Brighton is one of the largest and most famous seaside resorts in England. It lies on the south coast of England in East Sussex and together with its immediate neighbout Hove forms the city of Brighton and Hove.

The first mention of a settlement in the area was at Beorthelm’s-tun (“the town of Beorthelm”) and the Domesday Book lists Brighton as Bristemestune. In the 18th cnetury Brighton and became popular as a destination for day trippers on arrival of the railway in 1841. With the railway came a population boom as Brighton was now in reach of Londoners.

Brighton boasts two universities, numerous hotels and restuarants and entertainment and has a substantial business conference industry.

In June 1514 Brightelmstone was burnt to the ground by French raiders during a war between England and France. Only part of St Nicholas’s Church and the street pattern of The Lanes survived the attack.

Suring the mid 1700’s doctors began prescribing the medicinal use of sea-water at Brighton to their patients and by 1780 the development of the Regency terraces began and the fishing village of Brightelmstone became the fashionalble town of Brighton. After his first visit in 1783 the Prince Regent (later King George IV) , spent much of his leisure time here and constructed the exotic and expensive Royal Pavilliion in the early 1800’s. The Royal Pavillion was built as a royal palace and home and is famous for its Indian architecture and Oriental interior design.

In 1866 the now burned West Pier was built and in 1899 the Palace Pier was constructed. The Palace Pier was opened in May 1899 and features numerous attractions including arcades, rides, funfair, fortune tellers, restaurants, bars, bingo hall and a night-club. At 1,722 ft long and acknowledged as the finest pier ever built. The older West pier closed in 1975 and was to be renovated. The pier suffered collapses from two fires in 2003 and the middle collapsed in high winds in 2004.

In Brighton, the area occupied by the original fishing village has become The Lanes — a collection of narrow alleyways now populated primarily by jewellers, specialist gift shops, restaurants and pubs.