About Brighton

Thought of, alongside Blackpool at least, as the quintessential English seaside resort, Brighton has all the elements needed to satisfy the most demanding of visitors. The pebbled beach that runs along the sea-front is a magnet for sun-worshippers and the city's multitude of bars and clubs offer around-the-clock entertainment, in fact the city is sometimes referred to as 'London by the Sea' due to it's cosmopolitan feel and unquenchable atmosphere.

Growing slowly over the centuries, enduring attacks from French invaders, Brighton only really put itself on the map in the 18th century when the health benefits of bathing were being extolled to the upper classes and seaside vacationing became fashionable.

During his reign as King, George IV funded the construction of Brighton's most famous landmark, the Royal Pavillion which, with it's architecture's obvious Middle-Eastern influence, is an unusual feature among the more conventional buildings surrounding it. Unfortunately, one of the city's other well known attractions, the West Pier, was damaged by storms and more recently fire and much of it has collapsed into the sea.

One of the darker days in Brighton's recent past occurred in October 1984, when the hotel which most of the Cabinet were staying at for the Conservative Party Conference that year was bombed by the IRA. The Prime Minister of the time, Margaret Thatcher was fortunate to escape without injury although MP Norman Tebbit was hurt, but four others were not so lucky and lost their lives in the blast.

Authors, artists and film-makers have all represented Brighton in one way or another - John Constable painted several seascapes there, writers Jane Austen and Graham Greene have both set books in the town, and the film that best embodies the spirit of the 70's, 'Quadrophenia', was also set in Brighton.

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