Grand Brighton Hotel, Brighton

The Grand Brighton Hotel is a Victorian hotel built in 1864 and designed by architect John Whichcord, Jr. It was built on land that previously held a coastal fort: West Battery at Artillery Place. The building is a local icon and one of the most recognizable landmarks in Brighton.

The hotel featured the first elevator installed in a building in the United Kingdom outside of London. It has hosted many visiting dignitaries and celebrities over the year.

The hotel is infamously remembered for a bombing that took place in 1984. The Provisional Irish Republican Army attempted to assassinate Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher by bombing the hotel during a conference she was attending. Five people were killed in the bombing and many others were injured.

The 201-room hotel was inducted into the Brighton Walk of Fame in 2011. Along with its sleeping rooms and conference rooms, the Grand Brighton Hotel boasts the Cyan Restaurant and Bar, which retains the 155-year-old marble pillars that were installed shortly after the hotel was built. Guests are also welcome at the Victorian restaurant or they can pick up a picnic or tea service to enjoy on the beach.