Filed under: architecture, Attractions, historic attraction, history, top-feature, train
Historic Brighton
Every summer, hundreds of thousands of London residents and visitors head for the miles of beaches along England’s coast. Despite impressions about bad weather, the south of England can get pretty warm during the summer, and if you live in one of the world’s largest cities, you can imagine the temptation of having some sand underneath your feet and a view of the sea.
It is a shame that most travelers don’t get too far from the beach because, while it is lovely, Brighton is also one of England’s historic cities, just like York or Windsor. Take a closer look on your next trip with a few of these great historic backdrops.
The Volks Railway
The Volks Railway is a total step back in time; this railway, and nearly everything running on it, is based on the same basic components as when this rail line opened as Britain’s first electric rail line 1883. It’s the oldest electric railway in existence, though the original route was much shorter. In the beginning of the 1900s the route was extended from Palace Pier, the original starting point, on past Paston Palace to the current terminus at Black Rock. It’s just over one mile, but for families it’s an enjoyable ride – and a steal, as tickets are only £2.80 round trip.
For more information as well as a few stories about this railways foibles and failures, have a look at the official Volks rail website.
The Piers
Of course the crowning glory of all things Brighton is the iconic Brighton Pier (map). It’s all those things you expect from a proper beach town pier, including arcades, fish and chip shops, bars for a beer and a view, a miniature fairground, and souvenir shops. It’s been fairly well maintained, but that’s partially because Brighton’s older pier, the West Pier, was virtually destroyed in a series of two fires back in 2003. Funds haven’t been made available for its reconstruction, unfortunately; many have said that the West Pier was the prettiest and most enjoyable to the two.
The Lanes
Be sure to spare a minute to wander around The Lanes, a series of narrow alleyways in the center of Brighton – you can’t miss them. These are some of the original streets of Brighton, put in place in the late 1700s. They’re popular with visitors for all the shops, especially the antique stores. Can you spot which Lane is the newest? It’s Duke Lane, which is the only “new” lane, built in the 1980s.
Brighton Pavilion
You won’t be able to miss the Brighton Pavilion (map) even if you tried – it looks like a slice of New Delhi accidentally found its way into Brighton. As you might have guessed, the building is a former royal residence. It was first built in 1787, but then extended/refurbished in two subsequent updates. The exterior style is indeed prevalent in India, which was part of the British commonwealth during some of the time of the most recent refurbishment in the early 1800′s. The architect was John Nash, and you’ll find his work all over London.
Museum Mania
Bright has tons of great museums – many of which are free or low cost. They’re a great option for those rainy days or if you just need a break from the sun. Some suggestions:
- Booth Museum of Natural History (map): Free, this place is guaranteed to be a hit with the kids, as there are remnants and artifacts of thousands of animals that once roamed the British Isles, from dinosaurs to extinct birds. Free, closed Thursdays.
- Brighton Fishing Museum (map): Free, an interesting place to go if you’re into fishing for sure. It highlights how these sea towns used to be very dependent on fishing for their incomes.
- Brighton Toy and Model Museum (map): £4. This fun museum features hundreds of different toy exhibits, with tons of toys from your youth you may have forgotten about, as well as some newer ones. It’s just beneath the station, and the friendly staff at the front office double as a tourism office.
- Hove Museum and Art gallery (map): Free, there are more toys here in this beautiful Victorian mansion. The most interesting exhibition, though, is the one exploring the history of cinema in British culture, with some fun optical toys and old camera.
Last but not least, there’s a small museum called the Old Cells Museum (map) that has vintage police gear, photographs, and information. It’s not the most exciting of places, but if you like this kind of thing, you might be so inclined.
Getting There
Brighton is just south of London on England’s coast. The simplest way is to get there is to catch a train from Victoria Station in London. The trip takes about an hour, though you might be able to catch the Brighton Express which is a little faster. Victoria is a hot spot during peak travel hours, so I suggest you time your travel in both directions to avoid the rush.
For train schedules and specific travel times, you can download a PDF timetable from the Southern Rail website.
Photo Credits: neate photos, sjdunphy, clagnut
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