The Royal Pavillion

One Of The Most Majestic Brighton Attractions & A Must-See Landmark Of Southern England...

The £7.70 entry fee to the Royal Pavilion is well worth it – not least because it’s described as one of the must-see attractions within the whole of the United Kingdom. The Pavilion is open between all year round and when you approach the grand, you begin to wonder if you’re still in England.

The exterior of the palace is about as “non-English” as you could possibly get. The external architecture would suggest that you were somewhere in India, and once you step inside things take on a distinct and dramatic oriental theme.

The Royal Pavilion was built on the command of the Prince Regent initially in 1787 (the architect was the famous Henry Holland) – the original result was known as “The Marine Pavilion” but it was dramatically redesigned by John Nash between 1815 and 1823 when the East became in vogue with royalty. Ultimately, the Royal Pavilion was sold by the Queen in 1850.

Inside, the pavilion has a very Oriental theme – with everything from the furniture to the fixtures and artwork taking on a very Chinese theme. It’s safe to say that every item is exquisite and was designed and built with no expense spared. Some of the chandeliers are almost beyond belief – crystals in the shape of lotuses held by a giant dragon.

Before walking into the Pavilion, you can enjoy a stroll around the impressive surrounding grounds. Once inside, your ticket price includes an audio tour which explains the history and heritage of the Pavilion throughout history. It’s well worth it.

Just some of the rooms you should view once inside are:

The Music Room – The reason this room was built was King George IV’s love for music. Here, the King would entertain guests with recitals, often from Italian opera performed by his own musicians. One of the highlights of this room are the nine splendid lotus shaped chandeliers.

Banqueting Room – Is this the grandest room of the Pavilion? Many visitors seem to think so and it’s hard to argue when you consider the elegant artwork depicting various scenes from China, a huge banquet table and a wonderfully huge dragon chandelier which hangs menacingly above the diners heads.

The Royal Bedrooms – Among the famous rooms include the Yellow Bow Rooms and Queen Victorias Appartments.

The Great Kitchen – King George IV was highly proud of the steam-powered kitchen that was built in the kitchen – a state of the art system in its time. The equipment was required to hold the lavish feats and banquets that were given regularly.

Interestingly, the Royal Pavilion has also been the location for various films and documentaries – including “The End Of The Affair” and “Richard III”.