- Brighton, England
- Brighton Pavilion – Perennial Beds in Spring Photo © Alice Joyce
Much to do in Brighton- a place of brilliant counterpoints.
Constructed at the turn of the 19th century, the ornate presence of the Royal Pavilion stands at the very center of the city. Foodie havens, great shopping, and inviting hotels await your visit.
Brighton Pavilion Parkland Photo © Alice Joyce
Best of all for the garden traveler, the South Downs is a year-round destination, drawing you to the iconic settings of Virginia Woolf’s Monk’s house & Garden & the Bloomsbury Group’s ’salon’ … Charleston House.
Lewes – a bustling yet charming town in East Sussex merits exploring.
- Brighton Pavilion Photo © Alice Joyce
I, for one, can’t get enough of the characters associated with the Bloomsbury saga, from the exploits of Vita Sackville-West to Vanessa, Clive, Duncan, and their offspring:
Not surprisingly, countless books have been written about members of the Bloomsbury Group and I’m often first in line to read each new tome.
Chelsea Physic Tamarisk Photo © Alice Joyce
- Sir Hans Sloane – Chelsea Physic Garden Photo © Alice Joyce
And furthermore… barely an hour’s ride by train…
London’s Chelsea Physic Garden
click link to visit: Bay Area Tendrils
Alice, the only time I was in Brighton, the Prince Regent’s crazy architectural masterpiece was completely covered in scaffolding for repair. It still looked cool under the gridwork. Lucky you for having that wonderful garden trip.
Dear Alice, Of course I share your interest in the Bloomsbury Group and one is so fortunate to have both Monks House and Charleston within such easy reach of London. Additionally, my dear friends T and G have a house and garden in Brighton so I am often to be found in that most vibrant of towns.
Dear Alice, Brighton reminds me of youth and wild parties but that is another story…Vita Sackville-West is my absolute favourite garden writer…so glad you enjoyed our south coast…
Alice, I love your Bloomsbury travel posts! I was a rabid reader of all things Bloomsbury in my twenties but have since fallen off, so don’t know the book you referenced, which I see was published in ‘97, by Quentin and his daughter Virginia — whose last name is Nicholson! For a moment I thought does the intermarrying still persist in this small group, maybe a relative of Vita’s? But no, of course Vita was married to Harold Nicolson, no “h.” Whew.
What a wonderful place! I love your first photo, and that tamarisk tree is spectacular! I don’t know if I will ever get to England, but if I do, this will be on my wish list of places to visit!