For many forty-somethings today, Brighton was the city of firsts. Those summers with the first doses of independence living with an English family, meetups at the pier, the Friday night light disco... All with the goal of learning English or at least losing the embarrassment of speaking it in public. The city's tourist attractions, which were and still are many, remained only in the background in photos with friends.
With that nostalgia in our backpack, we take the train from London - a one and a half hour journey - to rediscover this coastal city in the south of the country. Upon leaving the station, umbrellas on shoulders and inflatable beach balls fill the sidewalks; a tourist looks at a map and locals cling to any shade they can find.
First stop: the Brighton i360 Tower, which looks like something out of a science fiction movie. It stands at 162 meters and offers spectacular views of the city and the coast. With a capacity for 200 people, weddings have even been held inside, and on a clear day, you can see the Isle of Wight, almost 70 kilometers west of Brighton. In fact, it is the world's slimmest tower - opened in 2016 and designed by the same studio that created the London Eye in London. For those who want to enjoy the full experience, there is a cafeteria service to even toast with a glass of sparkling wine.
With our feet back on the ground, we head to Brighton Pier, that Victorian pier with traditional fairground attractions that is a true emblem of the place. Don't miss out on some cotton candy and buy tickets for the Crazy Mouse spinning roller coaster, because trips deserve some thrills. With a certain romantic and retro air, the space opened to the public in May 1899. It was Sir John Howard who commissioned its construction to replace the Old Chain Pier, which was destroyed during a storm. Since then, it has withstood a thousand and one events. Sunset is one of the best times to visit, especially to admire the views.
Along the promenade, the dining options are wide and varied. The time and place invite you to find a restaurant with sea views and a terrace, if possible. We find everything at The Salt Room (106 King's Road), a spacious and charming restaurant with a menu full of great seafood options. From its terrace, the after-dinner extends into the afternoon. Fish and chips shops are numerous and generally quite good.
If you prefer to grab a coffee on the go, you can stop at one of the many specialty cafes on the way to The Lanes, a charming maze of narrow cobbled streets where you can always find a special piece in its vintage fashion stores, jewelers, or antique shops. The gastronomic offer in the neighborhood is wide: from brunch to vegetarian options, passing through smoked fish - very typical of the area - and pokes.
What better way to end this express visit to the city than at the Royal Pavilion, the iconic palace that combines an exterior Indian-style architecture with interior decoration inspired by the Far East. The place was the holiday residence of George IV, who granted Brighton the title of city of relaxation and fun. It is worth taking the time to join one of the guided tours to discover what life was like in the palace.
Street view of Brighton in summer.
Back in London, another very different Brighton remains immortalized on the phone from the one we experienced at 15. Those summers full of firsts where everything happened at the pier.