Offers of Helicopter Flights Brighton

Brighton seafront is a picture postcard location, complete with beach huts, fish and chip shops and the Brighton Palace Pier which has amusements and rides on a platform above the sea. Rising up above all of this, the i360 is one of the city’s most cutting edge attractions. It’s an observation tower with a moving pod which, ascending to 162 metres above the beach, is one of the highest of its kind in the world. The donut shaped pod is made of glass and steel and it allows for 360º views over the city, the green hills of the South Downs beyond and out to sea. Although well worth a visit, it’s not the best way to get an all encompassing, aerial view of the area. No, the most exciting, rewarding and exclusive tours take place in a helicopter.

They were described by their inventor as the most versatile instrument ever invented, and this is demonstrated by their ability to fly at speeds of over 100 miles per hour, and come to a complete stop in mid air to hover in place at sites of interest. All of this makes them perfect for sightseeing, as you can whizz from point to point, and take your time to see the detail when you’re there. It also makes them great fun to fly, and if you’re the kind of person who gets impatient as a passenger, you’ll be delighted to learn that trial lessons are on offer here alongside pleasure flights. Finally, we want to point out that, contrary to popular belief, this activity isn’t reserved for the rich and famous - you can organise your experience the way you want it, and at a lower price than you might think.

Where can you fly in a helicopter tour in Brighton? Brighton?

Any helicopter flight in the area will begin at Brighton City Airport in Shoreham-by-Sea. It’s easily reached from the city centre by public transport or the A27, and the journey back in the air is one of the highlights of the journey.

• Seafront: After taking off from the airport, you’ll follow the beach which extends for over 6 miles along the shore. One of the first landmarks that you’ll fly over is the Hove Lagoon watersports centre, located just a stone’s throw away from the beach. Then come the colourful beach huts and elegant lawns of Hove’s promenade, where stately crescents of Georgian houses descend towards the beach. Next up is the helicopter’s rival, the i360 observation tower, which sits at the point where the old West Pier joined the seafront. The remains of the old pier can still be seen sticking out of the sea away from the shore. Between these ruins and the Palace Pier is the most popular part of Brighton Beach. In the summer months it’s packed with sunbathers, while other people play volleyball on the sand or have a drink at one of the bars by the beach. The beach ends at Marina, a port for luxury yachts which also hosts a cinema, a casino, and other leisure facilities.

• Brighton City: One of the historical icons is the Royal Pavilion. From a helicopter you’ll notice its architecture is influenced by Indian temples, but we urge you to include a tour of the Chinese style interior during your time here. The Pavilion sits in pleasant gardens, which are bounded on 3 sides by the Lanes, narrow streets and alleyways that are full of jewellery shops, vintage boutiques and restaurants. Larger parks like the Level and Preston Park are a little further from the seafront, and houses rise up on hills that surround the city centre.

• Falmer Stadium: This is the home of Brighton and Hove Albion, also known as The Seagulls, a Premier League club that’s adored by its fans. As well as hosting league matches, it was also one of the venues of the 2022 Women’s Euro tournament and saw the Lionesses thrash Norway 8-0. Just across the road is the campus of the University of Sussex. Built in the 1960s, the campus was laid out in the shape of the British Isles, with individual buildings designed to reflect their functions. Can you spot the library, with its open book motive, or Falmer House which houses the Student’s Union and looks like a camera?

• South Downs: The city is bounded on two sides by the South Downs National Park. Rolling green hills hide quaint villages, and end abruptly at the coast in a series of white cliffs. North is Devil’s Dyke, a dramatic valley that falls away from some of the highest peaks in the area.

Options for organising an experience

- Going up into the air can be a nerve racking experience, even in the familiar surroundings of a commercial airliner, so we’re happy to tell you that you don’t have to commit to a long haul flight to experience this city from the air. In just 10 minutes, you can take a pleasure flight along the seafront from Shoreham to the Marina and back, or extend your trip to take in Falmer Stadium and more of the city for an extra 10 minutes. If you want to see more of the county of Sussex, including mediaeval castles and royal palaces, you can organise a 30 or 45 minute flight, during which time you can cover between 50 and 100 miles!

- For the budding pilots among us, trial lessons are the best way to have the experience of piloting a helicopter. If you book a 1 hour lesson, you’ll have a preflight briefing before getting into the cockpit. Your pilot will be responsible for take off and landing, but you’ll have a chance to take the controls during the 20 minutes of airtime.

Requirements to do this activity

Helicopter tours of Brighton use a 4 seater Robinson R44 helicopter. Robinson is one of the most trusted names in the industry, and they’re especially good for sightseeing due to their large windows. If you’re taking a trial lesson, you can also take one of these machines and have an audience to your pilot’s experience, or choose the 2 seater R22 for a more agile flight. There are weight restrictions for passengers in helicopters, and if any of the potential passengers for your flight weighs more than 20 stone, or 127 kilograms, you’ll have to contact the operator to make sure that the activity will be viable.

If you love this city's beach or the streets, you’ll adore it from the air. Make a booking today!