Brighton is one of the UK’s most famous seaside towns and a very popular tourist resort.
The early history of Brighton begins with its mention in the Domesday Book.
In the 1740’s and 1750’s a doctor was known to prescribe Brighton sea water to his patients.
In the 1780’s the fishing village became a fashionable resort with Regent houses being built. Prince Regent (later King George IV) spent most of his spare time in Brighton and had constructed the Royal Pavilion.
Day-trippers started to arrive in Brighton when the railway was built in 1841. In one hundred years the population grew by approximately one hundred and twenty thousand.
It was during the Victorian times the Grand Hotel was built, the West Pier and the Palace Pier were also erected. Brighton Pier was opened in 1899 and is the town’s largest pier. On it can be found a funfair, arcades and a restaurant.
Brighton’s major tourist attraction is the pebble beach along which there are a wide choice of bars, restaurants, night clubs and amusement arcades.
It has a designated nudist beach, one of the few in Britain allowed in an urban area.
There are over four hundred pubs and numerous nightclubs in the town. There are also several live music venues such as the Dome, Concorde and Brighton Centre. It is a very lively cosmopolitan and sometimes rather crowded town at night with students and visitors alike.
There are frequent trains from Brighton Station to Victoria, Gatwick Airport, Portsmouth, Ashford and Bracknell.
Property for rent is always available in and around Brighton with prices from £435pm - £750pm for a l bed flat and £750pm - £1,000pm for a 2 bed flat.
Churchill Square is an indoor shopping centre. It has five restaurants and eighty five shops including Debenhams and Bhs other major stores can be found in both London Road and Western Road,
Brighton hosts several London to Brighton events including those for cycles and cars that usually end up on display on the promanade.
Brighton has several museums and art galleries some of which are in the arches on the seafront. Local artists often exhibit their work in cafes and bars in the town.
The largest employer in Brighton is American Express, its building is in Edward Street and they employ upto three thousand people.
Due to the rise in property prices and the local taxes many small businesses are finding it difficult to meet the costs and some have had to cease trading. These properties are being replaced by large entertainment centres.
Brighton’s racetrack is somewhat unusual because when a full-length race is due to be run turf has to be laid across the tarmac at the top of Wilson Avenue. The road is, of course, closed for the duration of the races.
Brighton is home to two universities, the University of Brighton and the University of Sussex.
Also close to Brighton is the famous Roedean School, it was founded by three sisters in 1885 and in 1898 it moved to its present location on the Sussex Downs overlooking the sea.
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