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A perfect Sunday walk around Brighton’s Artists Open Houses

A lovely shot of a corner of a building in Brighton that has been painted almost a mustard colour, a very deep yellow. The corner of the building is set against a stunning blue sky.

The 50+ English group get on the Artists Open Houses trail in Brighton, to take in a mixture brilliant sunshine, artistic creativity and stunning architecture.

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Photo of Phil Hopkins

Phil Hopkins MA (TESOL), BSc (Hons), DTEFLA

Phil has overall responsibility for ELC and the 3 schools it operates. Day-to-day he is primarily responsible for strategic direction, administration and marketing. He is also the Designated Safeguarding and Prevent Lead in Chester. Phil joined ELC in 2001. He has over 35 years' experience in ELT, as a principal, academic manager, teacher trainer (CELTA and DELTA) and teacher in the UK, Greece, Spain and Kuwait.

There is never a bad time to visit beautiful Brighton as there is always so much going on throughout the year but May is a particularly good time to visit brilliant Brighton. In May, spring has arrived with flowers and blossoms in full colour, days are longer with sunset after 8.30 pm and Brighton festival with all its various parts take place throughout the city throughout May. All in all it is a great month to take an English language course in Brighton and explore this wonderful city.

The logo of Artists Open Houses which uses the words themselves as the logo

A particularly nice way to spend a Sunday afternoon, walking in the spring sunshine and discovering new parts of the city, is to follow one of the trails of Artists Open Houses. Twice a year (during Brighton festival month and in December) the many artists who live and work in Brighton open the doors to their houses and studios to display their work. As well as seeing a huge variety of different kinds of art, you can see inside peoples houses and studios and get to know a bit better other areas of the city.

Last Sunday, we went for a walk near ELC following the Brunswick Town trail. It was amazing what we found within only 5 minutes’ walk of the school! The first stop was in Salisbury Road, the same street as the entrance to ELC, where we met Val Fawbert. Val has created a perfect working environment within a walled garden which includes kiwi fruit among the many exotic plants!! Val’s parents also used to be a host family for ELC when the school opened in the 1960s. It’s a small world.

In Farm Road, just 5 minutes’ walk from ELC there are 2 great pubs – Coopers Cask and The Farm Tavern. What we didn’t know, despite living in Brighton for many years, is that just behind these pubs is an amazing zone of creative activity. In Lansdown Mews, in particular – mews are the areas behind the houses where rich families used to keep their horses – the first floors have been converted into artists’ studios, while the ground floors have a bicycle repair shop, a car mechanics and 2 recording studios!!

An image courtesy of Brighton Open Houses initiative of a beautifully styled living room.

Without Artists Open Houses we would never have met Val and her amazing garden, or learnt that there is a creative world just behind Western Road. Why not make the most of this wonderful opportunity to meet interesting local people, hear fascinating stories, discover hidden parts of the city and meet fantastically creative people. And learn English at the same time with the best school in Brighton!

(Images courtesy of Artists Open Houses)

Find out more about Artists Open Houses in Brighton