The Royal Pavilion, Brighton

The Royal Pavilion is perhaps Britain’s most flamboyant architectural daydream. Originally commissioned in the late 18th century by the Prince Regent, later King George IV, the Pavilion transformed Brighton from a modest seaside town into one of the country’s most fashionable destinations. Designed by architect John Nash, its exotic domes, minarets and sweeping curves were inspired by Indian and Chinese design, creating a palace unlike anything else in Britain.

Behind its theatrical exterior lies a story of indulgence, extravagance and royal escape. The Prince Regent used Brighton as a retreat from court life, filling the Pavilion with lavish banquets, music and high society gatherings. Over time, the building became woven into Brighton’s identity, surviving changing royal tastes and even wartime use as a hospital. The Pavilion still stands today as a wonderfully eccentric monument to Regency imagination, equal parts palace and fantasy.