Lady’s Guide to Royal Brighton

Today I want to bring you my guide to royal Brighton. While London has its share of royal palaces and history, Brighton holds its own when it comes to connections with monarchs past and present. I learned this while spending the past 2 days in Brighton.

Royal Brighton

VisitEngland invited me to Brighton over the weekend to explore the city’s royal past and indulge in a way that would make the royals proud. Given it’s one of the best places to visit in East Sussex, I was excited.

It was my second time traveling to Brighton this year, but it proved to be an entirely different experience than my first trip, which showed me Brighton in winter.

Where to Stay in Brighton

To begin with, my hotel, Blanch House, was a boutique accommodation in Kemptown, an area to the east of Brighton Pier that I had never been to before.

Kemptown’s shops and restaurants were as funky and fun as the ones in North Laine, and I liked the area a lot. There were independent boutiques and cafes all around, and I had a good time exploring them.

After walking around the area for a bit, my group checked into Blanch House. My small room was comfortable, but lacked a telephone, cups for drinking water, and soap for the shower.

Other than that, the hotel was a great place to stay. The staff was one of the friendliest I had encountered on my travels, and certainly made us feel like VIPs, if not royalty. The breakfasts were excellent, too.

Fish and Chips in Brighton

Outside of Blanch House, I was able to explore some of Brighton’s highlights. This is one of the best places to go to the seaside near London, so we headed to the waterfront.

My group started by having fish and chips at a restaurant on Brighton Pier. It was as classic an introduction to the city as could be, and if it hadn’t been pouring rain outside, it would have been the perfect afternoon by the sea.

Afternoon Tea in Brighton

But the rain wasn’t all bad. It made our afternoon tea at Metrodeco all the more cozy.

The tearoom’s funky decor and furniture that guests could purchase after teatime provided a great atmosphere as we drank Earl Grey, Assam, and rooibos amidst a feast of finger sandwiches, scones, and pastries.

It would have made Anna, the 7th Duchess of Bedford and the inventor of afternoon tea, proud.

Dinner in Brighton

The downpour continued that evening as we made our way to dinner at Plateau restaurant in Brighton. There I had a plate of scallops and a pretty dish of mushroom risotto before heading back to Blanch House for the night.

Royal Pavilion in Brighton

The next two days were awash in sunshine, and the sky’s cheery disposition was the perfect environment under which to visit Brighton’s most famous attraction, the Royal Pavilion.

George IV’s exotic pleasure palace featured an Indian-inspired facade and an interior bursting with some of the most ornate Chinoiserie I’ve ever seen.

Heavy crystal chandeliers held by soaring dragons sat below immense gilded domes while treasures from the Orient lined the walls.

Theatre Royal in Brighton

The palace was as theatrical as another stop on our itinerary: Brighton’s Theatre Royal.

There we were taken on a behind-the-scenes tour during which we learned all about the history of the stage and its patrons, including George IV when he was Prince Regent.

We even got to sit in the box he frequented, imagining ourselves the focus of the audience when all eyes weren’t on the stage.

Cake Decorating in Brighton

After our tours, we indulged like royalty at a chocolate festival in Brighton, as well as at a cupcake decorating class at Angel Food Bakery in The Lanes.

Each of us was given six small cakes to decorate with frosting, sprinkles, and just about everything else we could think of.

After getting the hang of using the piping bags, we turned out an array of sweets fit for a queen. Or—given the glitter—the Prince Regent.

Brighton Nightlife

Speaking of the Prince Regent, we also followed in his footsteps to enjoy Brighton’s nightlife. The prince never shied away from a good night out when he was in the city, and we didn’t either.

After a great roast dinner at The Townhouse restaurant in Kemptown, we headed to the bar at Drakes Hotel for flaming martinis and champagne cocktails.

From there we went to the bar at Hotel Pelirocco in Brighton. Cocktails with names like “Fur Coat, No Knickers” filled the red leather space.

Upstairs, rooms with themes like Dollywood, Sputnik, and Pin-Up Parlour entertained us as if we were guests exploring the eclectic rooms of King George IV’s exotic pavilion.

Royal Brighton and Beyond

At the end of our travels in Brighton, we had experienced enough opulence, feasting, and excitement to make us feel like royalty ourselves.

But even if we hadn’t, we were headed back to London to tour the Queen’s Diamond Jubilee barge and attend a special reception at Buckingham Palace. Not bad for non-royals.

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