Brighton

Starting from the station, you could just follow the road that sweeps down to the sea. But in doing so you would miss so much.  So instead, lets take the rather less promising road that goes beneath the station entrance, and follow it until it meets some shops.  One of the first of these is a flower shop that looks like a floral cave when I painted this view. It looks different now, but you should still recognise it.

That shop is at the start of the North Laines - a very distinctive shopping area with lots of quirky shops and cafes with a very Bohemian feel to it (not to be confused with The Lanes).  Wander a little further down and you'll come to this spot, which pretty much sums it up.

At the end of the North Laines, resuming the Eastward course (left) we come to some grand buildings and a park.  The grandest of them all is the Royal Pavilion, but at the back of the park you'll find this elegant cafe building.  The elephant was part of a local art project from 2023 (now gone).

Keep going in the same direction and you reach the shore, and right where the pier is. As we walk out over the wooden decking we can see the sea sloshing about through the gaps. We take a tight grip of our smart phones as they are just the right size to slip through one of those gaps. Its a slim chance, but it worries us. Meanwhile we spot someone using one of those old seaside telescopes. They have it pointed to the shore where people sunbathe.

And now for those other Lanes.  You can find them just a block from the shore, but finding the way in or out can be tricky.  The Lanes is filled mainly with shops selling jewellery and antiques.  There is even a totally fascinating antique weapon shop (not in this view).