Travel Diaries: Brighton
Getting to know the town you live in is one of the biggest joys of having people visit. No that you disliked it before, it's just that now you see it in different light and you'll make sure to present it's best possible side.
So, while my grandparents are having their well deserved afternoon nap, let me tell you about the funky little town of Brighton and Hove.
It used to be a fishing village, a quite and dull place to be. That was until the 1780's when some new, fancier houses were build and what used to be fishing village became a fashionable sea resort for the bored Londoners. It is mare 55 miles away from the capital, after all!
A great role in the growth and fame of Brighton plays the Prince Regent, later known as King George IV. If it would be any help to place him in the timeline of British Monarchs, he is one of Queen Victoria's uncles. Not that this matters at all, but just in case you like royal history as I do. So, the Prince Regent loved Brighton and spent much of his leisure time in town. He also loved India. So he decided to unite his two passions and what a better way for a future king to do so than to build himself a palace. And this is how the Royal Pavilion was born. Fun fact: dear old King George IV eventually go so fat and chubby that he could not walk up and down the stairs in his privy chamber in the tower. He had to be removed from it.
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| The Royal Pavilion |
In the spirit of the Pavilion, Brighton has one more spectacular royal landmark - the Jubilee Clock Tower. Build to commemorate Queen Victoria's Jubilee in 1888. In my opinion, the Clock Tower is probably the prettiest landmark in Brighton, very royally and festive looking. During the Winter, the city council places fairy lights around it, making it look like taken from a Disney fairytale. Oh, and also has this taste of classicism trapped inside modernity.
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| The Jubilee Clock Tower |
Nowadays, Brighton is still preferred place by Londoners, especially the young ones. It is know as London-by-sea, but also as one of the best party destinations. It is a place open for everyone, a particular favourite to the LGBT community, but not only. On a sunny weekend day, the promenade is full of screaming children, giggling teenagers, strolling adults or adorable elderly. The beach is favourite place for everyone, although the stones does not serve as a nice cozy seat. The Pier is quite the noise attraction with its numerous game rooms, carousels and places to grab a drink or bite. Although not my cup of tea, it is still very attractive for the tourists and everyone that likes a thing with a bling.
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| Brighton Pier |
Another favourite place among locals and tourists are The Lanes - both South and North. They are the perfect spot for anyone not afraid to dig into piles of "vintage" staff - records, clothes, jewelry, furniture, anything and everything. There are plenty of small coffee shops, offering something for every taste and diet, all very cute and in a hipster style. If you are after something that "it's so not cool, you probably haven't heard of it" - this is you place to go. On a more serious note, if you are after nice jewelry, gold or silver, with or without precious stones, and you are not in the position to splurge in a high-street goldsmiths' shop - I can promise you than in one of the hundreds antiquities shops you'll find whatever you are after. It might need a bit of cleaning/polishing, but it will be excellent quality for a fraction of the price. The same goes for real wood furniture - far less expensive than anywhere on the high-street, the Brighton Lanes can offer a wide range of hidden goods. But bear in mind that most place will not offer a delivery, so that might turn up an awesome find into a tedious disaster.
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| The North Lanes |
My last, but not least, favourite thing in Brighton and Hove are The Hove Beach Huts. Very colourful and cheerful, they stand bright and funky on the beach, overlooking the ocean. Back in Victorian times, they were used by the ladies to get changed before they were taken to the ocean itself. The times were such that these very modest ladies will not show themselves in their bath suits but instead they will go from the hut directly into the sea and then they will go back directly into the hut, while the former is still in water. It's so very complicated, I know. Nowadays people who own huts use them to store foldable chairs, tables and other beach-appropriate things. There are always huts for sale, so if this is your kind of thing - there is a real opportunity for anyone to obtain one. But what I love about them is how cheerful and fresh and colourful they are, how distinct from everything else around them. They look like something that does not belong in England but in Cuba or in Greece. Anywhere worm and soulful but England!
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| Hove Beach Huts |
Ah, Brighton is not so bad, after all. There are plenty of places to go and things to see, but I guess this is more than enough for my grandparents for today. Tomorrow we are up for another adventure!
You can't get lost if you don't know where you're going...
