Brighton was a decayed seafaring town in 1740, but by 1780 it had been transformed into a prosperous seaside resort that attracted many famous people. When George, Prince of Wales made his first visit in 1783, Brighton was already a fashionable place to visit. By 1800, this resort was Britain's largest and most popular seaside watering place, remaining so well into the 20th century. Brighton emerged as a Georgian seaside resort during the key period of British resort development, between about 1730 and 1780.

After 1780 Brighton had surpassed her competitors and had the full panoply of resort facilities. This charming book explores why resorts developed when they did - and why Brighton surged ahead. Between 1780 and 1820 the development of new suburbs to accommodate the influx of visitors was crucial. Without the ability to expand, Brighton would have failed to develop as a resort. From 1820, visitors' expectations changed, and the heyday of Georgian seaside resorts was at an end. This engaging narrative will interest Brighton's residents and visitors alike, and the splendidly reproduced images will evoke an era gone by for local historians everywhere.