Groups are being invited to celebrate ABBA’s iconic milestone through a new display at Brighton Museum & Art Gallery.
Visitors are said to be able to walk, dance and sing their way around the ABBA: One Week in Brighton display, which highlights the pop group’s visit to Brighton for the 1974 Eurovision Song Contest at Brighton Dome.
Through photographs, film, memories and memorabilia, visitors can discover the week that catapulted the band to fame.
Pre-booked groups can enjoy self-guided visits, or guided tours of the whole museum, while admission to the exhibition is included within the admission price in which groups of 12 or more benefit from discounted rates.
The display is said to take visitors on a journey to discover the atmosphere around Brighton during the contest, where flags from different countries lined the streets and the contestants were photographed exploring the town.
You can read personal stories from the people who were there - from the backstage crew and people in the audience, to the autograph hunters who rushed to the stage door to meet the Swedish group.
ABBA’s eye-catching outfits ensured that people noticed them even before they stepped on stage. Waterloo, their winning song, became the band’s international breakthrough.
The exhibition is running until 4th August 2024.
Combine the trip with Brighton Pavilion
Groups can also head next door to Brighton Pavilion, constructed as the seaside pleasure palace of King George IV.
Inside, visitors can marvel at its Georgian interiors, ranging from the luxury Banqueting Room, to the grand Music Room where Chinese-inspired decoration meets acoustic perfection under a domed ceiling.
Elsewhere, the Indian Hospital Gallery shines a light on the Royal Pavilion’s use as a military hospital in World War One which illustrates the experience of the soldiers and the impact of the conflict on Brighton.
For more information about group visits to both ABBA: One Week in Brighton and the Royal Pavilion, go to brightonmuseums.org.uk
