Royal Pavilion, Brighton

Universally acclaimed as one of the most exotically beautiful buildings in the British Isles, the Royal Pavilion is the magnificent former seaside residence of King George IV. The Royal Pavilion grew over 35 years from a simple farmhouse to a spectacular palace.

The Pavilion's lavish interiors combine Chinese-style decorations with magnificent furniture and furnishings. The Palace's unique style mixes Asian exoticism with English eccentricity.

The gardens reflect the great revolution in landscape gardening that began in the 1730s. Formal layouts of straight lines and symmetrical shapes were replaced with curving paths, natural groups of trees and shrubs and picturesque views.

Open daily except Dec 25 & 26. Oct to March 10am-5.15pm (last tickets 4.30pm) April to Sept 9.30am-5.45pm (last tickets 5.00pm). Admission fee payable