Brighton

Brighton on the southern Sussex coast is one of the largest and most famous seaside resorts in England. Brighton and Hove form a single conurbation. Brighton’s lively atmosphere is a direct contrast to its near neighbour, Hove which has quieter and more refined character. The two boroughs were joined together to form the unitary authority of Brighton & Hove in 1997, which in 2000 was granted city status by the Queen as part of the millennial celebrations, following competition from other large towns which coveted city status.

Located on the southern coast of England, almost directly south from London, Brighton has also been called “London By The Sea". Brighton is easy to get to being served by the M25/M23 motorways from the North and the M27 from East to West. There are also fast and regular trains to London and Gatwick international airport is 40 minutes away up the M23. Made popular by the Victorians in the 1800s due to their fixation with dips in the sea, it has grown from its humble fishing village origins into a vibrant, multi-cultural hub that seems to have that knack of converting many of its temporary visitors into fully fledged inhabitants. Its two universities and many English language colleges ensure that foreign languages are commonly overheard when out and about, especially during the summer months.

The universities also provide a steady supply of new youthful inhabitants for the city, which influences many of the services available. Brighton has many places to visit for the tourist. Apart from the beautifully preserved royal palace built by George IV, The Royal Pavilion (& Brighton Museum, Corn Exchange, Dome and Pavilion Theatre located at the same site), right in the centre of the city there are The Lanes (for the tourists) and The North Laine (for the young trendy locals). Music is a vital part of the cultural scene in Brighton, which has many nightclubs catering for all tastes when it comes to dancing. However, the live music scene is also alive and well with several bands originating from the Brighton area having gone on to have commercial success in recent years.

Venues to check out first of all are the Concorde II on the seafront east of the Palace Pier (now known as the Brighton Pier) and the Freebutt which is close to St Peter’s Church (the cathedral-like building in the centre of Brighton which is east of Brighton station). Brighton now has its own college dedicated to music in the Brighton Music College, so expect to see a growing list of bands making it from the Brighton area. Apart from music, the broader arts scene is very strong with several well-established theatres in Brighton and many more experimental and avant garde productions staged at further venues.

The internationally renowned Brighton Festival (and related Brighton Festival Fringe) held in May every year, provides a focus for the entire arts community in Brighton. In addition to the many artists and sculptors who inhabit Brighton (Julie-Anne Gilburt’s studio on the beach front, east of the Brighton Pier is well worth a visit), video and film production also thrives. The Brighton Film School has established itself as an independent and respected provider of courses for budding film makers, as well as providing services to visiting film crews using Brighton as their back drop. Over the past 10 years the beach promenade has been transformed into a bright and bustling pedestrian-friendly space with lots of arty boutiques, trendy cafés and eateries, as well as an array of bars and nightspots providing dancing and music well into the night. Brighton manages to cater for visitors and locals in equal measure and is well worth a visit - you never know, you just might decide to stay!