Preston Manor, Brighton

Advantages: Superbly Preserved. On our own doorstep. Upstairs downstairs experience.
Disadvantages: Not open in the winter.

...write this one, having visited Preston Manor, thanks to Ciao itself. Specifically in this case, due to picking up on hiker and elfriend's ideas on the "my backyard" theme. Do not worry, I am not attempting to dress this review up as something that it clearly is not, I fully intend to let you all have a good old poke around in my back yard (I did say back yard!) sometime quite soon. Therefore I wish to thank both hiker and elfriend for inspiring ...
...doorstep last Friday afternoon at Preston Manor. Actually, in truth, I had long wanted to have a look inside this very smart looking, largely Victorian, manor house. I hardly need to describe its' location, a prime site on the main A23 London Road. Coming into Brighton from the north you could hardly miss it, in front of you and slightly to the left (east) at the first set of traffic lights on the main road, half way between the city boundary and ... Read review

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!

...figures. From the Exhibition room we pass through into the "Holy of Holies" the Kipling's bedroom. Again a modestly proportioned and furnished room, containing a nineteenth century four poster bed, we felt this room to be strangely "feminine" in character. Maybe not so strange, considering that Carrie was very much mistress at Bateman's. There is a bathroom at the top of the stairs - almost en-suite to the bedroom, but regrettably we do not get to view it. The smaller, stone, staircase leads from the landing next to the bedroom down to the dining room. Unfortunately the kitchen is not open to view, apparently one of the changes made by Kipling was the insertion of a serving hatch through to the dining room. The dining room itself has a most unusual wall covering. Only previously seen in Preston Manor in Brighton, the walls are hung... Read review

Ciao members have rated this review on average very helpful

Advantages: Splendid by day, beautiful by night. Free Admission and deckchairs. Open all Year
Disadvantages: Can be crowded in summer

...FOR: Splendid by day. Beautiful by night. Free Admission and deckchairs. Open all Year. AGAINST: Can be crowded in summer. Think English seaside resort, think sand, sea and ice creams and, of course, the good old pier! People who have never visited Brighton may not have even heard of the Pavilion, Clock Tower or Preston Manor, however I would lay odds on the fact that they would be able to tell you that Brighton has two piers and probably even that one of them is falling into the sea. Without the aid of a time machine, I am unable to deliver to you a review on the West Pier that would be of any value, so instead this review is of the one that is still very much alive and kicking - Brighton Pier! Now as you all know by now, I am a born and bread Brightonion and, as it happens, increasingly proud of it. However, I am also... Read review

Ciao members have rated this review on average very helpful