While I was in London, I took a day trip to Brighton. This is a seaside town, and while it is best seen during the summer, I decided to check it out off-season. After all, it's easy to reach, and there's a grand royal pavilion that is worth checking out.
Brighton is an easy train ride from London. So I went from my hotel to central London in order to catch a train going south to Brighton, via Gatwick Airport. And after a short while, I reached the end of the line, and I walked slowly away from the train station in order to explore this town. My primary aim is the Royal Pavilion.
The Royal Pavilion in Brighton is perhaps the most eccentric and visually striking building in the British Isles. Often described as a "pleasure palace," it was built for King George IV (while he was Prince Regent) as a seaside retreat where he could escape the rigid formalities of London life. It was built in stages, beginning in 1787. As you can see above, it incorporates "Chinese" elements, which is what was in fashion during those times, not only in England, but also in the rest of Europe.
Perhaps what was the most spectacular room in this palace was the Banquet Room, as well as its adjacent Grand Kitchen. The Banquet Room is dominated by a massive one-ton chandelier held in the claws of a silvered dragon. The walls are covered in canvases of Chinese scenes, and the ceiling is painted like a giant palm tree. The kitchen on the other hand was said to be one of the most modern kitchens ever built back then.
There's also the Music Room, which was very opulent and visually striking. I suppose it's definitely a different lifestyle one would be leading if one were a king.
In any case, I spent some hours exploring this palace, which was definitely worth doing. It's huge, and while the tour was self-guided, there are audio guides which definitely explain and provide great detail on what has happened here in the past. If you're in the area, this is worth exploring.
