The Royal Pavilion is a MUST SEE in Brighton. This eccentric and extraordinarily unique former royal residence stands out for its captivating and unexpected architectural style, which blends Victorian grandeur with the exotic influences of Indian and Chinese design...for some odd reason King George IV, Prince of Wales, was fascinating by all things Chinese and Asian cultures...the interior is full of Asian design influences with art, decor, architecture, statues, fabrics, and just about everything. So colorful, so unbelievable, so lavish, and so sad for the average British citizen having to pay for all this outlandish extravagance for the rich and wealthy Royalty...at least us modern folks get to enjoy it at the expense of their suffering for a rather pricy £20 entry fee. read more

This is a historical landmark and "must-see" sight in Brighton for visitors. It was the vision of King George IV (when he was prince-regent) to create a Western interpretation of themes from India and China. Be sure to give yourself 1-2 hours to tour the rooms. I would strongly recommend the audio guide handset (it's worth the extra pound). If you're in Brighton for a conference, they'll give you a 10%-20% discount if you show your lanyard. Otherwise, the adult price of admission gives you free access up to a year (so you can visit a second day if you run out time). Lots of pluses - the opulent decorations are visually stunning and a bit fun and whimsical. The painful relationship between George IV and Caroline was quite sad to read. It was also interesting to learn that Victoria was a niece of George IV and his brother William did not have any legitimate heirs. The audio tour provides a lot of background context - and in my opinion, helps to fill in many details of the Royal Pavilion Tour. The music room is stunning - but also tragic given the arsonist and the damage from a minaret which collapsed and fell through the roof. At the end, there's a gift shop where you can pick up a tea towel and a coffee shop which also has iced tea and gelato. The town of Brighton now operates the Royal Pavilion - so your funds help to support the town. Enjoy! read more

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The Royal Pavilion is a palace like no other! It is opulent, glamorous, and well worth the visit. While I was visiting, there was also an exhibit on a hat maker. I didn't quite understand how the hats tied in with the history of the palace, as they were quite modern and I felt like they seemed out of place among the beautiful historic furnishings. Most people seemed to be using audioguides, but I was told that I would have to use my iPhone to access their online guide. I didn't like the online guide and wish I would have gotten a real audioguide, but the employee at ticketing was adamant that I use my phone. If I were to go back, I would insist on getting a real audioguide. No photos are allowed inside the palace, which is a shame as it is really stunning inside. However, there are some good opportunities for taking pictures in the gardens. Toilets are located on the second floor, about half way through your tour. There is also a tea room on the second floor, although I didn't stop in. You exit through the gift shop, which isn't worth spending more time than a cursory browse. read more

The Royal Pavilion - Museums Near Me - Brighton, BNH

I didn't know how to rate this. Let me tell you why. First of all, the gardens surrounding the buildings are lovely. The rooms in the palace are amazing. Opulent, decadent, filled with Chinese figurines, carvings, wallpaper, etc. It gives you an idea of the lavish lifestyle of the British royalty (in this case King George IV). By the way, at the entrance, where you purchase tickets, they also try to sell you an audio tour. There is no need to purchase it, since you can get a free audio tour on your phone and there are guides along the way you can ask questions of. But, I digress. After about 15 minutes or so into walking through the halls and rooms I began to feel uneasy. The same feeling I had when I toured the Taj Mahal in India, and the palace of the brutal Communist dictator of Romania, Nicolae Ceaușescu. It was a feeling of disgust. All 3 of these amazing buildings were built by narcissistic and often brutal leaders who used slave labour (or essentially slave labour) to build palaces for themselves. They could live like this because of their exploitation and brutalization of the people they ruled. That gave me the feeling of disgust. Finally, my wife and I walked out - not really finishing the tour because of this. The pavilion is quite the sight - not doubt about it. But I couldn't shake the feeling of disgust at the same time. read more

Built as a summer resort house for a king back in the old days. The exterior is quite something looking like it was in another country. Now it's owned by Brighton city and operated as a museum. It's the main thing to do in Brighton. Shows all the original rooms and their purpose, you can listen to an audio guide on your phone. This king was obsessed with Chinese culture. There's a lot of Chinese style ornaments. It's a bit expensive to enter at £16, but you get money's worth by getting insight to how it was at that time. The pavilion is in the city centre, the surrounding gardens can be accessed free of charge. No problem getting tickets at the door on the day. read more

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New photos added 01/08/2007 *********************** It's hard to know what to say about the Royal Pavilion in Brighton. Mere words don't seem adequate to get across just how extraordinary this place is. But here goes Originally a humble farm-house, it was bought and done up as a Palace for the Prince Regent, later George IV. This decadent, spend-thrift, womanising and corpulent Prince made Brighton the fashionable resort of its day, but he was also a cultured lover of the arts, and he wanted somewhere appropriate to entertain his guests that would reflect his tastes and status. So, between 1815 and 1823, John Nash transformed the original building into the fantastical Moghul Palace we see to-day, containing sumptuous room after sumptuous room, decorated in the Oriental style so fashionable in the early 19th century. No expense was spared. The decoration and detail are uncompromising and lavish, and the vivid colour combinations can make modern eyes water. Minimalism, this is not: but it's a veritable feast for the senses. The style of architecture is also reflected in nearby buildings that served the Palace, which are now the musuem and Brighton Dome theatre. Together, they provide a unique architectural ensemble. And yet, somehow, given modern Brighton's gay credentials, this monument to hedonism seems very modern and appropriate indeed. If you are visiting Brighton, a tour is a must. read more

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5* Royal Pavilions Former Queen Victoria palace in Chinese and Indian style Can buy tickets online with concessions for seniors No photos allowed inside Audio guide available The kitchen was quite lovely Check out the royal dinner menu Beautiful handwoven floor carpets George IV was a profligate and the ultimate foodie The property was sold off because it was so gaudy read more

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I have never seen so much opulence housed within a building of such grandeur, the splendour on show here is really to be marvelled at. As a resident of Brighton with a postcode of BN1/2/3, you can get a wonderful 50% discount on your entry fee, but even without the discount I would recommend a visit here. You get a free audio tour with every entry fee, and would strongly advise you to take the tour to hear the rich and intriguing history of this iconic Brighton landmark. Of all the exquisite rooms you'll see on the tour, possibly my favourite is the grand hall. Resplendent with dragons and palm leaf chandelier, they really have to be seen to be believed. The cafe here is a nice treat, with a lovely terrace overlooking the gardens perfect for tea on a sunny afternoon. read more

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The Pavillion is 'the' Brighton landmark. It's form even adorns Brighton and Hove City council's insignia, it dominates the area around the Old Steine with its domes and towers. Yes, it's ridiculous in many ways, a structure built more for vanity than anything, but it has become part of the fabric of our city. Inside, there are colourful bedrooms, a banqueting hall, huge kitchen - all the things you'd need if you were the Prince Regent. Most impressive though, is the music room, with its domed ceiling, silk dragons and multiple chandeliers. If you can't afford to pay, Brighton residents can come here on the annual 'free day' - definitely worth doing if you haven't yet explored the place. read more

The Royal Pavilion - Museums Near Me - Brighton, BNH

This was my landmark to note during my travels around Brighton. It was the meeting spot for my group of friends because our bus picks us up here and it is close to all the tourist activities around Brighton. The Royal Pavilion is really pretty and the architecture is very unique to its surroundings. I do find the location of the Royal Pavilion a bit odd, but that's what makes it stand out! I did not get a chance to go outside but they do have a small adorable garden around it so you can definitely just take a stroll and get a glimpse of the decors around the area. You definitely cannot miss this landmark when you are in Brighton! read more

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This magnificent structure, built as a seaside retreat by King George IV in the early 19th Century, definitely is unlike any beach bungalow you've ever seen. The exterior architecture is reminiscent of the Taj Mahal, and the opulent interiors, which were seen in the Barbra Streisand film "On a Clear Day You Can See Forever," were influenced by both Chinese and Indian designs. All the rooms have been restored to resemble as closely as possible their original decor. A gift shop sells a wide variety of merchandise, from post cards and prints to fine china to jewelry to books about British history, architecture, and design. Every visitor to Brighton should plan to spend a few hours wandering through this historical compound. read more

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Great place to visit. Worth taking your time as you go round. The Red Room is great for weddings but you will need to pay particular attention to shutter speeds due to the poor lightingflash is not always the answer. The Music Room makes wonderful space for group photos but, again the lighting is not very good read more

Only stopped by to walk through that gardens, and didn't go into the actual Royal Pavilion because they close relatively early. But the park was nice. There was a lot of grass to sit on, there was a children's music show going on, and the flowers were pretty. read more

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I can't believe I originally thought the building housed a conference centre of some sort. Despite the fairly steep entrance price (around 12 quid), the Royal Pavilion is absolutely worth seeing. You do get an extremely well-done audio-guide which I encourage you to pick-up. My only complaint would be that the guide doesn't include earphones, you simply press it to your ear. Unfortunately, this means that less mindful visitors will blast theirs at maximum volume. Add to that the multitude of languages the guide comes in, and you'll get the most infuriating background noise to your visit. If you have time,listen to audio "supplements" about specific objects in view, they are always interesting. The Pavilion is unexpectedly sumptuous, and decorated in completely over-the-top "Chinoiseries" for the most part, although you get to see the much more austere living quarters of Queen Victoria, and rooms dedicated to Indian troops fighting in the British Army since the Pavilion served as a hospital during the war. Nothing really prepares you for how colourful and detailed the interior is: look at all that wrought-iron bamboo!! My favourite rooms were inevitably the kitchen (read all that menu), and the servants' alleyways and nooks, as well as the impressive reception room at the back. Sadly pictures are not allowed. It's a solid 2 hours well-spent. The guide indicates that you can ask members of staff for information at any time, I was too shy to do so, although the staff was always charming. read more

The Royal Pavilion is one of Brighton's most famous landmarks, and for good reason: it is a beautiful, and is at the helm of one of Brighton's most beautiful parks. Inspired by some king's love of India (or something like that), the site itself is worth so much more than the much-spouted history: beautiful when the sunlight glints off one of the many domes, especially if you're lying in the grass. The gardens are particularly beautiful: plenty of different types of trees and flowers, and a huge crowd of foreign language students on their lunch break: not so good, and the park is worth avoiding when these mad groups descend on Brighton every summer. Apart from the outdoor set-up, the Pavilion is gorgeous inside: a result of an interest in Chinese and Indian culture at the time, it is full of beautiful, colorful design pieces: well worth a look, although the price is a bit prohibitive: go on the free day, it happens once a year. In general, the gardens are one of the nicest areas in town to hang out, and the cafe there is great too: if you like sitting outdoors, this is the best place in Brighton to chill out with a coffee. read more

Of course, one cannot go to Brighton without seeing the Royal Pavilion. It is a wonderful work of architecture that is nothing short of breathtaking. I feel that all of the good things that can be written about the Royal Pavilion have already been written, so I am going to list the few reasons why the experience fell short of my 5-Star mark. 1.) You have to pay. Granted, I am a student, so admission was only £7.80, but I am so used to being in London where everything is free, so I was simply taken aback by having to pay. However, the RP was worth every bit that I paid. 2.) The audio guide is included in the admission price. TAKE IT. My friend and I decided to forego getting the audio guide because we just plain don't like them. Yet, walking through, everything is numbered with its audio guide reference number, and there are very few plaques, signs, postings, etc. to describe the exhibits to those who do not want to have an audio guide in their ear the entire time. read more

This was my 2nd visit to the Royal Pavilion. I enjoyed this visit more, as the current display features about ongoing renovations were more interesting than 3 years ago. As well the current feature throughout was about Regency era fashions and I really loved the garments on display. We travelled to Brighton by train and took advantage of the 2 for 1 entry offer from the deals booklet available with your train tickets. This made it an excellent value. Really interesting formal royal home. Different from any other castle, to be sure. read more

The Royal Pavilion is the Taj Mahal of Brighton! You can not come to Brighton with out seeing this absolutely magnificent building, The building is glorious!! The architecture is awesome! Their are good photo opportunities to take good pictures, I was too busy being Brigerian Next Top Model! Their are lovely gardens surrounding the building. Also its a nice place have picnics or just to chilax on the grass. It also used for wedding, we just happen to see a couple come out, while their guest were throwing confetti and taking pictures. Even if you don't go to the Pavilion, you some how pass it, or see it because it such a prominent building especially if your around the touristy area. Its nice to know we have a bit of India in England. read more

Perhaps the most unique structure I encountered in my 18 months living in the UK. It's a palace that looks as though it belongs in India, yet it resides within a mile of the English Channel. Some might consider it gaudy, but that's only because it stands in such stark contrast to every other building around it. There are beautiful gardens all around it that are perfect to sit, relax and catch some sun. You'll find very interesting buskers as well. I've been to the site many times but never gone in and taken the tour. It never seemed worth it to me to pay 12 quid or more just to enter. If you're tight on cash then save your money and just walk around the gardens, you will still enjoy it immensely. read more

It's a beautiful place. I especially loved the dining room and kitchen. Following the history of it is great, from its days as a naughty getaway for the porcine George IV, to its stint as a war-time hospital for Indian soldiers. And the little part about exotic animals in historic England was fun. Still, it has some real issues as a museum. Taste is a pretty huge one. There are unsightly stands in most of the rooms with pictures of what look like Blackberries on them--they refer to the audio guides. There are these audio guides (that don't seem to come with headphones), but very few placards. Add placards, design an app, and get rid of the stands. The carpet is ugly and shabby in a few non-historic rooms. Space heaters in the middle of exhibits. Frequent donation jars asking for even more money than the 11 pound entry fee. A sad-ish movie room, with a few rows of chairs and a flat screen tv. It just looks like a place run by (no doubt well-meaning) folks who are a little out of touch. And on that point, allow photos! There is no Mona Lisa here, and even if there was--you can take pics of her! In this age, a museum like this that needs funding should have an instagram account, monitor its hashtags, and encourage patrons to take photos and share them on socials. This free publicity would bring many more folks through the doors, which would in turn mean many more entrance fees paid and gift-shop tchotchkes sold. Speaking of that gift shop--it's a depressingly random and disorganized assortment of mall trinkets. Who goes to museums hoping to score strawberry jam and bright orange combo coffee cup / pencil holders? Stop ordering all of this, sell it off, and start again, with focus and discretion. The are some great art schools here--maybe reach out to the faculty and students about turning this great piece of English history into a real world-class destination? Make it an ongoing project of the college of the arts or something, and work with some young folks to do a design overhaul and get this museum up to speed. Just an idea. And get a projector. read more

I'm usually quite reticent about spending almost 10 quid to visit a palace, but this time after reading about the extravagant and quirky decoration of the Royal Pavilion, I was very curious and decided to come here in my day trip to Brighton. I didn't regret it at all. Inside is even more impressive than outside, and some of the rooms (specially the banqueting room, with the amazing chandelier) really make you to hold your breath. The audio guide that comes with the ticket is very informative too, and absolutely recommended to explore the rooms. Definitely a must for any Brighton visitor. read more

I've always admired the architecture of the Taj Mahal inspired Royal Pavilion and was ridiculously excited about getting the chance to go inside when I visited with some colleagues last summer. Regrettably, I left feeling rather disappointed. Previous reviewers have mentioned informative guided tours, but we were just handed a bizarre walkie-talkie guide upon entrance and told to press the corresponding button for each room. While the most boring voice I've ever heard droned on in my right ear, I wandered through the extravagant gaudiness of the Orient-inspired hallway, below the insanely huge dining room chandelier covered in golden dragons (which apparently used to frighten the Prince Regent's guests) and into the kitchen full of taxidermied rats and pigeons. I'm not saying the place wasn't impressive, it was. Every room has a wow factor particularly the Music Room which is covered in tens of thousands of hand-crafted cockleshells. I just would have enjoyed it even more if we'd had an enthusiastic (perhaps even costumed?) tour guide of whom we could have asked questions. As a bit of a closet history geek, I adore historical buildings and interesting facts (providing they're conveyed with the appropriate level of enthusiasm). The Pavilion, sadly, left me feeling more isolated from history than excited about it. I don't think I'll be going again. read more

Yes, the Royal Pavilion is a must see in Brighton. There are two ways to look at it: As a history lesson, when you take into account the time it was built and the people who wandered about, it is a marvelous. For my personal taste however, it is just too much of everything. read more

This palace is absolutely gorgeous! Large lawn in front of it, and the building looks light, large and powerful. Going inside was a bit expensive (15 pounds or so) so I didn't go last weekend, but I think I'll definitely have to come back to go inside! :) read more

I love Brighton Pavilion. Nothing conjurers up Brighton's diverse Heritage like an Indian mausoleum decorated with mainly Chinese furnishings and lived in by the somewhat hedonistic King George IV who held great banquets there. While to some it may seem a little over the top, to other's it is the focal point of Brighton - the must see sight for all our EFL students every summer. My particular favourite is the bobbing Mandarin dolls in one of the corridor - a game apparently played by the kings guests where the aim is to get all the dolls heads bobbing up and down at the same time. It may not be as exciting a game as we have now but it's a nice image to have as you walk around this striking home. If you have kids try to get them to count all the dragons they can find - there are quite a few! read more

I visited the Royal Pavilion when I was in Brighton a few years ago and I still have very fond memories of it. It's an absolute gem of a place - stunning and imposing yet completely mad. It was built for George IV, who was a terrible old hedonist and undoubtedly a lousy king. when it came to running the country. Happily for future generations though, his lavish demands and quirky sense of humour when it came to achitecture have certainly left us a little gem - and since it's no longer officially a Royal building, you can have a proper look around. It's really interesting to see not only the formal dining room but to walk on to the kitchen which is amazing - technologically massively advanced for its time and decorated in the usual quirky style the Pavilion is famous for - it must have been a real pleasure to cook there. I recommend the guided tour, as the guides are genuinely enthusiastic and knowledgable and will help you understand the context of what you're seeing a lot better. read more

the queen statue was so fucking sexy and hot it made me so horny i was as hard as a rock i stuck my nob in it and i started to bleed

A beautiful place with alot of very interesting history. Joh Nash transformed this palace into the spectacular place it is today in the early eighteen hundreds. It is richly decorated and many feel over the top! I find it breath taking however, and an absolute must see in Brighton. Words can not tell one how it is inside you must discover for yourself! read more

The Royal Pavilion - Beauty... - Museums Near Me - Brighton, BNH

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The Pavilion is a must for anybody visiting Brighton. It is a great display of lavish playboy living and a lovely house you could happily live in. The music room is out of this world, well designed as music was a great passion of George IV. The royal bedrooms are good as well as this is where Queen Victoria stayed when she was younger. The kitchen is laid out as it would have been in an earlier age to entertain all the guests that came here. The gilding, paintings, ornaments and silver are special and I wish I could just have one of these. read more

It is a great place to visit in Brighton if you love to see rugby boys running around in dresses doing homosexual acts to one another in the pavilion gardens. If you go on a weekday you could see one if the famous smack-head brawls, just throw a chicken leg in there and see what happens :) read more

The Royal Pavilion is possibly one of the most ridiculous historical landmarks in Britain. It is a reminder of the height of decadence and self indulgence of the British aristocracy. The Prince Regent (who by the way I'm told ate himself to death) nearly bankrupted the country building this THING that was supposed to be a monument to his greatness. The outside is supposedly built in the image of the Taj Mahal, which is ludicrous to anyone who has even seen a picture of the Taj. After having lived in Brighton for six years I was finally forced by my mother, who was visiting and wanted to act tourist, to go inside this monstrosity. We paid £8 per person and was given these horrid walkie talkies through which we were to get our automated guided tour. Let me tell you that I was even less impressed with the inside than I am with the outside. Most of the time I was in there, I felt like I was tripping on acid in the land of bad taste. Everything looks extremely expensive yet hideous and repulsive. There is no sense of history or culture in there, only extravagance and a stupid man's desire to impress his cronies. Needless to say I dearly wished for a refund. The gardens are lovely but that's about it. read more

I'm kind of surprised that this only gets 4 out of 5 stars on yelp. Lonely Planet now picks "top sites" for towns in their newer guides (last couple years) and it had no "top sites" for Brighton, but I think this definitly should be. I went with two others, and they agreed, this place is really interesting. It may not have the most interesting history, but the dinning room and music rooms are both amazingly beautiful and unique, I have never seen anything like them. read more

When George, Prince of Wales, began visiting Brighton in 1783, the Royal Pavilion was just a simple farmhouse. He liked Brighton so much that he asked Henry Holland to create a neo-classical villa on the site. In 1802 the interiors were decorated in the Chinese style and when George became Prince Regent he emplyed John Nash to enlarge the building further. From 1815-1822, the building was transformed into the current Pavillion which must be seen to be appreciated. The banquet room and the kitchen are the most impressive rooms. Sixty dishes or more would be presented for feasting. No wonder the King became so large that he created a tunnel so that his subjects could not make fun of his size! Priceless chandeliers, silver, gold, dragons, palms, clocks, tapestries all in Chinese motif decorate this museum. The exterior looks like a palace out of Arabian Nights. Walk to Brighton Pier afterwards for an ice cream or grab a bite to eat at one of the restaurants flanking the museum. read more

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The Royal Pavillion is one of Brighton's "must see" attractions. In layman's terms - it's a big old palace commissioned by some old Prince who really liked Brighton and it's kinda styled like the taj mahal. The roof is really fragile, I know this purely from the excessive signage about "minding the roof." The roof which is about 80 feet above the top of my head. No worries, palace, I'll keep my hands off. Wikipedia is your friend for more appropriate and accurate historical information. Anyhow, it's a pretty building and there is an ice rink there over the festive months. Lovely gardens at the back, so it's worth a little meander. I didn't go inside but I believe you can do. read more

A curious piece of English history - and a story about how (the British) royal family acted then and now. There are a lot of interesting history from the period, put into a context it is possible to to relate to today, especially with the hedonistic approach to life is seen around the world. read more

This building stands out in Brighton like a white crayon in a box full of black crayons. Indian on the outside, Chinese on the inside. Although the designers at that time never actually visited China before I do give them props to the dragons and the statues. I kind of felt like I stepped into my relative's house in China for a moment. With each room came an amazing surprise from the kitchen to the hallway to the dining room and music room. I was kind of disappointed that photography was not allowed at all but it's understandable. I wish that there was a pathway to one of the doors servants went through just to experience/see what they walked through. There were just so many doors that I wanted to explore the whole place. read more

Stunning architecture and a great free museum of brighton too. If you have the time, it's worth paying to go on the tour of the pavilion itself. read more

The Royal Pavilion is a strange but beautiful building with a garden area to sit out when it sunny. The inside building is worth seeing if you're into strange architecture. One of the sights in Brighton. read more

When my daughter was very small I used to tell her it was Aladdins palace. Due to living here we get reduced entry rates andwhen I used to take her in the staff on the door used to laugh when she asked if Aladin was at home but they often joined in and said he'd just finished his breakfast and was upstairs. I've never found another place that sums up Brighton so well. Its eccentric and quirky and weird and wonderful and ultimately stunningly beautiful. My favourite part is the green music room downstairs. Quite plain really not over the top like other parts but I always imagine what it was like when just built and how they could open the doors and have a stunning view of the sea. Beautiful, a one off an homage to one mans madness and eccentricity. A beauty not to be missed. Visit Brighton and put it top of your list for must do's. read more

Great place to visit and easy to get around even if disabled. The architecture is very grand and imposing though I have to say it looks a little out of place in Brighton. I'm sure it was once a hub of cultural excellence and would've attracted the finest people of it's day, now it has to put up with tours of people milling around. The interior decor is opulent and amazing. You're not allowed to take photos. Worth a day out. read more