Brighton’s British Airways i360 takes the idea of a seaside pier skywards. Its enclosed glass pod carries visitors above the promenade to a viewing height of 138 metres, with views across the South Downs and the south coast. On clear days, the Isle of Wight is visible. The tower, designed by Marks Barfield and built using British steel, opened to the public on 4 August 2016.
A pier that rises above the promenade
The i360 is 162 metres tall. Rather than extending out over the water, as a traditional pier does, it offers a moving viewpoint above Brighton’s seafront. Visitors travel upwards inside the enclosed pod, looking out over the town and its surroundings as the coastline opens up below them.
The design is by Marks Barfield, the team behind the London Eye. The i360’s panoramic outlook brings several parts of the landscape into view: Brighton’s built-up seafront, the South Downs inland and the coast stretching away on either side. The Isle of Wight may also be seen when conditions are clear. The changing visibility is part of the experience; the view is shaped by the weather as well as by the tower’s height.
New structure, older seafront
The tower stands beside the remains of the West Pier, a Grade I listed structure destroyed by fire. That setting places the i360’s contemporary design alongside a conspicuous remnant of Brighton’s earlier seafront. The new tower does not replace the West Pier, but the contrast between the two is part of the site: one is an operating visitor attraction, the other a reminder of a lost structure.
The i360 was built using 1,336 tonnes of British steel. Its profile makes it a prominent feature of the shoreline, while the pod’s ascent gives visitors a practical way to encounter the structure and its setting. The attraction also hosts events, including weddings and corporate functions, extending its use beyond the viewing journey.
Why the British Airways i360 deserves a place in British Legacy
The i360 deserves attention for a specific design idea: it turns the language of the British seaside pier upright. Instead of leading visitors out over the water, it lifts them above Brighton in an enclosed pod, offering a broad view of the town, the South Downs and the coast. Its 162-metre height, the 138-metre viewing point and the use of British steel give that idea a tangible engineering form. Designed by Marks Barfield and opened in 2016, it is a modern addition to the built environment of an English seaside city.
Its location gives the tower a further connection to place. Beside the remains of the West Pier, it occupies a seafront already marked by a structure with a very different history and present condition. The i360 does not stand apart from Brighton’s heritage: its relationship with the surviving pier remains is visible from the site and from the pod above it. As an observation attraction and events venue, it adds a contemporary public destination to the waterfront. That combination of a distinctive design, a local setting and a new way to see the south coast makes it a grounded part of Britain’s architectural and seaside story.
