When is the best time to visit Brighton for the weekend

Asks JacksonC

A. The best time to visit Brighton is in May. Although good weather cannot be guaranteed, the Brighton Festival is on, which means that there is loads to do. It runs for the whole month, this year from 5-27 May, all over the city. There are however, two bank holidays in May, so it would be best to aim for the middle of the month if you want to miss most of the crowds.

The tourist season really starts from the festival so most weekends, especially when it's hot, will feature a lot of traffic on the roads. As it is only an hour and a half's drive from London, it is an easy distance for day-trippers, so traffic can be a problem throughout the year.

July and August are other good months to visit.

If the weather is not a consideration for you, the winter months are quieter and the beach is more desolate, but you can find a hotel room easily and it is a much more relaxing time of the year.

Q. What types of events does the festival include

A. It covers all the arts - visual arts, music, theatre, opera, dance, film, comedy and literature - and this year will include over 800 performances. Although it does not have an overall theme, this year it will celebrate all things Japanese to tie in with the nationwide Japan 2001 festival.

Q. Can you recommend anything I shouldn't miss

A. You can view a full listing of events online at http://www.brighton-festival.org.uk. Some of the highlights of this year’s event include:

DANCE

The Parsons Dance Company – the first UK visit by the popular American dance company that the LA Times describes as 'high energy, muscular and hot.'

Corn Exchange Theatre, 7 and 8 May.

THEATRE

Bare – a massive hit at the Edinburgh Festival last year, this play by Toa Fraser is well known for its infamous sex scene performed by two actors fully clothed standing metres apart. Pavilion Theatre, 21-23 May.

MUSIC

Ensemble Tozai – a mixture of traditional Japanese music played on authentic Japanese and Western instruments.

17 May, Music Room, Royal Pavilion.

Philharmonia Orchestra – Elgar’s violin concerto performed alongside Maxwell Davis Antarctic Symphony, conducted by the composer. 12 May, Theatre Royal.

LITERATURE

Internationally famous authors read from their new books and talk to the audience. This year’s writers include Carlos Fuentes (8 May), Annie Proulx (13 May,) Margaret Atwood (20 May), Irvine Welsh (6 May), Jeanette Winterson (12 May).

OUTDOOR EVENTS

Matsuri – traditional Japanese family day out, with activities including shakuhatchi and playing the Taiko drum. Bartholomew Square, 27 May.

Seafront Brighton Live – three musical stages featuring programmes from the Musique Alliance, Omni Cultural Carnival and Continental Drifts. 13 May.

ART

Contempory Japanese Textile Art, Brighton Museum & Art Gallery. 28-April 23 June.

COMEDY

John Shuttleworth – One Foot in the Gravy. Gardner Arts Centre, 19 May. 8pm.

Steve Best – funny and original stand up. Komedia Theatre, 11 May.

Tickets for all events are available from the Dome Box Office. Tel: 01273 709709

Email: [email protected].

Other useful numbers include:

Theatre Royal: 01273 328488

Rail Information: 08547 484950

Coach Information: 01273 383744

Accommodation hotline: 0345 573512

Q. Can you recommend anywhere good to stay

A. Book early where possible from May-September. Some good places that are a bit more unusual to stay in include:

The Sussex Arts Club, Ship Street, Brighton. Tel: 01273 727371. Trendy, themed rooms above Brighton’s drinking club.

King’s Hotel, Kings Road, Brighton. Tel: 01273 820854. Seafront hotel with infamous water beds.

Portland House Hotel, Regency Square, Brighton. Tel: 01273 820464. Four-poster balcony rooms, very relaxed atmosphere.

Q. What can you recommend doing on a non-festival weekend

A. The beach and seafront area has been massively developed over the last five years, and now encompasses a very chic waterfront area full of bars and restaurants. It also has a huge children’s play area, volleyball and basketball courts, Sea Life centre, souvenir and teashops. Beside this is the beautiful and tacky Palace Pier full of arcades, fun fair, Brighton rock and palm reading booths.

Alternatively you can contribute to the rebuilding of the West Pier programme, by going on a guided tour of the old pier.

The laines and north laines shopping areas are full of one-off shops whether you’re after antiques, clothes, jewellery, furniture or just a coffee. The Churchill Square shopping centre is a stylish mall full of high street names. The Royal Pavilion and the city’s several museums and art galleries are also worth a visit if you have time. An early morning (Sunday) visit to the second-hand market, behind Brighton Railway Station is also recommended.

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By Karen Anderson