Brighton i360 Observation Tower Ticket

The Brighton i360 tower and its glass pod

Opened in 2016, the Brighton i360 rises 162 metres from the seafront at the foot of the old West Pier. It is one of the slimmest tall towers in the world, and its round glass pod, which can carry up to 200 people, travels up and down the column like a gentle lift. The ride is smooth and quiet, and most visitors do not feel any movement apart from the view slowly opening around them.

Inside, the pod has a clear, open floor so you can walk around freely, with panoramic glass on every side. A booklet guide in English helps you identify landmarks as you rise. The flight lasts about 25 minutes from boarding to landing, with a few minutes at the top to enjoy the panorama and take photos before the slow descent.

The view from the top: Brighton, the Downs and the coast

At 138 metres, the pod reveals Brighton and Hove spread along the shore: the long shingle beach, the Palace Pier stretching out to sea, the domes and minarets of the Royal Pavilion and the white terraces of the seafront. Inland, the green ridge of the South Downs National Park rolls along the horizon, and to the east the coast leads towards the chalk cliffs of Sussex.

On clear days, you can see as far as the Isle of Wight to the west and ships moving far out in the English Channel. Is the Brighton i360 worth it? For a first visit to Brighton, it is the quickest way to understand the shape of the city, and it helps you plan where to go next, from the lanes of the old town to the marina.

The West Pier and the seafront below

The i360 stands where the West Pier once met the land. Built in the 1860s, the pier was one of the most elegant on the English coast before it closed and was damaged by storms and fires; today, its rusted iron skeleton stands alone in the sea and is one of the most photographed sights in Brighton. From the pod, you look straight down onto its outline in the water.

The tower's base houses a shop with work by local makers, a café and a small exhibition on the story of the pier and the tower. Around it, the seafront promenade is lined with arches, galleries and beach kiosks, and it is a pleasant stroll east to the Palace Pier or west towards the calmer beaches and gardens of Hove.

Planning your visit: opening hours, best time and how to get there

Brighton i360 opening hours usually run from late morning to early evening, with longer days in summer. Flights leave every 30 minutes; arrive 20 minutes before your time slot to pass the airport-style security check. The best time to visit the Brighton i360 is on a clear afternoon or near sunset, when the light over the sea is warm and soft. Flights operate in light rain, which can create dramatic skies.

How to get to the Brighton i360? From Brighton railway station, it is about 15 minutes on foot straight down the hill to the seafront, or a short ride on a local bus. The tower is on Lower Kings Road, opposite the main shopping streets. Combine your flight with the Royal Pavilion, the lanes of the old town or a ride on the seafront zip wire.