Visit Britain, the national tourist office for England, Scotland and Wales has unveiled the new strapline for its LGBT campaign, which was suggested by Californian Jay Masunaga in a competition run at the end of 2009. Jay’s winning strapline reminds Americans that ‘Britain is alive with Pride’ with many places that lesbian, gay, bi and trans men, women and families enjoy visiting. Illustrating the diversity of the LGBT community, VisitBritain’s campaign personalizes holiday experiences by six different interests, Nightowl, Foodie, Event-goer, Culturati, Chiller and Fashionista.

The website, visitbritain.com/rainbow, features ten destinations in Britain and for each, provides a range of experiences that will appeal to different kinds of LGBT traveler. A different destination will be profiled every month beginning with Brighton on the south coast of Britain, just an hour by train from London.

•      For the Foodie in Britain, sometimes it’s not just about the food. Good company, great vibes, the places to be and be seen. In Brighton, you’ll indulge in the wonderfully camp – and local institution – Tea Cosy Tea Room to discover there is a right way to drink tea. Raise your pinkies as you sip and pay royal homage with “Charles & Camilla Elevenses”.

•     For NightOwls looking for the right crowd – bearish, fetish or lesbian – Britain has somewhere to rock your unique world. For lesbians, one of Brighton’s hotspots is the Princess Victoria (the PV to locals), attracting crowds of up-for-it girls looking to kick start a rip-roaring night in style.

•      Event-Goers have their Pride of course, but they’re just as proud of must-see film festival, events plus comedy, dance and performance for gay and lesbian-minded audiences. You’re spoilt for choice in Brighton, where a week-long festival heralds Pride’s parade and parties on 7 August 2010, with a four-legged version – the Pride Companion Dog Show – on 4 July.                 

•      British art pushes envelopes, while edgy new music pours from pubs and the world’s greatest take the stage at stadiums and concert halls. Couple it with musicals, opera, classical music and renowned theatre to make the Culturati giddy with delight. The Culturati visiting Brighton takes a tour of the Royal Pavilion, King George IV’s gloriously over-the-top former home-from-home with its dressed-to-the-nines interiors and lavish architecture.

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    The Chiller likes to be pampered on a holiday that’s a happy, healthy break from the norm. It’s house parties at country homes or ‘blissing out’ at spas and saunas. Chillers say their “OM”s at Aloka, Brighton’s ‘Quality of Life Center’ with its ‘Aura-Soma’ color system, spa and yoga studio.

•     With a tradition of elegance with twists of lunacy, shopping here is never dull for Fashionistas whether its clothes or gifts to remember the trip. Here in Brighton, Fashionistas add inches (no, not there) shopping at Lacies for gorgeous shoes, wigs and Victorian corsets for the transgendered community. Or explore Prowler and CloneZone, Britain’s out-and-proud gay chain stores.

Each month, a different destination – Brighton, Cardiff, Edinburgh, Glasgow, the Highlands, Liverpool, London, Manchester, Newcastle and North Wales – takes its turn in the spotlight on the website visitbritain.com/rainbow. For each, VisitBritain recommends itineraries and top experiences that every visitor must see. While in Brighton, tips for enjoying Britain’s best gay and lesbian seaside destination include the kitsch Brighton Pier, the beachfront (including nude bathing), shopping in The Lanes, partying in Kemp Town (the city’s beating gay heart), and lesbian and gay culture at the Brighton Museum & Art Gallery.



The Best Gay Travel Guide