Travel bucket list idea:
Brighton Pier
Brighton, West Sussex, United Kingdom (UK)
Credit Shutterstock.com/I Wei Huang
Last updated: 07 February, 2024
Brighton is still, first and foremost, a seaside resort, and its famous 524m-long pier – completed in 1899 – is a charming reminder of a tradition dating back to Victorian times.
Today, the pier is home to a collection of amusement arcades, sideshows, food stalls and fairground rides: kids will love the carousel and helter-skelter, while the more adventurous can brave the Turbo Coaster coaster to experience forces of nearly 4G.
It may be kitsch and old-fashioned, but Brighton Pier remains a vital part of British seaside history.
Logistics
Price: Free
Minimum age: 0
Age suitable: 0+
When: All year around
Getting there & doing it
If you’re coming from the train station, head straight down Queen’s Road to the seafront and turn left; you can’t miss the proud boardwalk jutting out into the sea.
Take a leisurely stroll along the length of it, taking in the sea views and sampling everything from local shellfish to candy floss at the numerous food stalls along the way. Bring cash for coin-operated amusements, sweets and refreshments.
When to do it
The pier is accessible seven days a week, with slightly different times in summer and winter. Winter is quietest; summer sees big crowds. The noise and bustle are part of the experience, but July and August are particularly crowded.
Daytime is best for families, while in the evening the bars get into full swing and the pier is lit up by 62,000 bulbs.
