We caught our first glimpse of one of Brighton’s most iconic attractions from the balcony of our room at the Doubletree by Hilton Brighton Metropole.
The Brighton i360, previously known as the British Airways i360 is not only the world’s tallest moving observation tower at 162 metres tall but its also the world’s most slender tower and this was one of the attractions that we were most looking forward to experiencing during our visit to Brighton.
This huge futuristic structure is from the same architects behind the London Eye and its in a prime position, right on Brighton’s seafront in the location of what was the former West Pier – you can still see the ruins of the rusted framework of the pier out at sea. What captures your attention as you stand at the base of the needle before you enter is just how tall it actually is.
We were invited to try the Sky Bar 360 experience (£28.80 per adult) so we booked our tickets in advance, hoping to catch sunset in Brighton from this unique vantage point. What made this ticket more unique was that it also included a drink on-board from their Nyetimber Sky Bar.
Much like a flight you are recommended to arrive early to check-in before your journey (20-30 minutes) and after ticket checks your journey starts with a security checkpoint before entering the waiting room. Whilst we waited for the previous journey to land back onto solid ground, we took the opportunity to read about the construction of the attraction in the waiting room where there is also a small bar.
Once ready to board, the double doors open and we made our way into the spacious glass sphere – a perfectly designed 360 degree observation deck. What really captures your attention is just how big this pod is, it’s a really clever piece of modern engineering and the pod is much larger (10 times the size) than the ones on the London Eye so there was plenty of room to walk around and explore.
The interior of the pod is just as striking as its size, a real modern space with some seating and a stylish on-board bar serving drinks from local suppliers.
We started our experience at the Nyetimber bar taking advantage of our ticket which included a drink up to the value of £13.50 each. Being in Brighton, we had to try the regions Nyetimber English sparking wine which was the perfect way to begin our adventure.
As the space-age pod rises skyward at 0.4 meters per second it was so smooth we hardly noticed it moving in this world first vertical cable car, and suddenly we could see the panoramic views become more expansive as moved toward the top of the tower at 450ft.
We were lucky with the weather during our visit so we could see for miles as we walked around the circular pod taking in the multiple vantage points on offer.
To the south we could see the English channel and the remains of old pier and to the east we could see the famous Brighton Pier and beyond that the white sea cliffs of the Seven Sisters. In the other direction the coastal views extended out over Hove and towards Worthing.
To the North, we recognised our hotel down below from its giant Doubletree cookie painted on its rooftop and views over the city of Brighton towards the hills of the South Downs, that’s the beauty of this attraction, you get to experience so many unique vantage points of this part of the country.
After 10 minutes at the top of the tower, we glide back down to earth to complete this enjoyable 25 minute journey. We exited via the ground floor into the beach building which is where their gift shop and café is located, so its perfect for picking up any souvenirs from your visit or to enjoy hot drinks and snacks overlooking the seafront.
Overall
We really enjoyed this unique experience, it’s an incredible feat of engineering. The views at the top are spectacular and something I would recommend if you are in Brighton for the first time.
Ready to book?
For more information and to book a flight visit the Brighton i360 website.