Brighton Pier by dawarwickphotography

Where to Visit

For a sightseeing tour with a difference, sign up for a City Walks tour. These walking tours offer more than just a standard history of the city, with themes such as the ‘Brighton Rock Walk’, which takes in locations featured in the 1930s cult classic movie. Tours are led by a knowledgeable local guide and film expert, who offers personal as well as group tours.

Whether you wish to indulge in some retail therapy or just want to explore a cool part of town, head for the bohemian North Laines and Cultural Quarter. This part of the city is filled with independent boutiques and vintage shops so you can wander your way around the twisting alleyways and cobblestones searching for one-off finds and quirky keepsakes. Nestled in amongst the shops there is a wealth of cafes and bars, so take your time and stop off for a refreshing drink.

Brighton North Laine by willemgo

Visit the exotic, oriental style Royal Pavillion building, which looks distinctly out of place in its quaint seaside setting.  Take a tour of the magnificent interior, then ponder the collection at the Brighton Museum and Art gallery, which covers everything from 20th century art and design to fashion and style. There are also stunning gardens around the Pavillion and a beautiful tea room where you can stop off for a classic English pudding or a glass of local cider.

Brighton Pavilion by Brighton Guy

If the weather lets you down, don’t worry – it’s the perfect excuse to spend a rainy afternoon sinking into your comfy seat at the Duke of York’s, the UK’s oldest picture house. It’s certainly a cinema experience with a difference as you can relax with a glass of wine and enjoy an indie or arty flick on the big screen.

Brighton has several ‘villages’ surrounding it which are worth venturing slightly off-track for. Kemp Town is a very fashionable part of town, filled with boutiques, antique shops, second-hand book stores and lots of lovely little eateries and places to relax with a coffee. It’s a pleasant spot to have a wander through and is also the location of the funky annual carnival, which celebrates Brighton’s diverse arts and culture scene over a weekend of live performances and installations.

Kemp Town, Brighton by sol revolver

Brighton is often dubbed ‘London by the sea’, and for most the beach and pier are, of course, a key attraction. Embrace the retro seaside vibe by hopping on the vintage carousel or hitting the arcade. On a hot sunny day, people flock towards the sea to enjoy the cooling sea breeze and a happy, summertime vibe takes over. Pull up a deckchair and spend a while soaking up the atmosphere.

Where to Eat

For brunch, head to Sam’s of Brighton in Kemp Town, where your can wash your Eggs Benedict down with a Sam’s Bloody Mary.

If you’re spending Saturday afternoon wandering around in town, sample the best of local produce at the FARM market on the North Road. Follow this up with a sugar fix at Choccywoccydoodah, a local chocolate shop where the window displays are as pleasing as the chocolate they’re made from.

Hog roast, Brighton by Jeremy Keith

For your evening meal, Tookta’s Cafe serve up some of the best Thai food in town or, for a livelier night, Ole Ole tapas bar has live Flamenco music and dancing as well as top tapas – book ahead as it’s a popular spot.

Finally, if it’s cheap and cheerful traditional seaside fare you’re after, opt for fish and chips from Bardsleys of Baker Street, who dish up Brighton’s best. These are best enjoyed during a sunset stroll along the pier.

Where to Drink

A seafront beverage is a must, so enjoy a drink or two in the Fortune of War whilst gazing out over the sea. Something of a Brighton institution, the Fortune has the best beer garden in town – Brighton beach!

The Prince Albert is another cool spot and a great live music bar. It was once known for the Banksy ‘Kissing Coppers’ painting that appeared on the wall outside but has since been removed and sold. Still, if it’s good enough for one of the world’s most elusive artists, it’s definitely worth popping in for a pint.

The Prince Albert, Brighton by Ed Webster

For late drinks, enjoy the jazz at The Verdict café/club in Kemp Town, or head to The Volks club on the seafront if you’re in party mode.

Where to Sleep

Stay near the beach at quirkily cool Brighton guest house, The Oriental. Set in a stunning grade II listed Regency town house near the sea front, a luxurious haven awaits beyond the front door. The beautiful rooms are kitted out with spa baths, and the designer bar is perfect for a drink before you head out to explore the city. Each morning, enjoy the papers as you wait for your delicious breakfast, freshly prepared from organic produce.

If you’d prefer to stay in the Kemp Town area, the boutique Blanch House B&B is ideal. They really go the extra mile to make guests feel special. The themed rooms are stylish, chic and filled with little extras such as luxury toiletries and delicious home-made biscuits. Guests even have access to an exclusive resident’s champagne and cocktail bar!

Originally from Ireland but now living and working in London, Anita Doherty loves to travel. She indulges her passion for travelling and writing as frequently as she can and is part of the team at Enjoybedandbreakfast.com, a travel website for accommodation with personality in the UK. The website offers a growing selection of quaint B&Bs, charming inns, small boutique hotels and guest houses.

The post A Weekend in Cool Brighton appeared first on Best of European Union.

Tower Bridge Tour / Photo licensed under the Creative Commons, created by Anders Thirsgaard Rasmussen

1) Original London Tour Company

This is the hop on hop off London Bus Tour that you will see going around London town all day every day (except Christmas). The buses run the same route every day and the tour lasts approximately two hours but you can jump off whenever you want and then hop back on again later in the day. Your ticket lasts for 24 hours so you have no rush. This is an ideal way to see London on a budget and with minimal fuss.

2) Jack the Ripper Tour

Follow the path that Jack The Ripper took across Whitechapel and hear the harrowing stories of how he picked his victims and how he viciously murdered them. This is definitely a tour you will want to take before you have eaten and is not recommended for those under twelve years old.

3) Buckingham Palace Tour

Se this magnificent palace in all its glory, the current residence of the Queen of England it is located right in the heart of London and is a wonderful symbol of Britain. Of course with 2012 being the Jubilee Year we have the Queens diamonds on display – these diamonds have been used by Her Royal Highness the Queen and her ancestors for the last 200 years also. This exhibition also includes a number of The Queen’s personal jewels – and those handed down to Her Majesty or those given to her during her time as Queen of England. It really is a fantastic collection of the most stunning jewels you may ever see.

4) The London Eye

The London Eye is over 135 metres tall and this makes it one of the worlds tallest big wheels! You can see all across London on it and its truly a magnificent place to see London. A full circulation takes approx 25 minutes and we would recommend seeing it at both night and day to get the different perspectives of London. It really is something that should not be missed.

The top 4 tours was compiled by Fiona Spelling a writer for Sightseeing Tours London who offer great value London and UK Tours including full day tours to Stonehenge.

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Beaches
On the island you will find beautiful pebble and sandy beaches. The best beaches for swimming are mostly in the eastern part of the island. The beaches are gentle with a calm sea (the waves are nearly absent, since the eastern side is not open to the sea), while at the western part you can find rocks.

Climate
Corfu has the coldest climate of all Greek islands (in summer daytime temperatures are around 28 °C), which is pleasant in summer and suitable also for hiking and exploring the island. rare here in the summer of weak collisions occur.

Kerkyra Town
Kerkyra is the capital of Corfu. The town has over 35 000 inhabitants. You shouldn’t miss Vlacheraina monastery, which lies on the own little island.

Corfu is very attractive for its beauty, charm, freshness and distinctive villages with magical ports. In them you can find fishing boats and tavernas. Throughout the island you will see a huge amount of cypresses, olive trees, pines and citruses.

Northern coast of Corfu has long been a popular destination for air tours. The tourists are in this beautiful island totally excited. Many famous people have joined their life or name with this favorite destinations – for example, Johan Wolfgang Goethe, Oscar Wilde or the wife of Austrian Emperor Franz Joseph I. – Elisabeth, called Sissi.

Corfu has also a rich history and interesting architecture. If you plan on sightseeing tour, you will certainly be happy that the island is dotted with plenty of sights worth visiting. You can visit Achillion – Classicist mansion, where the Empress Sissi spent much of her life. Another beautiful experience of your vacation could also be a walk to the ruins of a Byzantine castle Angelokastro from the 13th century or to the southernmost point of the island, which is Cape Asprokavos. There is an abandoned monastery, above which you can enjoy the view of 130m high rocky cliffs.

The Corfu has several interesting places that we strongly recommend you to visit: the capital of Corfu, Vlacherna monastery, Empress Sissi villa in the village of Gastouri, Pantokrator mountain, tourist town Paleokastritsa with nearby caves by the sea, village Lakoness, view Bela Vista or resort of Sidari with bizarre rocky reefs.

View Corfu – Emerald Island in the Mediterranean Sea Greece in a larger map

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