//
Photo: Briantist at en.wikipedia, CC BY 2.5 via Wikimedia Commons
The oldest surviving electric railway in the world, opening in 1883. The stations are all accessible by wheelchair. Wheelchairs must be folded to fit on the trains. Runs a 12-min trip from the to
Volk's Electric Railway (VER) is a narrow gauge heritage railway that runs along a length of the seafront of the English seaside resort of Brighton. It was built by Magnus Volk, the first section being completed in August 1883, and is the oldest operational electric railway in the world, though it was not the first electric railway to be built. It was preceded by electrification of Miller's line in 1875, Werner von Siemens' 1879 demonstration line in Berlin and by the Gross-Lichterfelde Tramway of 1881, although none of these remain in operation.
© OpenStreetMap contributors
In the summer, the pebble beach is covered in tourists and Brightonians. Poi twirlers strike a beautiful image against the sunsets, and flaming lanterns are launched into the air on summer evenings. To the east of Brighton there is a designated nudist beach. The pebble beach gives way to a flat sandy seabed just below mid tide line so time your swimming to the low tide and avoid the painful feet. Just beyond the Marina is an area for surfers. Fishermen cast their rods from the Marina or by the giant doughnut. For £16, you can fly the short zipline over the beach (2017). There is also the wreck of West Pier which was derelict for some time before burning down. The whole area is great for taking photographs.
Palace Pier
Massively tacky and sickly sweet it may be, no visit to Brighton is complete without a walk along its 525-metre-long pier. Admire the views — both out to sea and back to the waterfront — have a whirl on the rides, or take on the nostalgic arcade attractions. There are plenty of food stands serving typical seaside treats, plus a sit-down restaurant, a cocktail bar, and a pizzeria. In the summer, there's a large screen showing live sports and films. Winter visitors may see a famous murmuration of starlings: mesmerising clouds of birds flying together before roosting under the pier for the night.
Art gallery. The gallery often has exhibitions of students work as well as a wealth of international artists.
An interesting architectural attraction, transformed between 1815 and 1823 by the architect John Nash, at the direction of the then Prince Regent (later King George IV), into a sumptuous pleasure palace by the sea. The exterior has an Indian theme, whilst the interior was decorated with Chinese decor. Guided tours available and well worthwhile. Accessibility: two floors; only the ground floor is wheelchair accessible. Accessible toilets.
An interesting museum and history, culture and art to do with Brighton and beyond. An excellent permanent collection and brilliant exhibitions from international artists. All areas of the Museum are accessible for wheelchair users.
A modern redevelopment towards the south of Brighton's North Laine which includes the magnificent Jubilee Library, upmarket restaurants, and café culture.