Royal Pavilion – Brighton

This stunning building, which took 35 years to make, is among Brighton’s premier tourist attractions – and it’s easy to see why. Classed as a “pleasure palace”, it was built for King George IV and possesses an exotic oriental style, inside and out.

It’s long been part of the city’s fabric and tourists from around the world, school parties and thousands of coach-trippers flock here. Consequently, the Royal Pavilion can become choc-a-block so make sure you’re flexible, that’s if you prefer having a little space and not feel like you’re being forced along by the crowd. When I visited with my family, we timed it wrong because myriad foreign students were just beginning their tour; with plenty of time on our hands, we decided to try later in the afternoon and, fortunately, it was less crowded. As a result, we were able to fully appreciate the beauty and intriguing history of this place.

Seen as a symbol of “style, finesse, technological excellence and pleasure”, the building began life as a farmhouse but over a period of nearly four decades was transformed into a palace. George IV’s interests included visual arts, music and architecture which are evident throughout the interior. Among the exhibits displayed are fine objects and furniture from France, China and other parts of the world.

Included in the entrance fee (when we visited, prices were around £10 per adult, £25 for a family ticket) is a hand-held audio guide providing an informative overview as you wander around. Our six-year-old was kept amused by having his own guide while our daughter, who’s 12, enjoyed – like my wife and I – just looking around and admiring the architecture and myriad items of furniture on display.