Think of Brighton and most people picture striped deckchairs, that famous pebbled beach, and the sea stretching out beyond the pier. But there’s another sight that instantly signals you’ve arrived in the city: the unmistakable silhouette of the Royal Pavilion.
Just a 10-minute walk from Brighton railway station, this extraordinary palace is one of the city’s most visited landmarks. Whether you’re planning a coastal staycation, visiting from overseas or you’ve lived here for years, the Royal Pavilion is always worth a visit.
What is the Royal Pavilion?
The Royal Pavilion, sometimes called the Brighton Pavilion, is a former royal palace with a story as striking as its architecture. Now a Grade I listed building, it was first built in 1787 as a seaside retreat for King George IV. Over the centuries, it has seen many changes, from royal residence to civic building and even a hospital for wounded soldiers during the First World War.
The building’s design blends Regency elegance with dramatic influences from India and China, giving it a look that feels completely unique in Britain. Today, the Royal Pavilion stands as one of Brighton’s most iconic sights and a fascinating window into royal life by the sea.
Who designed Brighton Pavilion?
If you’ve ever wondered who designed Brighton Pavilion, the answer involves more than one architect. The building evolved over time, with two names playing particularly important roles.
In 1787, the Prince of Wales commissioned architect Henry Holland to transform a modest lodging house into a seaside villa. Later, in 1815, architect John Nash took over the project. Nash was responsible for turning the Royal Pavilion into the fantastical palace visitors recognise today, complete with domes, minarets and richly detailed interiors.
Who built Brighton Pavilion?
So, who built Brighton Pavilion as we know it now? While Henry Holland laid the foundations, it was John Nash’s vision and extensive rebuilding work in the early 19th century that defined the Pavilion’s final form. His designs reshaped both the exterior and the interior, creating a palace unlike anything else in the UK.
Brighton Pavilion history
Understanding Brighton Pavilion history helps explain why the building feels so bold and theatrical. The Royal Pavilion has one of the most distinctive backstories of any historic building in Britain. Its origins date back to the late 18th century, when Brighton was gaining popularity as a fashionable seaside destination. Sea bathing was promoted for its health benefits, and the town began to attract aristocratic visitors looking for leisure as well as fresh air.
In 1783, the Prince of Wales, later King George IV, first visited Brighton and quickly became fond of the place. Three years later, in 1787, he commissioned architect Henry Holland to remodel a modest seaside lodging into a private retreat known as the Marine Pavilion. This early version was a refined neoclassical villa, far removed from the palace seen today, but it laid the foundations for everything that followed.
Read more: How to do Brighton in the non-traditional way
As the Prince’s wealth and status grew, so did his ambitions for the Pavilion. The surrounding land was gradually acquired, allowing the complex to expand. The turning point in Brighton Pavilion history came in 1815, when the Prince Regent appointed architect John Nash to oversee a dramatic transformation. For anyone wondering who designed Brighton Pavilion, Nash is the figure most closely associated with its final form.
Nash reimagined the building entirely, using a cast-iron framework to reshape the exterior with domes, minarets and decorative features inspired by Indian architecture. This ambitious redesign continued through the Regency period, with major works completed by the early 1820s. The result was a royal palace unlike any other in the country, designed to impress guests and reflect George IV’s love of spectacle.
Questions about who built Brighton Pavilion often come down to its layered construction. Henry Holland created the original structure, while John Nash rebuilt and extended it on a much grander scale. Their combined work produced the Royal Pavilion recognised today.
After George IV’s death, the Pavilion saw less royal use. William IV stayed occasionally, but Queen Victoria disliked Brighton as a setting for court life. In 1850, she sold the Royal Pavilion to the town of Brighton. Many original furnishings were removed beforehand, though detailed inventories later helped guide restoration efforts.
The building entered a new chapter during the First World War, when it was converted into a hospital for wounded soldiers from the Indian Army. After the war, careful restoration work began, aiming to return the Pavilion to its Regency appearance. Today, the Royal Pavilion stands as both a museum and a lasting symbol of Brighton’s transformation from fishing town to fashionable resort.
The Brighton Pavilion gardens
The grounds surrounding the Royal Pavilion are just as thoughtfully designed as the building itself. The Brighton Pavilion gardens are among the few fully restored Regency gardens in England. Their layout is based on original plans drawn up by John Nash in the 1820s, with planting schemes carefully chosen to reflect the period.
They offer a calm, green contrast to the ornate palace and are a popular spot for a quiet stroll or a moment of pause in the heart of the city.
Inside Brighton Pavilion
Image credit: Brighton and Hove Museums
Stepping inside Brighton Pavilion reveals interiors designed to match the drama of its exterior. George IV took a close interest in every detail of the rooms, from colour schemes to furnishings, and the restored interiors reflect his taste for opulence and theatrical design.
One of the most impressive spaces is the Banqueting Room, created for lavish dining and entertaining. The room is dominated by a long table laid in the style of an 1820s dessert course, reflecting how formal meals were staged rather than eaten in courses as they are today. Above it hangs a vast chandelier supported by sculpted dragons, an example of the Pavilion’s blend of fantasy and craftsmanship. Rich reds, golds and intricate detailing reinforce the sense of royal display.
The Music Room is another highlight inside Brighton Pavilion. Designed as a setting for concerts and social gatherings, it features a domed ceiling, elaborate wall decorations and bold use of colour. Chinese-inspired motifs appear throughout the room, part of the wider decorative style known as chinoiserie, which was fashionable during the Regency era. Although some original elements were lost over time, extensive restoration has reinstated the room’s visual impact using historic records and surviving fragments.
Image credit: Brighton and Hove Museums
The Long Gallery once connected the main state rooms and remains an important part of the visitor route today. Its painted glass ceiling and hanging lanterns create a sense of movement and light, guiding guests through the palace much as they would have been guided during royal receptions.
Beyond the grand public spaces, the private apartments offer insight into everyday life at the Pavilion. The royal bedrooms, though smaller in scale, are richly decorated with silk wall hangings, ornate furniture and carefully chosen colour palettes. These rooms balance comfort with display, reflecting how George IV lived when in residence.
Throughout the Royal Pavilion, bamboo-style staircases, lacquered surfaces and painted wallpapers reflect the strong influence of East Asian design, combined with Regency craftsmanship. Together, these elements make exploring inside Brighton Pavilion an immersive experience, revealing not just how the palace looked, but how it was intended to feel.
Tickets and admission to the Royal Pavilion
To visit the Royal Pavilion, you’ll need to buy a ticket. Tickets can be purchased on the day or booked online in advance, with online bookings required at least one day ahead.
Adult tickets cost £19.50, while children aged 5 to 18 can visit for £11.75 and children under 5 go free.
When you travel by train to Brighton, you can get two adult Royal Pavilion tickets for the price of one as part of National Rail's 2FOR1 offer.
If you’re looking to experience one of the most distinctive buildings in Britain’s royal history, the Royal Pavilion is reason enough to plan a trip to Brighton.
