Brighton's i360: A Trip in The Moving Observation Tower

Brighton is a vibrant and quirky seaside city with a hint of a hippy-esque charm, and known as being the LGBTQ+ capital of the UK. It’s full of rainbow flags, artisan coffee shops, independent boutique stores and plenty of quaint streets to wander around. But did you know you can gain epic panoramic views over this lively city from the Brighton i360 tower? And if you’re seeking thrills to release your inner daredevil, they now offer high-adrenaline experiences like the 360 drop. A leg shaking experience thats sure to set your pulse racing as you dangle from the pod and abseil 138 meters back down onto solid ground.

The i360 is Brighton’s go at a fun observation tower, with a unique appearance resembling a UFO looking glass pod which you’ll easily be able to spot as you stroll along the promenade. I like the unusual design and think it looks truly intriguing!

So before you grab yourself a ticket and take a flight 450 feet up into the sky, here’s everything you need to know.

Where is the I360 in Brighton?

The i360 is along the sea front in Brighton, the full address is:

Brighton i360

Lower Kings Road

Brighton

BN1 2LN

Or use what3words ///march.range.youth

How tall is the tower?

The i360 tower is 162 metres tall, thats about the same as 54 elephants stacked on-top of one another! The passenger viewing pod doesn’t quite go all the way to the top. It stops a smidge lower at 138 metres – which still felt impressively high to me, especially when humans became the size of ants!

How much are tickets for the Brighton i360?

For a regular ticket (where you book a time slot) adults cost £17.95, children aged 4-15 are £8.95 and under 4’s are free. Or if you want an ‘anytime’ ticket which offers more flexibility, these are slightly more at: Adult £19.95, 4-15’s £9.95 and under 4’s free.

They also have a ticket option which includes one drink in the Sky bar. These tickets cost £27.95 per adult, 4-15 year olds are £12.95 and under 4’s are £3.50.

Personally, I’m not sure the drinks package is worth it, but I think the regular ticket’s are fairly priced.

What are the opening hours?

The opening times change throughout the year, so you’ll need to check directly on their website for the day you’re planning to visit. At the time of writing this in December, the opening times are:

Weekdays

First ride: 11:00AM

Last ride: 4:30PM

Weekends

First ride: 11:00AM

Last ride: 5:30PM

Can you see much of Brighton from the i360 tower?

When we visited Brighton the weather wasn’t all that great, with thick cloud persistently trying to obstruct our aerial view (the i360 was still super fun though!)

On a clear day though, you’ll be able to soak in 360-degree views all across Brighton & Hove and the South Downs. If you’re extra lucky with an ultra clear day, then you’ll have views all the way to Beachy Head, which is 17 miles east of Brighton i360. But whats even more impressive is, 49 miles west you’ll be able to see the Isle of Wight in the distance which is insane!

Is the i360 scary?

If you stay safely inside the pod and don’t attempt any of the new adrenalin challenges, then I wouldn’t say the i360 is scary. However, it does feel exceptionally high when you’re at the top – much higher than I thought it would! The pod climbs up the tower fairly slowly though, and as it doesn’t rotate (unlike the Euromast in Rotterdam) there’s no funfair ride vibes happening here.

It wobbled slightly on our trip, but we headed up on the weekend that storm Eunice came to visit England. So the wind was flexing its muscles and being abnormally powerful that day.

Therefor, on a regular day, I doubt you feel it move at all!

How long does the i360 flight take?

Each soaring pod journey lasts around 25 minutes, consisting of 5 minutes climbing, 15 minutes at the top to wander around and enjoy the views, then 5 minutes to return back down.

You also need to arrive 20 minutes ahead of your booking, to allow enough time to pass through the security checks prior to your trip. It’s a little bit like an airport, so they check your bags and you also need to walk through a security body scanner.

Is there a toilet inside the i360?

Not inside the glass viewing pod, no. But there are toilets on the ground level of the building, inside the cafe and gift shop.

Do you need a passport for the i360

The i360 used to be sponsored by British Airways and your entry ticket was given to you as a boarding pass – however you never actually needed a passport. British Airways no longer sponsor the i360, so i’m not sure if your ticket still looks like a boarding pass. I think tickets would look different now as they have changed all their branding too.

Can you climb the i360 tower

They have recently added some exhilarating thrills for the adrenaline junkies at the i360, which all come under the ‘Extreme 360’ umbrella. One of which is climbing the pod of the tower whilst 138 meters up in the sky… eek! So yes, if you want to climb the tower, you now have that option!

What is the Extreme 360?

Extreme 360 is the place to go for Brighton’s biggest thrills! These three new challenges called Walk 360, Climb 360 & Drop 360 give you a chance to face your fears and push yourself to the limit.

Walk 360:

This experience could be the most thrilling walk of your life! Walk 360 will have you harnessed up, climbing out a hatch and walking about on the roof of the i360 pod, all whilst being 138 metres up in the sky. This adrenalin fuelled adventure certainly isn’t made for the faint-hearted.

Drop 360:

So you’ve completed walking on the roof with Walk 360! Now how about leaning back and abseiling down from it? Drop 360 will have you dangling 138 meters as you slow descend back down to earth whilst enjoying incredible views along the way – if you’re brave enough to open your eyes that is!

Climb 360:

If neither Walk 360 or Drop 360 take your fancy. What about Climb 360, where you can challenge yourself with the highest climb in all of Brighton! This clammy palm adventure will see you stepping out onto the very top of the tower itself, at a scary 162 meters above sea level!

What is Skate 360?

Back down at street level you’ll find another new addition to the i360, in the form of an open air roller rink!

This roller rink sits right beside the i360 and offers views across to the iconic West Pier and the pebbled beach below. Pop on your own skates or hire some for a small fee to enjoy busting some moves to music, whilst whizzing around on the colourful mural floor.

If you’re not too confident balancing on 4 wheels, you can upgrade your ticket to include a trusty skate aid.

Skating sessions last 45 minutes and prices start at £6.50.

Discounts for blue light holders at the i360

If you’re a Blue Light or Defence Discount Service cardholder, you can get 10% off a full-priced ticket.

How can I book tickets?

You can prebook tickets in advance on the i360 website. Or if you don’t want to book online, you can purchase tickets from the i360 ticket office on Kings Road, Brighton, BN1 2LN which is what we did.

Can I just turn up, or do I need to book in advance?

You don’t need to prebook, as you can buy tickets from the i360 ticket office. However, if you’re set on a certain day and time, then your best option would be to prebook. Otherwise you could miss out on the time slot you wanted, especially if you’re attending on a busy weekend or school holiday.

Can dogs go on the i360?

Only guide dogs are allowed on the Brighton i360. However all dogs are welcome inside the gift shop and cafe.

Santa in the sky

Meeting Santa in the sky is a new and unique event thats been introduced for 2023. Not only do you get to enjoy the views from the viewing pod, but you also get to visit Santa 450ft above the city. All children’s tickets include a free gift, but sadly none for you adults!

Adult tickets: £19.75, Child aged 4-15: £14.25, Under 4’s: £7.65

Even if the weather in old Blighty isn’t the best, you’ll still have plenty of fun heading up in the i360 and seeing the city from a different perspective. The 25 minute trip felt plenty long enough to walk about and enjoy the views, and if you’d purchased a drink you should have long enough to enjoy it. It’s a shame that the British Airways sponsorship has come to an end as the boarding passes were quite fun, but the new adrenaline 360 additions have provided some heart-racing thrills for the daredevils of Brighton.

Are you brave enough to give one a try?

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Brighton’s i360: A Trip in The Moving Observation Tower