Planning a Trip

Getting There

Fast trains (41 a day) leave from Victoria or London Bridge Station, making the trip in 55 minutes. For rail information, call tel. 0845/748-4950 or visit www.nationalrail.co.uk. Buses from London's Victoria Coach Station take about 2 hours.

If you're driving, the M23 (signposted from central London) leads to the A23, which takes you into Brighton.

Visitor Information

At the Tourist Information Centre, 4-5 Pavilion Buildings (tel. 0906/711-2255 only in the U.K., 50p per min.; www.visitbrighton.com) next to the Royal Pavilion shop, you can make hotel reservations, reserve tickets for National Express coaches, and pick up a list of current events. It's open Monday to Saturday 10am to 5pm; from March to October, there are also Sunday hours from 10am to 4pm.

Getting Around

Brighton & Hove Bus and Coach Company serves both Brighton and Hove with frequent and efficient service. Local fares are only £1.30 to £2.20; and free maps of the company's routes are available at the Tourist Information Centre . You can also call the company directly at tel. 01273/886200, or visit www.buses.co.uk.

Special Events

If you're here in May, the international Brighton Festival (tel. 01273/709709; www.brightonfestival.org), the largest arts festival in England, features drama, literature, visual art, dance, and concerts ranging from classical to rock. A festival program is available annually in February for those who want to plan ahead.