A Classic Seaside Pier
Brighton Palace Pier is the kind of place that defines the British seaside. Stretching 524 metres out over the English Channel, it is packed with the sights, sounds and smells of a traditional pier. Candy floss, fish and chips, clattering arcade machines and the screams from fairground rides all compete for your attention as you walk from the entrance to the far end.
The pier has been part of Brighton's seafront since 1899, when it opened as the Palace Pier. It was designed by Richard St George Moore and was originally a more refined affair, with a theatre and a reading room. Over the decades, the entertainment shifted toward amusements and rides, and today it is an unashamedly fun destination that leans into its seaside character.
What You Will Find
The pier is divided into roughly three sections. Near the entrance, you will find food outlets selling doughnuts, ice cream and fish and chips. The middle section is dominated by indoor arcades filled with slot machines, grabber cranes, air hockey tables and classic games. Some of the machines are charmingly old-fashioned, sitting alongside newer video games and simulators.
At the far end of the pier is the funfair section, with a small collection of rides including a log flume, a carousel, spinning rides and a few thrill rides for those who want something more intense. The rides are not on the scale of a full theme park, but they have a cheerful seaside charm, and riding them while surrounded by open sea on three sides is a distinct experience.
Eating on the Pier
There are several restaurants and takeaway stands on the pier. The options lean toward traditional seaside fare. Fish and chips is the obvious choice, and several outlets serve it. You can eat inside or take your food to one of the benches along the railings and eat it with a view of the sea, though you may need to defend your chips from the seagulls.
The West Pier
One of the most striking sights from Brighton Palace Pier is the ruined West Pier, which stands about 500 metres to the west along the beach. The West Pier opened in 1866 and was once considered the more elegant of Brighton's two piers. It closed in 1975, was damaged by storms in 2002 and then destroyed by two suspicious fires in 2003.
What remains is a skeletal iron framework rising from the water, slowly rusting and collapsing into the sea. It has become an accidental landmark, and many people find the contrast between the bustling Palace Pier and the haunting remains of the West Pier one of the most evocative sights on the south coast. The i360, a tall observation tower, now stands on the seafront near where the West Pier once met the shore.
Free to Enter
The pier itself is free to enter and walk along. You only pay for the rides and the arcades, so it is perfectly possible to stroll to the end, enjoy the views and soak up the atmosphere without spending anything. On a clear day, the views back toward Brighton and along the coast in both directions are excellent. Visiting during the best time of year for Brighton makes the pier especially enjoyable.
