Brighton Palace Pier, Brighton, Visitor Guide & Things to Do Nearby

Brighton Palace Pier is a Victorian seaside pier on the seafront in Brighton, on the south coast of England. It is packed with arcades, funfair rides, food stalls and sea views, and it is one of the best-known images of the city.

The story behind it

The pier opened in 1899 and was designed by the engineer Richard St George Moore. It stretches out over the English Channel and was built as a place for Victorian holidaymakers to stroll, eat and be entertained. More than a century later it still does the same job, with a funfair at the far end, bars, arcades and snack kiosks along the way.

The pier has also had a long screen career. It appears in Brighton Rock, the story of a seaside gangster from Graham Greene, and in Quadrophenia, the film about Brighton's mods and rockers. Both helped fix the pier in the popular picture of the city's seafront. In the evening its strings of lights glow against the sky, which makes it especially atmospheric after dark.

What to look for

• Look back from the far end of the pier to see the Brighton seafront stretched out along the shore, with the hills of the South Downs behind.
• Notice the pier's ornate Victorian character, including the decorative kiosks and the lines of lamps running down the decking.
• Walk to the funfair at the seaward end and watch the rides against the open water of the Channel.
• Gaze down through the gaps in the boards to see the waves moving beneath your feet.

Tips for your visit

• Allow about an hour to walk out, look around and come back. Add more if you plan to eat, play the arcades or ride the funfair.
• Walking onto the pier has traditionally not carried an entry charge, while rides and games are paid separately. Check current opening hours and arrangements before you go.
• Visit in the evening if you want to see the pier lit up, or earlier in the day for quieter decking and clearer views.
• The pier sits right on the seafront, so the beach, the Lanes and the rest of central Brighton are all within an easy walk.

See it on a quest

You can reach the pier on foot as one stop of Highlights of Brighton: Lost Letter, a self-guided walk through the city that you play on your phone. The app tells you about each place as you get there and sets a puzzle based on what is in front of you, so you look at the pier and its surroundings more closely than you would on a quick stroll. You can start at any time with no guide and no group to join, and one ticket covers the whole group.