England’s most famous seaside pavilion? The Royal Pavilion in Brighton takes the crown. The use of the word ‘crown’ isn’t some wacky coincidence either, as this Grade I beaut was built as a seaside retreat for the boy who went on to become King George IV. The work of iconic architect John Nash, the Pavilion was completed in 1823 (36 years after work began) and was built in the Indo-Gothic style, mimicking the elegance of government buildings in the British Raj. The city has worked hard to restore the pavilion to is grand royal days and has done a heck of a job, helped immeasurably by a number of official royal items. It is also used as a wedding venue, and hosted one of the first same-sex marriages in the UK.