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Royal Pavilion

Travel Information and nearby accommodation

The Royal Pavilion was the creation of George, Prince of Wales, later to become the Prince Regent. 'Prinny', as he was known, was a larger than life character, given to excesses of drinking, eating, and general carrying-on. One of his excesses was the Royal Pavilion at Brighton.

The Prince purchased a farmhouse near the sea at Brighton, and commissioned architect Henry Holland to create a neo-classical residence. Holland's house was known as the Marine Pavilion.

In 1815 the Prince Regent hired John Nash to expand the Marine Pavillion and create an Indian pleasure palace, with Eastern domes, turrets, and minartets. This Nash did, over a period of 8 years. Rather than tear the Marine Pavillion down and start again, Nash built a cast-iron framework over and around Holland's house, and built his grand new design onto the frame.

Unsupported legend tells that there was also a hidden underground passage connecting the Royal Pavillion to the nearby house of Mrs Fizherbert, whom Prinny had secretly married.

As grand as Nash's finished building looked from the outside, the quality of construction was very poor. The roof leaked, and the drains didn't work properly.

But, oh, my, it was grand! The word 'opulent' was made for the Royal Pavillion. The interiors were a feast for the senses, with lavish rooms decorated in lush Chinese style. Gilded decor featured Oriental symbolism, palm trees, and even a mock bamboo staircase. The interiors are set off with many items of furniture on loan from Her Majesty the Queen.

Among the major rooms on view is the Music Room, lit by nine large chandeliers shaped like lotus flowers. The walls are decorated with canvases by Frederick Crace, one of Prinny's favourite artists.

Perhaps the most luxurious chamber is the Banqueting Room, with extraordinary painted decoration by artist Robert Jones. The walls are covered with painted scenes from Chinese domestic life.

There are several royal bedrooms on display, including Queen Victoria's Apartments, used by the queen between 1837 and 1845. The Yellow Bow Rooms are bedchambers used by the Prince Regent's brothers, the Dukes of York and Clarence. The King's Apartments are ground floor chambers decorated in a more subdued fashion than the rest of the Pavillion. This suite of rooms was placed on the ground floor for the comfort of the Prince Regent, who had become extremely stout and suffered from gout.

Other rooms on display incluude the Long Gallery, which provided an informal area for recreation, playing cards, and music. And finally, there is the Great Kitchen, a massive chamber supported on four cast iron columns.

The Royal Pavillion was set in landscape gardens design by John Nash to complement the house. Recent garden restoration has seen the replanting of species known to have been used in Nash's original gardens.

Ongoing restoration work has returned much of the interior to the decorative schemes that were used when the Prince Regent was in residence.
Brighton, East Sussex, England, BN1 1EE

About Royal Pavilion
Attraction Type: Historic Property
Location: town centre, 15 min walk from station
Website: Royal Pavilion
Email: visitor.services@brighton-hove.gov.uk
Phone: 01273 290 900
Fax: 01273 292 871
Location map
OS TQ312041

Nearest attractions Nearest Towns and Villages Nearest accommodation Nearest Tourist Information Centre

OS map Related Information

Nearest Attractions Brighton Fishing Museum - 0.2 miles (Museum) The Regency Town House - 0.9 miles (Museum) Seaford Museum of Local History - 1.4 miles (Museum) Preston Manor - 1.5 miles (Historic House) Stanmer Rural Museum - 4.2 miles (Museum) Saddlescombe Farm - 5.2 miles (Countryside) Marlipins Museum - 6 miles (Museum) Monk's House - 6.8 miles (Historic Property)

Nearest Towns and Villages Brighton - 1.5 miles away Hove - 2.1 miles away Poynings - 5.8 miles away Clayton - 6.2 miles away Ditchling - 7 miles away Lewes - 7.3 miles away Coombes - 7.9 miles away Upper Beeding - 8.2 miles away

Nearest Accommodation to Royal Pavilion

Nearest Self Catering Cottages

Kilcolgan Bungalow 1 - 3.9 miles from Royal Pavilion Rottingdean, East Sussex Sleeps: 6 Stay from: £600

Kilcolgan Bungalow 2 - 3.9 miles from Royal Pavilion Rottingdean, East Sussex Sleeps: 6 Stay from: £600

Blossoms Cottage - 8.3 miles from Royal Pavilion Albourne, West Sussex Sleeps: 4 Stay from: £290

More Self Catering near Royal Pavilion

Nearest Hotels

Royal Albion Hotel - 0.2 miles from Royal Pavilion Brighton, East Sussex Stay from: £35.00

Hotel du Vin and Bistro Brighton - 0.2 miles from Royal Pavilion Brighton, East Sussex Stay from: £110.00

Royal York Hotel and Apartments - 0.2 miles from Royal Pavilion Brighton, East Sussex Stay from: £75.00

More Hotels near Royal Pavilion

Nearest Bed and Breakfasts

Leona House - 0.2 miles from Royal Pavilion Brighton, East Sussex From: £50.00

Hotel Nineteen - 0.2 miles from Royal Pavilion Brighton, East Sussex From: £100.00

Guest and the City - 0.2 miles from Royal Pavilion Brighton, East Sussex From: £140.00

More bed and breakfasts near Royal Pavilion

Brighton
Tourist Information Centre
Royal Pavilion Shops
Pavilion Buildings
Brighton
East Sussex
England
BN1 1EE
Tel: 0906 711 2255
Email: brighton-tourism@brighton-hove.gov.uk
Web: http://www.visitbrighton.com/
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