Brighton i360 Facts for Kids

Quick facts for kids Brighton i360

View of the i360 from King's Road in 2018
General information
Status	Complete
Type	Observation tower
Location	Brighton & Hove
Country	England
Coordinates	50°49′17″N 0°09′03″W / 50.8214°N 0.1507°W / 50.8214; -0.1507
Groundbreaking	29 July 2014
Estimated completion	Summer 2016
Opening	4 August 2016
Cost	£46.2 million
Height	162 m (531 ft)
Design and construction
Architect	David Marks and Julia Barfield
Architecture firm	Marks Barfield
Structural engineer	Jacobs Engineering
Main contractor	Hollandia Infra BV

The Brighton i360 is a tall, moving observation tower in Brighton, East Sussex, England. It stands on the seafront, near the old West Pier. The tower opened on August 4, 2016.

From its special glass viewing pod, visitors get amazing 360-degree views. You can see across Brighton, the beautiful South Downs, and the English Channel. The i360 was designed by the same team who created the famous London Eye. It cost about £46 million to build.

What is the Brighton i360?
How Was the i360 Designed?
How Was the i360 Built?
How Was the i360 Funded?
Opening and Daily Operations
Different Views on the i360
World Record Claim
Other Uses of the i360
Images for kids
See also

What is the Brighton i360?

The Brighton i360 is a unique observation tower. It's 162 meters (531 feet) tall. The main part is a slim needle-like structure. A circular glass pod moves up and down this tower.

This pod can hold up to 200 people at once. It gives everyone a fantastic view of the area. The i360 was sometimes called the "vertical pier." This is because it stands where the old West Pier used to be.

How Was the i360 Designed?

An early drawing of the tower's design

The company Marks Barfield designed the Brighton i360. They are also known for designing the London Eye. They imagined the i360 as a "vertical pier."

The tower is built at the start of the ruined West Pier. Its design includes ticket booths and a tea room. These buildings look like the original ones from the old West Pier. There is also a building on the beach. It has a restaurant, a cafe, and a gift shop.

The tower itself is a very thin structure. It is 162 meters (531 feet) tall. The viewing platform is round and can carry 200 people up and down.

Early plans for the tower included a wind turbine and systems to collect rainwater. These were meant to help the environment. However, these ideas were later removed. Developers said the turbine might cause problems with the tower's safety system. They also said the rainwater was too dirty to use.

How Was the i360 Built?

The i360 being built in June 2015

Plans for the i360 were first shared in June 2006. The city council approved them later that year. Construction was supposed to start in 2007. There were some delays, but parts of the tower began to be made in the Netherlands in 2008.

Work on the tower itself started in May 2014. The goal was to open the attraction in 2016. A company from the Netherlands, Hollandia Infra BV, made the steel parts of the tower. These parts are called "cans."

The main column is about 3.9 meters (12.7 feet) wide. It is known as the world's thinnest tower. This is because it is very tall compared to how wide it is.

The glass pod for visitors was made by Poma. They also built the capsules for the London Eye. The pod is 18 meters (59 feet) wide. It can hold up to 200 people. The pod travels up to 138 meters (453 feet) high. It then comes back down to beach level.

The pod has curved glass for 360-degree views. It is heated and air-conditioned. It is also easy for wheelchairs to use and has seats. There is even a bar and restaurant in the building at the bottom.

Many people were excited about the project. English Heritage said it would be an "outstanding feature" on the seafront. The West Pier Trust hoped it would help Brighton's economy. The i360 also won several awards for its design and construction in 2017.

How Was the i360 Funded?

Building the i360 was a very expensive project. It was first planned to be paid for by private companies. However, after a financial crisis, the designers asked the Brighton and Hove Council for help.

The council agreed to lend money for the project. In March 2014, the total cost was expected to be £46 million. The council lent £36.2 million from a special government loan board. The designers, Marks Barfield, also put in £6 million. The agreement meant the designers would pay the council £1 million each year from their profits.

The number of visitors expected was very high. However, the actual number of visitors was lower than predicted. This made it harder for the i360 to pay back its loan to the council. In December 2022, the i360 was not able to make a payment. The council had to set aside money from its own budget to cover future missed payments.

Opening and Daily Operations

Passengers getting ready to enter the i360 pod

The old logo of the Brighton i360 when it was sponsored by British Airways

The Brighton i360 officially opened on August 4, 2016. Rides, or "flights," usually last about 25 minutes. They depart every 30 minutes.

Soon after opening, the glass pod had a small crack. It was quickly fixed. The damage was only on the surface and did not affect safety.

The i360 also had some technical problems. In September 2016, the pod got stuck twice. Once, passengers were stuck 9 meters (30 feet) above the ground. Another time, 200 visitors were stuck at ground level for over an hour. The tower was closed for checks. In February 2017, a broken cable caused another two-hour delay. The tower was closed for repairs.

From 2016 to 2022, British Airways sponsored the tower. It was known as the "British Airways i360." In November 2022, the sponsorship ended. The tower is now simply called the "Brighton i360." It also got a new pink and white logo and new lights.

Different Views on the i360

View of i360 from Regency Square. The ruins of the West Pier are on the right.

Not everyone in Brighton agreed with building the i360. Some people thought it was too expensive. They worried about the city council lending so much money. They also felt that the project was not well-planned.

Some residents also thought the tower did not look good. They felt it didn't fit with the older buildings in Brighton. However, others believed it was a great new attraction for the city. They thought it would bring more visitors and help the local economy.

World Record Claim

When the i360 first opened, its owners said it was the "world's tallest moving observation tower." However, this claim was later changed. The Guinness World Records found that another tower, the Top o'Texas Tower, had a moving platform that went higher.

Because of this, the Advertising Standards Authority told British Airways to stop using that advertising claim.

Other Uses of the i360

The i360 has been used for more than just sightseeing. In September 2021, a car company called Caterham Cars used the i360 as a car showroom. They displayed their new car, the Seven 170, inside the pod. This created the world's highest car showroom.

In October 2022, singer Sam Ryder filmed a music video for his song "Somebody" on top of the i360 pod. In November 2022, violinist Esther Abrami also filmed a music video there. She performed "Walking in the Air" from the roof of the tower at night.

In June 2023, plans were approved to add a virtual cricket game called Sixes next to the i360. This game allows visitors to "eat, drink and bat" in special containers. It's another way to attract more people to the area.