Royal Pavilion

My dear, one simply must experience the Royal Pavilion. It is, to put it mildly, a magnificent and rather scandalous confection of a building, a triumph of architectural audacity over good sense. One feels that King George IV, in a fit of sublime madness, decided to erect a palace that was less a home and more a spectacular, and slightly over-decorated, opium dream. To call it 'Indian' in style is to show a charming ignorance of geography. It is, rather, a whimsical and theatrical interpretation of the Orient, as imagined by a man with too much money and an insatiable desire for novelty. The onion domes and minarets are quite a spectacle, and one is inclined to applaud the sheer chutzpah of it all. Inside, the effect is even more pronounced. The Banqueting Room is a riot of dragons, lotuses, and gilded bamboo, a testament to the belief that more is always, in fact, more. One can almost see the Prince Regent, draped in silks, holding court amongst such exquisite vulgarity. It is a place of delightful excess, a monument to a time when taste was a matter of flamboyant display rather than dreary restraint. To visit is to be reminded that the truly interesting life is one lived in glorious and unashamed extravagance.

Please don’t miss this jewel in Brighton!!! Only palace in UK NOT PART OF THE crown! Worth every pence!!! Ornate Maximus! Indian style architecture with oriental decor inside… very varied history… friendly staff … The gem of Brighton!! Full of surprises! Main floor toilet could have been cleaner!

Quite the amazing experience and not what I expected. We are not royal followers but loved this place. Indian style architecture on the exterior with much more east asian influenced art on the interior. Gorgeous interiors with so much detail, the opulence of it all astounded us and made us sad at the same time. Amazingly well restored to its original state. Even the behind the scenes like the kitchen were impressive. Spent about 45 minutes. National Art Pass had free admission included.

The beautiful Royal Pavillion is well worth a visit. Luxury luxury luxury. King George certainly liked the spectacular. It is all very well presented and is stunning I particularly liked the kitchen - have a good look round to spot interesting fun items. It takes 2-3 hours but, unlike many stately homes/palaces, there are a few places where you can sit a while to take in the stunning architecture and decor. Great value for money. Thank you to everyone responsible for maintaining this magnificent piece of history in sunny Brighton.

I didn't go inside the Royal Palace. This royal building is completely different from the general Victorian era and is quite historically valuable. If you like the style of Chinese and Indian elements, you should buy a ticket to visit. I believe it will be a good trip.

First visit in many years and it all seemed 'new'. A museum guide gave an excellent commentary as we entered and later in the dining room. It's a grossly overdone interior and fascinating to learn about. Brilliant gift shop too.

So wonderfully over the top, I particularly enjoyed the Colour exhibition which offered a fascinating insight into the use and development of colour. Not my first visit, but there's always something new to see. Highly recommended. The gift shop is a mine of must have books and decorative items. I love the plate I bought.

The rooms were lovely. Your tickets gives you unlimited visits for a year, which is nice. However, from the outside it looks bigger than it actually is and I was able to go through it very quickly.