Brighton Beach, Brighton (must see)

Brighton Beach is different. It is a shingle beach. It has no sand. Not a grain. What it does have is pebbles, stones and some rocks. There is lots of wave energy. It is tamed here and there by strategically placed groynes, breakwaters, reaching into the surf. The water here is shallow and clear.

The beach shoreline within the city limits is eight miles long. A little more than five miles is shingle; pebbles, pebbles, everywhere. Brick chalets are available to rent on the Brighton shore. On the east side of the Palace Pier an area of sand is bared at low tide.

In that portion of the beach by Madeira Drive, east of the city center, there are courts for volley ball, ultimate frisbee and other beach games.

The City Council owns all the beaches. The sections of beach are divided by the breakwaters. Each section has a name: Boundary, Norfolk, Bedford, Metropole, Grand, Centre, King's, Old Ship, Volk's, Albion, Palace Pier, Aquarium, Athina, Paston, Banjo, Duke's, Cliff, Crescent, and Black Rock. Alert, Cliff Beach is nudist.

The eastern area of the Brighton seafront is developed and has one of Europe's biggest marinas. all along the front one can find restaurants, sports venues, amusement arcades, nightclubs and yes, bars. "By the sea, by the sea, oh how happy we'll be..."