Brighton is a town on the south coast of Britain about 50 minutes from London by train.

Brighton has a stony beach, and polluted sea, which only the most intrepid will dare to swim in. The seafront is littered with trendy bars and clubs as well as those of the more cheesy variety. During the summer, the beach is covered with people sitting around drinking, and partaking in various other activities; it is heaving. There are two piers. The Palace Pier contains a multitude of arcades and fairground rides and is in very poor taste. The West Pier is currently being restored to its former greatness (a very lengthy process) and will house more upmarket establishments, such as Restaurants and Casinos.

The area known as the Laines is the trendiest part of Brighton. The south laines are right by the seafront and comprise a network of tiny interconnected pedestrian streets. The south laines have many expensive and exclusive shops and restaurants.

Next, you have the north lane, this where you are likely to find the more colourful characters in Brighton. The north lane is lively and is home to lots of cool shops, cafes and bars. Unfortunately, those who want to make it as smart and exclusive as the south laines are ruining this area of Brighton.

Of course, Brighton has its fair share of anonymous shopping centres and run down areas like any other town or city. The vast mix of people (including a large student population) makes Brighton one of the friendliest and most open places in the country. If you visit in the summer be prepared for the tourists, and in the winter, for the biting winds coming off the sea.