Brighton Pier | Brighton

Information

Landmark: Brighton Pier
City: Brighton
Country: United Kingdom
Continent: Europe

Brighton Pier, Brighton, United Kingdom, Europe

Brighton Palace Pier is a Grade II* listed pleasure pier in Brighton, United Kingdom. It is situated on the central seafront at the terminus of the Old Steine.

Visual Characteristics

The structure is a Victorian iron-piled pier extending 524 meters (1,722 feet) into the English Channel. Its architecture is characterized by white-painted ornamental ironwork, orientalist-style domes, and illuminated arcades. The deck is constructed of traditional timber planking. At night, the pier is outlined by approximately 67,000 light bulbs.

Location & Access Logistics

The pier is located at Madeira Drive (BN2 1PS).

Public Transport: Brighton Railway Station is 1.1km north. Multiple bus routes (including the 12, 14, and 700) stop at the Old Steine or Seafront stops adjacent to the entrance.

Road: Vehicle access is via the A259 (Kings Road).

Parking: No on-site parking. The nearest facilities are The Lanes Car Park (0.4km) and NCP Brighton Theatre (0.6km).

Access: The main deck is flat and fully accessible for wheelchairs and strollers. Some fairground rides have specific physical access requirements.

Historical & Ecological Origin

Opened in 1899, it was designed by R. St George Moore to replace the Old Chain Pier. It was the third pier built in Brighton. Unlike the nearby derelict West Pier, the Palace Pier has remained operational as a commercial entertainment hub. The marine ecology beneath the pier supports diverse populations of sea anemones, mussels, and crabs, which thrive on the iron lattice structure.

Key Highlights & Activities

Fairground: Located at the seaward end, featuring a helter-skelter, a carousel, and modern thrill rides.

Palace Arcade: A high-density electronic entertainment center with traditional and modern gaming machines.

Side Shows: Traditional "hook-a-duck" stalls and fortune tellers.

Deckchairs: Rows of traditional striped deckchairs are available for public use during summer months.

Infrastructure & Amenities

The facility includes multiple food outlets specializing in fish and chips, donuts, and rock candy. There is a sit-down restaurant, Palm Court, and several bars (Horatio's Bar). Public restrooms and baby-changing facilities are located at the mid-section and the end of the pier. 5G cellular coverage is strong across the entire structure.

Best Time to Visit

Open daily from 10:00 (except Christmas Day). Sunset provides the optimal light for photography of the West Pier ruins from the deck. Summer weekends experience peak visitor density; weekday mornings are optimal for low-occupancy exploration.

Facts & Legends

A verified historical oddity is that the pier's theater was destroyed by a barge during a storm in 1973 and never rebuilt. Local lore frequently mentions the "Pier Starling Murmurations," where thousands of birds perform synchronized flights around the structure at dusk during winter months.