Today we are returning to Brighton, just for a day trip. The weather is warm and sunny but I have my folding umbrella in my bag as you can never trust British weather – or British weather forecasts – completely.

St Pancras International

We took a bus to St Pancras Station. It was fairly busy but, for once, there was no slow-moving Eurostar Queue.

E L & N

We paid the ritual visit to EL & N for coffee and croissants.

The Thameslink Platforms

Afterwards, we went down two levels to the Thameslink platforms that serve the south-east region. Tigger had bought electronic tickets online and buzzed us through the gates.

Aboard the Brighton train

Our train was not crowded and we found seats easily but of the ordinary narrow kind – they don’t seem to have priority seats with more leg room on this route.

East Croydon Station
Photo by Tigger

As we called at other stations, more people boarded the train and from East Croydon, all seats were occupied and there were passengers standing. The weather makes the seaside seem inviting.

Coming in to land
Photo by Tigger

We stopped at Gatwick where a lot of passengers disembarked – people are prepared to face delays at the airport in order to travel abroad. As we continued on, Tigger photographed a plane coming in to land.

Arriving at Brighton

Arriving at Brighton, we joined the crush at the ticket barrier and Tigger buzzed us through.

The Bystander Cafe

From the station, we crossed the road to the Bystander Cafe where we had tea and toast – with jam! High living, indeed.

Upper Gardner Street

We walked down the hill from the station, passing first along Upper Gardner Street where a street market was taking place.

Gardner Street

Then we entered the famous Gardner Street which was closed to vehicles and had tables of the various eateries out in the roadway.

First glimpse

We soon had our first glimpse of the unique Royal Pavilion, partially screened by trees.

The Royal Pavilion

The Pavilion is too big for s normal photo so I took a panorama. There is a little distortion but it gives a good idea of the exotic palace.

The War Memorial

We visited the War Memorial (1922) where the gulls were making merry with the fresh water.

Victoria Fountain

The funfair had departed so we were able to approach the Victoria Fountain though, unfortunately, it was not working but sitting sulkily dry.

Beach, sea, pier

Then we reached the seafront beside the Palace Pier. The sea was summer blue as it rolled onto the shingle beach.

The Pier

The pier is hard to photograph as it is so long (a quarter of a mile, allegedly). I noticed that the owners have now included “palace” in the name, calling it Brighton Palace Pier. Better, but still not yet what it should be.

Ice cream

We bought ice cream and then it was a race against time, trying to eat it before it melted in the heat and ran down the cone and our hands.

Volks Electric Railway

When I was a child during WWII, Volks Railway was closed and, never having seen it, I was impatient for it to start running. Since then I have ridden it along the seafront track though not today.

The beach from the pier

We went onto the pier from where I took this photo. (When I was a child, it cost 3d – three old pence – to go onto the pier. Today, it’s free.)

The sea below

We found a bench to sit on. Between the planks of the footway, you can see the sea below. This makes some people nervous.

CrêpeAffaire

Crêpes for lunch
Photo by Tigger

For lunch we went to CrêpeAffaire.

In the Pavilion gardens

We went into the garden of the Pavilion and lay in the sun on the astroturfed “lawn” from where I took the above photo.

Return to the YHA

We returned to the Royal York aka the YHA where we stayed a couple of weeks ago.

YHA cafe

We took up temporary residence in the cafe while we had coffee (and used the wifi!).

A last look

We went to the promenade for a last look at the sea. It was very windy, as you can tell from the white tops on the waves.

Bus to the station

Then we caught a bus to the station but before we boarded our train…

Belgian chips

…Tigger fancied some Belgian chips so, of course, we bought some.

In the station
Photo by Tigger

We went into the station to eat them and attracted the attention of a gull.

Got any chips?
Photo by Tigger

We did not give him anything as you are not supposed to encourage them. We were also careful in case he decided to make s grab – it has been known. He decamped only when we had eaten everything.

Aboard our train

Ten minutes before departure time, we boarded the train at platform 5 even though no destination was shown. We guessed it was ours and so it proved. The train left on time and off we went, heading for St Pancras and home.

E L & N

On arrival at St Pancras, we allowed ourselves to be tempted and paid a last visit to E L & N for coffee.

Aboard the 214

Having finished our coffee, we made our way out of the station into Midland Road and there boarded a 214 bus. There must have been a “gap in the service” as the bus filled up very quickly. Soon, though, we reached our home stop.

Once again, in Brighton I felt the same warm feeling of belonging that I had experienced during our recent stay and this made today’s trip doubly worthwhile. Despite the elapsed years, Brighton is still in some sense my home town and I think it always will be.