Rarely does a seaside town receive such a great amount of scrutiny for its comparison to the country's capital. Brighton in its zen-like calmness and sheer natural beauty has an abundance of worldly ethical restaurants, fashionable outlets and dozens of independent shops that can put your favourite market to shame.

Continuously known for many years as the Londoner's sweet escape on weekends has actually become the place to live in. Realistic priorities for a better quality of life, lower housing prices, and surrounding yourself with that feeling of being on holiday is attracting city folks to these pebble beach shores.

The Lanes and North Laine are two of the most central and hippest neighbourhoods in downtown Brighton & Hove. Scores of boutiques, cafes and street art can be appreciated in this area. The Tidy Street General Store is an amazing little boutique where you can pick up jams, basket bags and clothes from independent designers. The landmark zebra-design shop Ju-Ju has recently been given a whole new facelift. Peruse through the garments as they regularly have to brand new styles on display. Be sure to check out the Tidy Printshop, which is a screen printing studio with some great work available to purchase and they also offer workshops.

For a kick of heavenly roasted coffee and cheek fattening cakes, scoot over to Marwood Coffee House. The bohemian decor and randomly mixing of furniture will only distract you from the heart-warming taste of your favourite drink. For lunch, we highly recommend heading to the quiet Regency Square and eating at the unique Artist's Residence Hotel. This 23-bedroom townhouse hotel has 2 restaurants, a cocktail bar and ping-pong room for both guests and visitors to enjoy. Devour the finger-licking food at The Set restaurant.

The sheer beauty of the Royal Pavilion Estate is a worthy visit. This estate is recognised for its iconic domes and designated Cultural Quarter status. It formerly housed the royal residence, being a seaside retreat for George, Prince of Wales in the late 1800s.

For getting to Brighton, if you are flying into Gatwick Airport, we recommend getting the 20-minute ride on the train from the airport. From London capital, the train from Victoria is an hour journey and runs until late hours. Enjoy the stunning views and walks around Brighton.