The
Royal Pavilion - One Of The Most Majestic Brighton Attractions & A Must-See
Landmark Of Southern England...
The £7.70 entry fee to the Royal
Pavilion is well worth it – not least because it’s described as one of
the must-see attractions within the whole of the United Kingdom. The Pavilion is
open between all year round and when you approach the grand, you begin to wonder
if you’re still in England.
The exterior of the palace is about as
“non-English” as you could possibly get. The external architecture would
suggest that you were somewhere in India, and once you step inside things take
on a distinct and dramatic oriental theme.
The Royal Pavilion was built on the
command of the Prince Regent initially in 1787 (the architect was the
famous Henry Holland) – the original result was known as “The Marine
Pavilion” but it was dramatically redesigned by John Nash between 1815 and
1823 when the East became in vogue with royalty. Ultimately, the Royal Pavilion
was sold by the Queen in 1850.
Inside, the pavilion has a very
Oriental theme – with everything from the furniture to the fixtures and
artwork taking on a very Chinese theme. It’s safe to say that every item is
exquisite and was designed and built with no expense spared. Some of the
chandeliers are almost beyond belief – crystals in the shape of lotuses held
by a giant dragon.
Before walking into the Pavilion, you
can enjoy a stroll around the impressive surrounding grounds. Once inside, your
ticket price includes an audio tour which explains the history and
heritage of the Pavilion throughout history. It’s well worth it.
Just some of the rooms you should view
once inside are:
The Music Room – The reason
this room was built was King George IV’s love for music. Here, the King would
entertain guests with recitals, often from Italian opera performed by his own
musicians. One of the highlights of this room are the nine splendid lotus shaped
chandeliers.
Banqueting Room – Is this the
grandest room of the Pavilion? Many visitors seem to think so and it’s hard to
argue when you consider the elegant artwork depicting various scenes from China,
a huge banquet table and a wonderfully huge dragon chandelier which hangs
menacingly above the diners heads.
The Royal Bedrooms – Among
the famous rooms include the Yellow Bow Rooms and Queen Victoria's Apartments.
The Great Kitchen – King
George IV was highly proud of the steam-powered kitchen that was built in the
kitchen – a state of the art system in its time. The equipment was required to
hold the lavish feats and banquets that were given regularly.
Interestingly, the Royal Pavilion has
also been the location for various films and documentaries – including “The
End Of The Affair” and “Richard III”.
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