever you are looking for you can find it in one of the town's many shops. You will find all the usual high street stores, many of which are located in Churchill Square. However. as well as these big-name stores, Brighton is also home to numerous smaller, independent stores that sell more unique products. These include retro and vintage clothes stores, beautiful antiques and a lot of incredible art shops. You can find many of these quirky shops in the collection of windy streets called the Lanes and North Laine. Shopping in Brighton is an experience in itself as there is always a buzz about the place. You will see all sorts of flamboyant people looking in the boutique stores. It is a great place to spend a day wandering around and to maybe find a few bargains on the way.

Food and Drink

Brighton is packed full of incredible restaurants and character-full pubs and bars. Finding a restaurant can be difficult due to the vast choice of great places. Whatever type of food you like you will find it in Brighton. There are restaurants to suit all prices; ranging from award winning fine cuisine to gourmet burgers and cheap Italians. Brighton is home to a large vegetarian community and is therefore also home to a large number of fabulous vegetarian restaurants. Some of the best known are Terre a Terre, Food for Friends and the Infinity Foods Café. There are also a number of restaurants who offer organic or locally farmed ingredients on their menus. Brighton Marina is home to a number of well known restaurant and bar chains and is in a beautiful location overlooking the water. When it comes to choosing a place to get a drink the choice is just as big. Whether you want a bar that is lively and vibrant or more relaxed there is plenty of choice. Some of the most unique places can be found scattered around the Lanes. There are also some lovely places in a great location in the Royal Pavilion next to the beach.

Arts & Entertainment

As already mentioned Brighton is home to a huge art community. It is therefore no surprise that the town has a wide selection of art exhibitions all year round. Each year the town hosts the Brighton Festival, which is the largest Arts Festival in the UK after the Edinburgh Festival. Furthermore the Hove Museum and Art Gallery has recently been redeveloped and is now home to a wonderful collection of both permanent and temporary exhibitions. Brighton is home to a wonderful theatre called the Theatre Royal, which recently celebrated its 200th anniversary. If you like films then why not check out the Duke of York's Picture House, which is a cinema that has been operating since 1910 and now shows a great range of art house movies. There are also a huge number of music venues and each year Brighton plays host to The Great Escape Music Festival, which showcases a huge number of up and coming bands from all over the world.

Hotels and Travel

Brighton is very easy to get to with a large train station and a good bus and coach service. The town is particularly accessible from London. There are a huge number of hotels to choose from, including the historic Grand Hotel.