Royal Pavilion

Since the Prince Regent (later King George IV) first visited Brighton and Hove in 1783, his fantastic seaside palace, the Royal Pavilion, with its Indian domes and minarets and its Chinese style interior, has become a landmark not to be missed. It is mostly the work of John Nash, who almost single-handedly created the style called Regency. Such architecture tends to be sober and elegant, but the Royal Pavilion is bold, elaborate and eccentric. Magnificent decorations and fantastic furnishings have been re-created in a £10 million extensive restoration programme. The Queen Adelaide tearooms provide a sweeping view over the Pavilion gardens, which have also been returned to their original Regency splendour.

West Pier

Brighton's West Pier was built over 130 years ago by Eugenius Birch as a magnificent and unique English seaside promenade and pleasure. After being closed in 1975, it suffered decay but miraculously survived the battering influence of waves fundamentally unchanged since 1916, until 2002/2003 when fire stripped the pier bare leaving just a skeleton of iron work in the sea. The magic of seaside England lost forever.

The pier was literally screwed into the seabed and strengthened by a mesh of metal ties, braces and girders using dozens of iron columns. Atop the substructure was a wooden promenade deck, which allowed visitors seemingly to be at sea and walk on water without the hazards of getting wet or being sea sick.

The Overall Structure and the West Pier’s component buildings are still of historical and architectural importance. They represent a culmination of the skills of the Victorian engineer as mechanic, architect and artist; skills honed in the great age of railway construction and bridge building and based on new materials and technologies arising from the industrial revolution earlier in the century. It is the only pier in the world to be Grade 1 architecturally listed.

The Seafront

There's nothing quite like a bracing walk along the prom or a stroll out to sea on the Brighton Pier to clear heads and revive appetites. On a wild and wintry day it's an exhilarating experience. If you'd rather ride, take the Volk's Electric Railway, England's oldest, along Madeira Drive to Brighton Marina admiring the fine Regency terraces as you go.

Experience all the thrills of traditional and modern rides on the pier - there's a wonderful atmosphere at dusk when the sun goes down and the lights come on.

Strolling along from the Brighton Pier towards Hove, you'll find the Artists' Quarter where you can buy individual, one-off pieces from prints and paintings to driftwood mirrors and wrought iron beds - perfect for special gifts. Further along is the Fishing Museum, with a full size Sussex fishing boat and rare archive film of bathers at the turn of the century. There are stylish cafes, bars and restaurants where you can relax and enjoy the view.

There are all kinds of water sports to try and you can hire in-line skates (plus essential knee pads) to rollerblade along the esplanade, or play petanque (like boules) on the piste next to Alfresco's. And Hove's wide, elegant esplanade and peaceful lawns are perfect for strolling, picnicking, kite-flying and playing. So whether you're looking for recreation, razzle dazzle or rest and relaxation, the seafront is the place to be.

Brighton & Hove Countryside

There are over 14,000 acres of countryside around the city of Brighton & Hove providing a perfect complement to a vibrant cosmopolitan city. These areas allow you to escape to a scenic, tranquil world of gardens, down lands, footpaths, bridleways and byways. Breeze up to Devil's Dyke, take in an award-winning walk, cycle across the downs into Kipling's Rottingdean or join a woodland trail. You'll also find a rich range of plants, animals and special places for wildlife just moments from the city.