Brighton i360 Tickets: What to Know Before You Go

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The Brighton i360 is one of the most recognisable sights on the Sussex seafront: a slender 162m (450ft) tower with a giant glass viewing pod that glides up its side for panoramic views over Brighton, the coast and the South Downs. It sits on Lower Kings Road, right beside the ruined West Pier in central Brighton. If you're weighing up a visit, here's an honest, up-to-date guide to what it is, what you'll see and how the ticketing works.

What is the Brighton i360?

The i360 is a vertical observation tower, sometimes described as a "vertical cable car". Rather than a fixed viewing deck, it uses a fully enclosed glass pod that rises smoothly to near the top of the 162m structure and back down again. A single trip, known as a "flight", lasts around 25 minutes. The pod is climate-controlled and spacious, and there's a bar in the sky serving drinks onboard if you fancy a glass of something while you take in the view.

The tower stands on Brighton seafront at Lower Kings Road, BN1 2LN, immediately next to the skeletal remains of the West Pier, so it's easy to find along the central beachfront.

What you'll see and do

From the pod you get a slow, sweeping 360-degree outlook: the Brighton and Hove coastline, the piers, the beach and rooftops of the city, out across the English Channel, and inland towards the rolling South Downs on a clear day. Because the pod moves gently and you can walk around inside it, everyone gets a look in every direction over the course of the flight.

At the base, the beach building is worth a few minutes of your time. It hosts a free "How it Was Built" exhibition telling the story of the tower's construction, plus a gift shop and a beachfront cafe. You don't need a flight ticket to enjoy the seafront setting around it.

Tickets and practical visiting info

Entry to the i360 is ticketed. The standard adult ticket (ages 16+) is a timed-entry "View 360" flight, priced at £20.50, where you choose a specific slot. There's also a more flexible "View 360 Anytime" ticket at £25.00, which lets you turn up at any time on your chosen date rather than committing to a set slot. Under-2s go free.

Official booking is handled through the i360's own website, which routes through its booking platform. Tickets are also sold through a number of well-known third-party resellers, including GetYourGuide, Tiqets, Viator and TUI Musement, so it's a broadly third-party-ticketed attraction. Wherever you book, your ticket or voucher is scanned as you board the pod, and it's sensible to arrive around 20 minutes before your flight time to allow for boarding.

One naming note worth knowing: the tower was originally branded "British Airways i360", and you'll still see that name on some older third-party listings. The official brand today is simply "Brighton i360" — it's the same tower.

A recent change worth knowing about

The i360 has had an eventful recent history. It went into administration and closed on 20 December 2024 with debts reported at over £50m. It was then bought by Nightcap Ltd, backed by Dragons' Den investor Sarah Willingham, and reopened to the public on 8 March 2025. It is open and operating in 2026, but given that turbulent history it's always wise to check current opening times when you book.

Is Brighton i360 worth it?

It depends on what you're after. If you love a big view and want to see Brighton, the coast and the Downs laid out beneath you, the i360 delivers something you simply can't get from ground level — and doing it with a drink from the sky bar makes it feel like a proper occasion. The 25-minute flight is relaxed and accessible, which suits families and less mobile visitors.

If you're on a tight budget or you're mainly after historic seaside charm rather than panoramas, you might get similar coastal enjoyment for free just by walking the seafront and the piers. The view is the whole point here, so a clear day makes a big difference to how much you'll feel you got for the ticket. Timing your visit for good weather is the single best way to make it worthwhile.

Insider tips for visiting Brighton i360

• Pick a clear day if you can — visibility is everything, and it's the difference between a decent view and a spectacular one out to the Downs and across the Channel.
• Consider the "Anytime" ticket if your day is unpredictable; the extra flexibility lets you wait for the best light or a break in the weather rather than being locked to a slot.
• Arrive around 20 minutes before your flight so boarding is unhurried, especially if you're carrying a scanned voucher from a reseller.
• Don't rush off at the base — the free "How it Was Built" exhibition, the gift shop and the beachfront cafe are all part of the visit.
• Golden hour and sunset flights are lovely for photos, so factor the time of day into which slot you choose.
• Double-check current opening times when you book, given the tower's recent change of ownership and reopening.

📷 Photos via Wikimedia Commons

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