The Royal Pavilion has a colorful history stretching back 200 years. Built as the seaside pleasure palace for King George IV, it has also served as a civic building, First World War hospital, and has become an icon of Brighton.

In the mid-1780s George, Prince of Wales, rented a small lodging house overlooking a fashionable promenade in Brighton. Brighton was developing from a decayed fishing town to an established seaside retreat for the rich and famous, being close to London, and after George was sworn in as Prince Regent in 1811 he commissioned John Nash to begin the transformation from modest villa into the magnificent palace that we see today.

Walk through the lavish state rooms on the ground floor including the banqueting room, the music room, the magnificent recently restored saloon, and the great kitchen. Explore further rooms upstairs, including Queen Victoria's bedroom. Learn about the use of the building as a military hospital for Indian soldiers during the first world war.