Kipling Gardens (Brighton)

Advantages: Beautiful Setting. Authentic17th Century House. Many Original Contents. Still Feels a Home.
Disadvantages: May be Crowded in Summer. Off the Beaten Track - just as Kipling wanted!

...home at The Elms, a house facing the green in Rottingdean just to the east of Brighton. Kipling was at the pinnacle of his career at the turn of the last century; his writing was earning £5,000 per year, this compared to a secretary at the time who may have been earning £80. Whilst the family spent a lot of time away travelling the world, the house in Rottingdean was the home to which they returned. Rudyard became increasingly disenchanted living here as his fame was attracting many sight-seers and day trippers. The Elms was all too visible and publicly accessible for comfort. Time to seek a new home! A NEW START FOR THE KIPLINGS Adding to the desire for a new home, was the tragic death, in 1899, of the Kipling's adored first born daughter, Josephine. Both she and her father had contracted pneumonia in New York, he survived... Read review

Ciao members have rated this review on average very helpful

Advantages: Lots of history and lots of family attractions
Disadvantages: Not the entertainment capital of England

...Adventures in St Clements Caves. As is the tendency for many ships to be wrecked in these waters in the Shipwreck Heritage Centre. The first development of this coast as a Victorian holiday area is visible by the many houses and hotels dating from this time. Whatever your interests they can be accommodated in this part of Sussex. There is a steam railway (the Kent and East Sussex), Rudyard Kiplings House where he wrote Jungle Book and developed recipes for Apple Pies (just kidding) and more gardens than you can shake a hoe at. A huge amount of effort has been made by the local tourist boards to make Hastings and the surrounding areas a location for holidaymakers both for day trips and for longer stays. There are a huge number of guest houses and smaller hotels if you do plan to stay overnight and you can choose between those close to the sea... Read review

Ciao members have rated this review on average helpful

Advantages: good variety of artwork, absolutely free unless you buy some artwork,you get to see some lovely houses, meet some friendly artists
Disadvantages: you can't see them all, can be a bit tiring trekking around Brighton!

...As part of the fringe festival in May, Brighton and Hove's many artists open their houses every weekend for the general public to come and see their artwork. This is a definite must-see. There are many dozens of open houses to visit and it is nigh on impossible to see them all. The best bet is to visit all of the houses in a particular district. What could be better than to leisurely walk around Brighton on a sunny warm May day and see the varied artwork of Brighton's artists. As well as admiring the artwork, you can usually buy any item that takes your fancy although you have to wait until the end of May to take it home with you. Many places serve refreshments so you can often sit in the garden and stretch your legs. Apart from the attraction of seeing local art, there is the bonus of getting some splendid views of Brighton and the sea... Read review

Ciao members have rated this review on average somewhat helpful