Thousands of dragons in Brighton take-over

There are literally thousands and thousands of dragons in Brighton’s Royal Pavilion. Or at least representations of dragons.

And that's why they have taken over this summer in a special celebration exhibition of their presence in such huge numbers.

Alexandra Loske, curator of the Royal Pavilion & Historic Properties, said: “The Royal Pavilion has always been a palace of dragons – some bold and dramatic, others tiny and easy to miss. “This exhibition invites families to become dragon detectives and discover just how many magical creatures are hiding in the palace. Whether spotting a dragon winding through gilded decoration or discovering a newly-arrived hatchling, visitors can expect surprises around every corner.

“It's like religion really. Do all these deities exist? We want them to exist. We want dragons to exist. They are part of human nature. We live in a world where we think about these things. Of course they are mythological creatures but for centuries people absolutely believed that they existed, and there are reasons. Some of those reasons have to do with discovering dinosaur fossils or large reptile remains, and of course you quickly start thinking in terms of dragons.”

And given how many there are of them in the Royal Pavilion: “I was asked to put together this display. The theme is that the dragons are taking over and we are saying that it is an additional reason for you to visit or to revisit the Royal Pavilion in a very fun and family-friendly way.

“The Pavilion's interior is inspired by Chinese culture, and the dragon is a key motif. This is a pretty obvious thing to explore but we've got some great dragon interventions. You can walk through a dragon’s mouth! And there is a huge dragon wrapping itself one of the around one of the staircases. You can also make dragon soup in the kitchen. There are some wonderful things to do.

“But I was asked to tell the story of dragons in one room in a small exhibition using only what we have got in our collection. Obviously you can't take the dragons off the walls where they are on the paper in 2D. We've got some great dragons in 3D but you can't take them down. So the question was how do you tell the story without taking the building apart!

“So I thought I would tell the East and West story. There are eastern dragons and there are western dragons. In the Chinese and Asian culture dragons are perhaps the most important and the most positive and the most powerful symbol. The dragon is one of the 12 animals of the lunar year. The dragon is associated with the emperor. There are lots of imperial dragons, and emperors were considered to be the sons of dragons. Dragons were incredibly powerful and positive.

“The western dragons were also seen as being powerful and they could be positive but more often than not they represented evil, a strength that could tip over into a negative aspect. That's why St George had to conquer the dragon. It was about Christianity needing to conquer evil.

“So I was wanting to tell these stories thinking eastern good, western bad but I soon realised that it was not as simple as that because dragons or dragon-like creatures can be found in almost every culture on earth. They're all slightly different, and the differences can be really subtle. But actually many elements of dragons are quite similar, and when I looked at it I started realising that there's more that unites us with our dragons than divides us!”

The new experience this summer transforms the Royal Pavilion into a world of discovery where families, curious explorers and dragon detectives of all ages are encouraged to seek out dragons both old and new. From dramatic decorative beasts to tiny creatures tucked away in unexpected corners, visitors are invited to look more closely than ever at the Pavilion’s design and decor.

At the heart of the experience is The Great Dragon Count – a playful challenge to uncover just how many dragons live inside the palace. Despite the Pavilion’s rich dragon-filled interiors, no one has ever counted them all in the building’s 200-year history. Until now.

Visitors can submit their final dragon count during their visit or online for the chance to win a special family prize: two nights’ accommodation in Double Tree by Hilton Brighton Metropole hotel, including access to spa facilities and an evening meal, to be redeemed in 2027. The winner will be selected once the exhibition ends on November 1 and informed of the good news within two weeks of the exhibition ending.

Admission included with Royal Pavilion admission.