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Following the torrents of bad weather through June and July, summer finally arrived with a vengeance this weekend. After sweating through 27 degree heat yesterday we saw the forecast for today was over 30! So I forced James out of the house and off to the traditional seaside home for Londoners - Brighton.

Seemed like everyone else in London had the same idea so the train was packed this morning. So much so that James had a chance to do a little first aiding as someone fainted in the heat. Typically though, after shouting frantically for a first aider they then ignored everything he said so it was with relief we were finally released from the sweltering carriage.

First stop was the 'Royal Pavilion' built for the playboy Prince Regent who was later George the IV. Its a fantasy of Indian architecture which was all the rage when the villa was being rebuilt. An odd sight in the midst of the city, and one can see why it wasn't a favorite of the conservative Queen Victoria. She sold it to the town in 1850. James took a few photos of the exterior (the interior was £8 entry and the beach was beckoning.)

After a meander along the pier - taking in the ride which inspired the Beatles hit 'Helter Skelter' we made camp in the shade of the ruined 'West Pier' for swimming. It was fantastic to be in the water again and beach filled up ridiculously quickly. The heat sent us back into the town for a huge lunch at a nice wee Italian before sweltering on the train back to London to investigate my sunburn (whoops).