Brighton (pop. 250,000) is one of Britain’s largest seaside resorts.
King George IV came to Brighton in 1783 and enjoyed the anything-goes atmosphere so much
that he transformed a farmhouse into The Royal Pavilion, his headquarters for debauchery,
in a historical move roughly equivalent to an episode of “MTV Cribs.” A regal rumpus
ensued. Since then, Brighton continues to turn a blind eye to some of the more scandalous
activities that occur along its shores as holiday makers and locals alike peel it off—all
off—at one of the more popular beaches in England (fist-size rocks aside). Kemp Town has a
thriving gay and lesbian population as well as a profusion of bed and breakfasts. The huge
student crowd and flocks of foreign youth feed the notorious clubbing scene of this
“London-by-the-Sea,” the history of which, thanks to the teenage Mods and Rockers of the
1960s, is centered predominantly on sex, drugs, and rock and roll. Perhaps it’s time you
added to that tradition. And Brighton-bound tourists better be fans of The Who’s
Quadrophenia—both the rock opera and the gem of a film.