Brighton i360 was designed by the architectural company Marks Barfield, which also designed the London Eye. The building was conceived as a “vertical pier”. The tower is located at the shore end of the ruined West Pier, and the design recreated the original Italianate ticket booths of the West Pier, placed on either side of the entrance, serving as ticket office and tea room.^[4] The design also includes a beachfront building that allows access to the tower and houses a brasserie, café and gift shop.^[9]

The tower is designed as a 162 m (531 ft) tall needle structure with an ascending and descending circular viewing platform with capacity for 200 people.

After breakfast we walked along the beach front in the direction of Hove taking in some of the points of interest in another walk from the Rough Guide to Brighton, Sussex and the West Downs. We walked as far as the iconic beach huts before it was time to retrace our steps to the Brighton i360.

We waited for the pod to arrive and were advised to join the front of the queue so that we would be able to get a seat if we wished. There was a party of young school children in the fluorescent yellow jackets that were also joining the tour. The talk was interesting; one of the facts we learned is that you cannot see France from Brighton as it is below the horizon. It goes without saying the views from the top were amazing.

We descended from the giddy hights and once again walked along seafront in the direction of the Sea Life centre which we planned to visit next. We stopped to have a shared portion of fish on the pier. The service was rather slow and the fish was nothing to shout about. As we were eating, we spotted someone being dive bombed and chased by seagulls that were trying to grab a wrapped sandwich he was carrying.

Afterwards we had a drink in the Café bar attached to the Volk’s Railway Station. We had a lovely chat with the lady who served us and she gave some interesting ideas for restaurants that we might try.

Whilst we enjoyed the Sea Life centre especially the jelly fish and the tunnel with the sharks swimming around us, we left slightly disappointed by the experience.

We strolled along the seafront taking a detour to Waterstones for cake and refreshment then returned to the hotel to chill out before dining in the Salt Room. This restaurant, which specialises in fish dishes, is in the Double Tree by Hilton which is the hotel next door to the Grand. We had a table on the terrace which was surrounded by flower tubs. It was a delightful setting and the food was delicious.

By the time we had finished eating it had dropped a little chilly so we returned to the warmth of our hotel bar for a nightcap.