Go-Global.com

The city of Brighton & Hove on the south coast of the UK is a popular tourist destination for both visitors from within the British isles and overseas. Rising to fame in the Victorian period as a fashionable seaside holiday resort for the great and good of the time and just as popular today with a wide range of tourists. There’s lots to do with the kids including the Sealife Centre and the Palace Pier. Couples enjoy pampering themselves and staying in timeless regency style Brighton & Hove hotels. Last but not least you’ve got some of Europe’s most exciting and varied nightlife with dozens of clubs and hundreds of bars and pubs.

But how do you arrive at Brighton & Hove if visiting from overseas?

Its likely if you’ve just arrived in the UK you’ll come in at either one of the air, sea or train terminals.

Getting to Brighton from London airports

Brighton and Hove is very easy to get to from all the airports in and around London. Gatwick airport is only 30 minutes drive from Brighton making it the closest and easiest way to get to Brighton from overseas. If you book your Brighton taxis before arrival the taxi fare from Gatwick is usually only around £50-60. Alternatively there’s a train station at Gatwick and trains to Brighton leave regularly throughout the day.

London heathrow is a little further away but yoou can still reach Brighton by hire car or taxi in around an hour and a half. If you don’t want to get a taxi or drive you can take the train to central London and then change to the train to Brighton. London’s Victoria station is the best for getting to Brighton by train.

Ferry ports to Brighton

The nearest Ferry ports to Brighton are Newhaven, Dover and Southampton. If arriving at Newhaven you can get a taxi to Brighton or even a local bus as its only about a 10 mile drive to the city centre.

Brighton and Hove is just about smack bang in the middle of Dover and Southampton ports, about 90 minutes drive from either. trains from Southampton are frequent and reasonably fast but the train from Dover takes a little longer and is less regular.

Getting to the UK by Eurostar

the channel tunnel train from France comes into St Pancreas station in London. The best way from St Pancreas to Brighton is to take the underground down to London Victoria then change to a Brighton bound train at Victoria rail station. Slower trains with more stops also operate this route.

In and around the Westminster area of London you can spot some of the citys most iconic landmarks. The Houses of Parliament, Big Ben, the River Thames and Buckingham Palace are all here and there are plenty of other tourist attractions for you to make the most of when in Westminster.

The London Eye is located on the south bank of the river Thames and stands an impressive 135 meters high. This is the worlds biggest observation wheel with 32 capsules that hold up to 25 people each. On a clear day from the very top it is possible to see views of anything up to 25 miles in every direction. You can spot lots of famous London landmarks from the top and during your ascent, including Big Ben, Windsor Castle and St Pauls Cathedral to name just a few.

Another place worth a visit in the Westminster area is The London Aquarium. Here you will find 3000 different types of aquatic and marine life housed in huge tanks. The impressive stingrays and sharks amaze children and adults alike, and shark-feeding time is a popular daily event. The aquarium covers 3 floors and daily talks about the sea creatures are given during the day.

Originally part of St Thomas Hospital, the Florence Nightingale Museum is a treasure trove of unique artifacts relating to the famous Lady of the Lamp. Here you will find fascinating items such as Athena, her pet owl that was stuffed by a taxidermist after it died, the medical chest she took with her to Turkey and of course the famous Turkish Lantern she carried when doing her rounds during the Crimean War.

The historical landmark, Westminster Abbey has been the location since 1066 for every coronation in England. The building that you see today was completed sometime after 1245 and draws on a few architectural styles. The Abbeys ornate organ is particularly notable and has been there since 1937. The nave is famous for being the final resting place of some well-known names. The Poets Corner holds the graves of Chaucer, Charles Dickens and Rudyard Kipling and the graves of scientist Sir Isaac Newton and naturalist Charles Darwin.

One of Londons best-loved art galleries can also be found in Westminster The Tate Britain. The museum opened in 1897 and is home iconic works of art by British artists such as Blake, Turner, Francis Bacon and David Hockney. A programme of regular exhibitions at the Tate Britain means there is always something new to discover here.

St James Park is in the Westminster area and a wonderful green space to explore on a fine day. The lake is home to various birds including black swans, ducks, geese and pelicans. For the children there is a good playground area and a caf© where you can enjoy a sit down and enjoy the tranquility away from the hustle and bustle of the city.

Find Out More : Westminster Hotel

Cosmopolitan, vibrant and with so much to do, the city of Brighton has plenty on offer for tourists and thats why it remains one of the UKs top tourist destinations. A city by the sea, where the royals used to go for a spot of rest and relaxation, you wont be short of things to do should you choose to visit, in fact it might be more of a problem trying to fit in everything you want to do!

The iconic Brighton Pavilion with its stunning regency architecture is a must see when visiting the city. Built as a seaside palace for George IV this exotic looking building is home to a variety of regency art, furniture and silver. Tours of the palace are available or you can simply make your own way round and soak up the elegant ambience.

Almost iconic as the pavilion is Brightons beautiful Victorian pier. Set above the famous pebble beach the pier has everything you would expect to see at the seaside! There are arcades where you can play the slots, a fish and chip restaurant and fairground rides for the children to enjoy.

Brighton is well known for its seaside activities but not everyone knows that the city has a lot of designated green spaces so there are plenty of parks and gardens for you to explore or simply have a picnic and hang out. The parks are a good place to bring the kids for some informal sports and games. The gardens at the Pavilion are attractive and well maintained and should interest anyone who has a liking for plants and flowers, also during the summer months the Pavilion gardens are used for entertainment and music events. The largest urban park is Preston Park and this is a great place for families to visit.

If you enjoy exploring museums then there are several to choose from in Brighton. The Brighton Museum is the centre for Modern Art and there are plenty of exhibitions and interactive galleries for you to browse. The Booth Museum of Natural History is a wonderful place for anyone who is interested in animals and insects with literally hundreds of species exhibited and the Toy and Model Museum is a great place for a spot of nostalgia. The museum is home to toys from virtually every era and makes for a fascinating day trip out.

Another great attraction to experience when in Brighton is the Volks Railway. This is Britains oldest electric railway and was built in 1883. The journey is approximately one and a quarter miles and takes in views of the beach, the pier and the marina.

Brighton Marina is a huge shopping centre that is just outside of the city centre. Here you will find all kinds of shops and there are some great cafes and restaurants where you can enjoy a spot waterside dining. If you fancy taking in a film while you are in Brighton theres a cinema here and also a bowling alley and other indoor entertainments on offer, making the Marina a popular destination for a rainy day. The city of Brighton is also a good place for shopping with lots of interesting shops lining the quaint streets.

More : Brighton Hotels