The British have an expression for too much of a good thing. It's "over the top," they say. If ever a building exemplified the concept of over the top it is the Royal Pavilion, Brighton, the splendid summer house built by George IV when he was Prince Regent.See more of Brighton with a Hop ON Hop Off Tour To Buy Direct
Governing as Regent for his father, George III (who was thought to be mad), George IV had a reputation for gambling, womanizing and generally living it up in a style that came to reflect the entire era.
In the early 19th century, his architect, John Nash, slapped a cast iron framework around an older, simpler farmhouse and, well, just went to town, really. The pseudo Indian palace, with Chinese influenced interiors is a riot of color, expensive fabrics, crystal and gilt. It's very popular, a must for visitors and only about an hour by train from London.