Having walked from the railway station to our B&B in Upper Rock Gardens this was our first view of Brighton seafront which includes Brighton Pier and the Brighton Wheel. Our viewpoint is from Marine Parade with Madeira Drive visible below.

Brighton is a traditional English seaside resort and our impression was that it did look a bit shabby although not excessively so.

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A view of Brighton from near the outer end of the pier.The pier first opened in May 1899 and has a length of approximately 1700 feet. It is generally known as Palace Pier and has fairground rides on the outer end.

There are plenty of free deckchairs available along the pier if you'd like to just sit in the sun.

The Brighton Wheel is portable and has planning permission to remain here until 2016 but after that who knows? The wheel's location in a conservation area with many residential buildings has proved controversial.

The wheel is 148 feet in diameter and the ride of 3 rotations in enclosed gondolas lasts for about 12 minutes.

One of Brighton's landmark buildings must surely be the Royal Pavilion. It was built in three stages, the first in 1787, and was a seaside retreat for George, Prince of Wales, who became the Prince Regent in 1811.

It is built in the Indo-Saracenic style prevalent in India for most of the 19th century, with the most extravagant chinoiserie interiors ever executed in the British Isles.

Photography is not permitted inside which I find really annoying.

Inside the grounds of the Royal Pavilion is the Brighton Museum and Art Gallery housed in buildings which used to be the stables for the Royal Pavillion.

Just outside the main entrance to the Royal Pavilion is an area known as 'The Lanes'. This is a group of narrow lanes and alleys lined with little shops and cafes which was part of the original fishing settlement of Brighthelmstone.

Designed by Magnus Volk the Volks Electric Railway opened in 1883 and is the world's oldest operating electric railway. The western terminal is not far from the pier and the railway runs about one mile eastward to Black Rock near the marina.