Brighton, UK

Brighton has a very large local resident gay and lesbian population with many gay bars and clubs. Centred in the Kemptown area of the city the 'gay village' of Brighton is well established and integrated into the mainstream life of the city.
As well as nightlife, Brighton has a number of popular tourist attractions such as the Royal Pavilion and Brighton Pier (known as the Palace Pier to many locals, reflecting it's former name).
Brighton has a new, award winning public library (named the Jubilee Library in celebration of the Queen's recent Golden Jubilee), well worth a visit and free for everyone.

Brighton - Top Seven Tips:

1. Book accommodation early as it can be difficult to find, especially in the summer.

2. Brighton Pride is one of the largest in the world. It is free with a parade through the city followed by a very large party in Preston Park. The event is always held on the first Saturday of August.

3. Most residents of Brighton are friendly and will help you if you get lost or want to know what's happening on a particular night.

4. Like any other city, Brighton has social problems associated with urban areas. There are quite a lot of people with drug problems so be aware of your surroundings as you would be in any city. If you encounter problems, the police in Brighton will assist you and the city has a number of dedicated gay and lesbian liaison Police and Community Support Officers. In an emergency phone 999 or 112 (both numbers will connect you to the emergency services including police, ambulance and fire) for non-urgent situations you can call the police in Brighton on 0845 60 70 999.

5. There are hundreds of restaurants in Brighton. Most serve food until around 10.30pm. There are many 24 hour shops in the centre of the city.

6. Brighton currently has liberalised drinking laws. This means that a number of gay bars and clubs are open all night. However, outdoors drinking is only allowed in designated areas, such as terraces outside bars.

7. Brighton has a well developed seafront with a pebble beach. In the summer the beach can get very crowded. For quieter parts of the seafront walk along towards Hove.

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