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BN1 (Brighton) area guide
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Postcode District:
BN1
Postcode District Name:
Brighton
Location:
BN1 incorporates the western half of Brighton and the towns of Falmer, Patcham, Preston, Stanmer and Withdean. Stanmer and Falmer are located northeast of Brighton while Preston, Withdean and Patcham are northwest. Brighton is located in the South East of England in East Sussex, 51 miles south of London on the shores of the English Channel. The popular seaside locale can be reached by train from London in under an hour.
The BN1 postcode district lies within or includes part of the following towns, counties, localities, electoral wards and stations: Brighton, Brunswick and Adelaide, Ditchling and Westmeston, East Sussex, Falmer, Goldsmid, Hangleton and Knoll, Hollingbury and Stanmer, Hurstpierpoint and Downs, Kingston, Moulsecoomb and Bevendean, Patcham, Preston, Preston Park, Queen's Park, Regency, St. Peter's and North Laine, Stanmer, West Sussex, Withdean.
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History:
Brighton did not become the beach resort it is today until the mid-1700s when Dr. Richard Russell’s claims of the healing power of the sea attracted a mass of wealthy holiday makers to the shores for the first time. King George IV, then called Prince Regent, brought on a second period of growth when he decided to spend most of his youth in the area. His love affair with Brighton culminated with the construction of his holiday palace, the Royal Pavilion. The architecture of the area is dominated by Regency terraces to this day. The addition of transportation links via the railway in 1841 brought hordes of weekend travelers. The area received attention in the 1960s as the home of riots between teenage groups of mods and rockers and more recently, for the city’s thriving gay and lesbian scene.
BN2 contains most of Brighton’s historic structures. In addition to the Royal Pavilion, the West Pier, the Palace Pier and the Grand Hotel were all built in the 19th century. The Grand Hotel on Kings Road was constructed in 1864 and is Brighton’s only 5-star hotel. In 1984, five people were killed when the IRA bombed the hotel in a failed assassination attempt on Margaret Thatcher at the Conservative Party conference. The Palace Pier was opened in1899 and thrill rides and an arcade have since been added. The West Pier has been closed since 1975 although approval was given in October of 2006 for the construction of an observation tower created by the architects of the London Eye. The 11th century St. Nicholas Church on Dyke Road is the oldest building in Brighton.
Brighton incorporated many of the other villages in BN1 in 1928, at which point residential development began as never before. Prior to this extensive home building, the areas were mainly farmland dominated by a single estate and mansion, such as Patcham Place and Stanmer House.
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Present Day:
Brighton’s beaches continue to fill up on bank holidays. The relatively small city is bursting at the seams with restaurants, pubs, clubs, shops and attractions. The Lanes and North Laine are great places to shop, live and enjoy oneself. Brighton owes much of its youthful energy to the beach, the many universities and the top-notch nightlife. Many young persons in BN1 reside in Falmer, where the Universities of Brighton and Sussex can be found. Preston has embraced its role as a Brighton suburb.
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Amenities:
BN1 has good access to a number of train stations, including London Road – Brighton on Shaftesbury Place and Brighton Railway Station on Queens Road with speedy routes to London. There is an extensive local bus service not counting the Volks Electronic Railway, the world’s oldest of its kind, which runs along the eastern seafront. In addition to the Universities of Brighton and Sussex, Brighton offers City College and BHASVIC as options for further education. Brighton College and Cardinal Newman represent are among the better state and private schools. Falmer and Preston are easily reached by car or train. Patcham boasts frequent bus service to Brighton.
Places to eat, shop, drink and party abound to accommodate the many tourists that visit Brighton. In addition to many vegetarian eateries, English’s Oyster Bar on East Street offers the best in Brighton seafood. Relax with a pint at The Battle of Trafalgar pub on Guildford Road or check out the great DJs at The Beach on Kings Road Arches. Venues for theatre, live music and comedy acts are plentiful, including the Theatre Royal on Bond Street and Komedia on Kensington Street.
The beach and Palace Pier are Brighton’s top attractions. The Royal Pavilion with its Taj Mahal-like Indian exterior and Oriental interior is a sight to behold. The Brighton Festival in May is second only to Edinburgh among art festivals in Britain. Sports fans have the Brighton Racecourse and Brighton & Hove Albion FC to satisfy their appetite for horse racing and football, respectively. The football club currently plays at Withdean Stadium on Tower Point in Withdean but approval was given in 2007 for construction of a new stadium in Falmer.
The towns of BN1 are known for their green spaces. Parks in Stanmer and Withdean offer scenic alternatives to the busier parks of Brighton. Withdean Woods and the Rockery rock garden in Preston provide further options for enjoying the outdoors. Preston Park plays hosts to many events, including the Brighton Pride gay and lesbian festival each summer.
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