Brighton, often regarded as ‘London by the sea’, is southern England's fun city and the destination for students, bohemians and a traditional short-stay vacation hotspot for working Londoners, ever since the railways first connected the English capital with the coast in1840.

One of Brighton's most eye-catching landmarks is the Royal Pavilion, once the holiday residence of King George IV (King George the Fourth), who lived between 1762 and 1830.

Another iconic landmark here in Brighton is the Palace Pier – a fine example of Victorian English seaside architecture. This pier is typically English, and the place to buy your souvenirs, have your fortune told, and eat "candy floss" (cotton candy).

Brighton boasts several attractions as well as the pier – not least the beach above which it stands. It’s not sandy but pebbly, so it’s not exactly comparable to Spain’s Costa Del Sol, but it does offer a pleasant opportunity to dip your toes in the English Channel.

Another highlight in the town is the area known as The Lanes, which is home to numerous little shops, pubs, cafés and restaurants set along historic narrow streets. This relaxed, bohemian area is highly recommended.

The countryside which surrounds Brighton offers a peaceful, natural nature. Stretching east of Brighton is a coastline bordered by broad, rolling green downs, or hills. This area, known as the South Downs Way, runs for 100 miles along the chalk hills of England's south coast, and in April 2010, it will officially become the country's ninth national park. Beachy Head is a highlight of the South Downs Way. Its white cliffs are often mistaken for Dover's. Really, it's the same chalk, just further west along the coast.

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