Brighton, Bath or ????
 

We are going to the U.S. from Israel for an long trip in the spring. We are doing an overnight stop in London both ways. On the way back (at the beginning of June), we want to spend a couple of days in England. We've been in London twice, most recently this summer so we would like to see another part of England. We would like to go some place by train (no driving at all - only public transportation).
We're considering Brighton I checked the Internet and saw that there's an international music festival in Bath in June which will probably make finding a decent hotel difficult. So we'll probably pass on going there.
What are the attractions in Brighton? Are there other cities - preferably on the coast where it would be fun to spend 2 or 3 days?

What's your idea of fun and what sort of thing would you like to do?

Well, I love Brighton, but my opinion is not necessarily shared on this forum.

What I recommend: the [George IV] Pavilion, the Theatre Royal, the Palace Pier amusement park, complete with antique game and movie machines, Volkes Electric Railway, the Regency and Victorian waterfron, both above and below the street, the Lanes antique district, the Laines hip shopping district, and the North Laines even hipper shopping district, especially for things like vinyl records. Kemp Town is a district with many galleries and restaurants and is a center for Gays. Brighton has a big music scene because it is so easy to get to from London.

You can easily go by train to Chichester in one direction (beautiful cathedral) and Lewes, a charming market town in the other. Buses go everywhere, so it is a great base for touring, and Brighton itself is just a few stops from Gatwick by train.

The atmosphere, especially the street from the station to the seafront, is slightly tatty and rundown, but there is much to do and discover, which is why so many have moved there from London.

We like art, music, walks in nature, food, history, museums. Is Brighton easy to get around (by food/bus)? From what you wrote Ackislander, it seems like a busy place but will it be crowded with tourists at the beginning of July?

I don't really get the appeal of Brighton. Too many self-consciously trendy shops and people. It's a bit too smug for my taste. But on the plus side, it does give you a choice of rail options for escaping elsewhere.

Too many drunken stag and hen do's for my taste ;) I don't mind it, but we went in a sunny day in July on a Saturday and found it overcrowded and tacky. I much prefer places like Rye or York. Salisbury is also really nice and has a great cathedral.

I have been to Brighton and Bath and enjoyed them both (about 5 years ago now).

But we also had a great trip early last month for a weekend in Weymouth. It is a charming coastal town, had been the center for Olympic sailing events last year and is along the UNESCO world heritage site known as the Jurrasic Coast. But it all seemed rather "normal" (in a good way).

We LOVED it. (As did my brother, sister in law and the 2 kids ages 9 and 11).

We took a direct train from London.

We stayed at the Eastney Hotel which is really a small bed and breakfast. Very friendly owners, modest but very comfortable facilities and while it's not right in the center we walked easily in 10 minutes to anything we wanted. (Did take a cab with the luggage to and from the train station but that was easy and about 10 pounds each way only.)

We got everywhere by foot, cabs or bus.

The weather was beautiful and it was lively but not overwhelmingly crowded.

Great seafood dining.

Had a great time.

We have lovely memories of two visits to Bath but were very disappointed in Bath.

I have to agree with Jamikins and Anicecupoftea. I personally can't stand Brighton (apart from one thing - the Pavilion) and it beats me why people flock there, lemming-like in their droves. It's full of pretentious north-London escapees with goatee beards, down-and-outs with scrawny dogs on the end of string leads, and drugged-up clubbers on stag/hen nights. Even the so-called beach is a joke; a filthy gravel strip which acts as a magnet for beer-swilling, tattooed ignoramuses. The local council recently had to remove <b>23 tonnes</b> of rubbish after a single weekend: http://www.theargus.co.uk/news/98843...ubbish/?ref=rl

Keep the suggestions coming! I more than willing to consider options. Are there any places where we can do some nice walks on the beach? I'll look into Weymouth. As I wrote before, there may be an international music festival in Bath which we would enjoy but it probably be hard to find reasonably priced lodging.

I don't know if I'd recommend Brighton for a stay but I think the Royal Pavilion is well worth a stop. Among attractions anywhere it's unique and if it were my trip I'd stop to see it then move on to stay somewhere else in the region.

http://online.wsj.com/article/SB1000...googlenews_wsj

I'll leave it to the more generally knowledgeable to say where that overnight might be as my stops tend to be off the beaten path & personal.

It isn't particularly busy during the week unless there is a festival on. On weekends, what Gordon_R and Jamikins say is tru-ish. But that is sort of the fun of it. It is like New Orleans. It isn't like the rest of one's life. But if you want to look in the shops or explore the quite excellent local museum adjacent to the Pavillion, a weekday is better.

Brighton is quite nice for a day trip (easy train from London) -- the Pavilion/museum/etc. But wouldn't be an overnight stop for me. So it likely isn't what you are looking for.

I'd maybe consider Lymington in Hampshire on the edge of the New Forest. Good base for a day trip to the Isle of Wight, plus all the nearby sites. Beaulieu (nearly a full day's worth by itself), Bucklers Hard, the New Forest which is lovely.

Or - you could stay on the Isle of Wight - lots to see/do.