Although I’d visited Brighton twice already in the five months I’d been in London, I hadn’t yet made it out on the Brighton Pier. We came down on a beautifully sunny weekend and took the time to stroll along the Pier, checking out its many delights from the roller coaster rides to candy floss and toffee apples.
The pier was opened in 1899 to great fanfare. “Amusement” machines were first installed in 1905 and are now one of the main attractions of the pier, with the Horror House, the Crazy Mouse roller coaster and the Helter Skelter all producing screams of terror and delight while we were there.
Kate and Sarah-Rose enjoying their sweet treats
I remember riding one of these when I was little in Wellington… definitely in the green zone now!
Rather scandalously, there used to be a rival pier to the Brighton Pier, known as the West Pier. Built in 1866, it closed in 1975 and was left to be deteriorate while it awaited restoration, although it was largely destroyed by fire in 2003. It is a rather desolate sight just off the beach, although I imagine the many birds nesting there think it is heaven!
While in Brighton we couldn’t resist a quick trip to track down a Banksy artwork, the Kissing Coppers. Tucked away on a side street near the railway station, it is part of a much larger and very colourful depiction of popular musicians. I loved all Brighton’s graffiti and particularly this building – very cool!
Have you visited Brighton? What are your favourite places there?
