The tallest moving observation tower in the world opens to the public tomorrow.
The British Airways i360 consists of a glass viewing pod that slowly ascends a slender 162-metre mast on the seafront in Brighton on England’s south coast.
David Marks and Julia Barfield, the husband and wife team of architects who designed the tower, also designed the London Eye. The Brighton tower to 12 years to come to fruition and is 27 metres taller than the capital’s observation wheel.
It cost £46 million (Dh225.5m) to build and will be the highest viewing platform in Britain outside of London.
Situated at the site of Brighton’s famous derelict West Pier, the i360 is designed to serve as a “vertical pier”. The architects say it will allow “visitors to ‘walk on air’ and gain a new perspective of the city, just as they ‘walked on water’ in the past and viewed the city from the sea”.
The glass viewing pod is 10 times the size of a London Eye capsule and can hold up to 200 people at a time. In the evenings, the pod becomes a Sky Bar – allowing groups to party as they take in the 360 degree views of the city by night.
On a clear day, visitors will enjoy 360 degree views for up to 40km.
Ticket prices start at £13.50 for adults and £6.75 for children from 4 to 15 years old. Under 4s go for free.
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