Royal Pavilion, Brighton, England 14 Dec 2025

Royal Pavilion, Brighton, England

No, we"re not in "Arabian Nights"—but the Royal Pavilion in Brighton makes you wonder whether someone accidentally dropped a palace from a far-off fairy tale onto the Sussex shoreline. The Prince of Wales (later George IV) came to Brighton for sea air, but he didn"t just want a quiet retreat—he wanted a statement. With architect John Nash, he turned a modest villa into a grand palace full of domes and minarets. Step inside, and you"ll find dragons curling across ceilings, chandeliers blooming like lotus flowers and the wallpaper leaning heavily into the decorative style of Chinoiserie. The Banqueting Room feels like it"s always ready for a performance.

© by Andrea Pucci/Moment/Getty Images

palette

Today in History

On the edge
14 Dec 2023Boreal owl
14 Dec 2024Christmas Bird Count turns 125

More Desktop Wallpapers:

Go with the flow
22 Jun 2026World Rainforest Day
Red rock country
17 Jul 2024Rothenburg ob der Tauber, Bavaria, Germany
Isn’t this view mesmerizing?
8 Aug 2025Bristol International Balloon Fiesta
22 Aug 2025Rolling hills of the Palouse, Washington, United States
Launching hopes and prayers
Ablaze with colour
6 Apr 2024Japan Castle Day
22 Apr 2024Earth Day
17 Jun 2024Green-crowned brilliant hummingbird
17 Sep 2024Mid-Autumn Festival
A one-of-a-kind splash
22 May 2026International Day for Biological Diversity
This bird is peak beak
5 Oct 2024Follow the teacher!
29 Apr 2024Fujian Tulou, China
The Town of Books
4 Jun 2024Chestnut-headed bee-eater, Bardia National Park, Nepal
19 Mar 2024Cave Dale and Peveril Castle, Derbyshire
Heads together
5 Mar 2026Evening over Göreme, Cappadocia, Türkiye
An island park
8 May 2024Marseille welcomes to Olympic torch
Living in harmony
10 Feb 2024South Downs Dark Skies Festival
1 May 2024Lei Day
A braided river
7 Jul 2025Northern gannets, Shetland Islands, Scotland