Brighton, a favourite seaside spot of Londoners for hundreds of years, rightly deserves its modern reputation as a fun, lively and yet cultured city by the sea. The Palace Pier showcases all of this, with Victoriana represented by the helter-skelter sitting cheek by jowl with the 21st-century Pleasure Dome amusements.

Stylish cafés, bars and restaurants all along the seafront are usually bursting at the seams, and the famous 'The Lanes' - bordered by North Street and West Street - contain scores of unusual and interesting shops.

King George IV's splendid Royal Pavilion is a must, but probably only for older children. Younger children will probably prefer the Sea Life Centre.


Departure station: London Bridge
Example journey time: 63 minutes
GroupSave pp when 4 travel together: £5.00
Destination Station: Brighton
Train Operator: First Capital Connect