This is Brighton Beach -- and the Atlantic Ocean. We actually got out of London for an excursion. Took one of our local trains a couple of stops south and then hopped on a fast (express) train to Brighton Beach -- about 60 miles. It made one stop, at Gatwick Airport (which is where we flew in). It was fun to see the countryside, from the ground, that we had glimpsed as we flew in last month. Lots of sheep -- and hedgerows instead of fences. We had forgotten about that. They are pretty to look at. The trip took an hour, including waiting time at our station and the transfer point.
Above is the old-new pier; this one is all that remains of the old-old pier (it blew down in 97; they can't decide whether to rebuild it or not. 
We rode the Volks Electric Railway. It is the oldest remaining operating electric railway in the world and runs along the beachfront from just east of the pier to Brighton Marina and Village. Our information said "hop aboard the V&R and pootle along the beachfront for superb views out to sea." So we pootled -- and they were.
That beach is all ping pong ball sized rocks, not soft sand!
Rumor has it that you don't actually have to come to England to see an ocean and/or this kind of town. (In many ways, it's not that different from similar towns on the same or other oceans.)
But we love the Coast (as anybody reading this will know) and it was fun to see the ocean again .
It was a beautiful early summer day. The lifeguard stations were manned (personed?) and there were a few swimmers. Most people just used the chairs and strolled (as we did).
On the new pier, looking toward the town.
We had an adult beverage in a nice old pub out in the middle of the pier and enjoyed watching people. There's a carnival/arcade out there too and the usual fair-type food, all of which we skipped. Opted instead for a a good fish dinner at a nice restaurant in town in an area called the Lanes.
The breakwater at the marina village (after our pootlng ride). You can tell that they must get some pretty good storms sometimes.
We came home to Sydenham slightly sunburned and pleasantly tired.
Didcha ever watch the BBC Ms. Marple or Jeeves & Wooster shows? I like the idea of a time where people went to the shore (60 whole miles away!) and stayed there for a month or so at a time.
Posted by: Geoff | June 24, 2007 at 07:57 AM
Sure we watched those shows -- one of the reasons that B.B. was on our list of places to go! But people who lived in Portland Oregon used to go to Seaside for the summer! Mom and kids would stay at the shore, dad commuting on weekends.
Posted by: sallie | June 24, 2007 at 10:20 AM