Brighton Sussex For centuries now Brighton has enjoyed mass appeal, with visitors from all over the country. For many Londoners especially, Brighton is seen as the ideal place to visit for an inexpensive weekend by the sea and thanks to its recent city status, awarded to mark the new millennium, Brighton and neighbouring Hove is now often referred to as England’s City By The Sea. Brighton’s seven-mile stretch of pebble covered coastline was really put on the map when George IV, in his days as Prince Regent, became a regular visitor to Brighton to enjoy the health giving properties of life near the sea. So taken was he by Brighton that he had the lavish Brighton Pavilion built as his seaside residence. Today well-known figures such as Zoë Ball and Fat Boy Slim reside in Brighton along with a large student and gay community, so it is not surprising to learn that Brighton enjoys a great clubbing scene, with annual infamous summer beach parties. Many of the clubs in the area are lined up along the beachfront such as the ever popular Zap and The Honey Club, as are numerous trendy bars and restaurants.. Shopping is another favourite pastime of visitors to Brighton, with Churchill Square indoor shopping centre featuring all the major high street names. However, the real attraction for shoppers is The Lanes, a series of narrow cobbled alleyways packed with individual boutiques and a huge choice of small but well stocked jewellery shops.. Brighton also has plenty of hotels and B&B’s to suit all budgets but as with its restaurants it’s advisable to book up well in advance, as Brighton is a popular place to be. Parking can also be a problem so the advice is to arrive early and avoid Bank Holiday weekends when the city is overwhelmed with visitors. Visit during May and you’ll find the Brighton Festival, the country’s largest arts festival in full swing.