With the April sun promoting all sorts of outdoorsy activities and just a few hours left to explore Brighton, there was one obvious place to visit: the Brighton Pier, an open-air amusement park which first opened doors in 1899.
We set foot on the pier right on time for a late lunch, and immediately popped into Palm Court. This family-friendly restaurant has become somewhat of an institution when it comes to authentic fish and chips experience.
A simple rustic atmosphere (with plenty of gingham for some fashionable vibes) …
… that corresponds nicely to the oh-so-British deep fried cod and mashed peas.
Once we satisfied the hunger for British classics, we had to take care of the hunger for adventures. And to do this at Brighton Pier is easy: arcade games and rides on repeat all day long. A true celebration for the 6-year-old in me.
As the sun started going down, we took a stroll along the beach towards our next destination: the charming quaint beach huts at Hove seafront.
Actually, for the longest time Brighton and Hove were separate towns which happened to be in a very close proximity. This changed in 1997, and since then Brighton became the commonly used name for what is officially referred to as Brighton and Hove. (In fact, many of the locals still consider the two towns separate, albeit the official union.)
History aside, it took us some 35 minutes of a leisurely promenade to reach Hove Lawns, and the most picturesque and colorful beach huts ever. Rumor has it, these huts sell at a premium price, and you are only eligible to buy one if you have a BN postcode. Rentals start at 200 pounds/week. Luckily, posing in front of a beach hut with a color of your choice comes at no cost. So don’t mind if I do.
On our way back, we traced the journey of the British Airways i360, the world’s tallest moving observation tower, designed by the creators of the London Eye, Marks Barfield Architects. We resisted the temptation to hop on for a ride high in the skies, but dutifully wrote it on the top of our to-do list for our next visit to Brighton.