Brighton and Hove are popular seaside resorts on the south coast of England. Formed by the amalgamation of two towns, Brighton and Hove  is England's most populous seaside resort, with a population of nearly half a million living in the East Sussex conurbation. During the 18th century Brighton developed as a health resort, and thanks to the arrival of the railway in 1841 it became a fashionable destination for day-trippers (including royalty) from the capital, earning it the nickname "London-by-the-sea". Today some 8 million tourists visit Brighton every year. Brighton has long been renowned as a gay-friendly area and is home to a very large LGBT population. Brighton has two universities and a medical school. Brighton and Hove was granted city status by crown decree in 2000.