In contrast to last weeks entry, Brighton has been a popular destination for visitors since the late 18th century, when it was both a fashionable health resort and the preferred leisure spot of the Prince Regent, who built the cities iconic Royal Pavilion as a holiday palace.

These days the town is a mecca for the young, cool and creative, with a thriving artist quarter and sizable media industry. This atmosphere is reflected in the city’s unique shopping experience, where you can find an abundance of funky antiques and curios alongside gorgeous original art and hand-crafted items and top-name designer stores. It also adds to it’s reputation as one of the UK’s top night-life spots, particularly the Victorian beachfront arches which are home to some of the hottest clubs and bars.

However, this does mean that the heart of Brighton can appear about as child-friendly as Las Vegas, and even the traditional entertainments around the famous Brighton Pier seem more like hiply ironic atmosphere for the surrounding cafes and bars than family orientated.

But a short walk up the seafront promenade will find you in the formerly separate town of Hove, with a far more laid back and traditional seaside resort atmosphere, including wide boulevards lined by Regent period buildings, colorful beach huts and the King Alfred Amusement Park. And if you feel like getting even further away from the crowds, less than five miles out of town in virtually in direction will find you in part of the over 14,000 acres of countryside that is in the Brighton area.

Our top picks for places to stay in Brighton include the Cavalaire, the Miami Hotel and the Twenty one.

Beach Huts, Hove Promenade

Beach Huts From Back, Kingsway, Hove

Brighton from Whitehawk Hill

Terraced Houses

Chapel, Woodvale Cemetery

The Royal Pavilion