Brighton West Pier

What's left of Brighton West Pier is essentially a skeletal reminder of what was once the town's grandest entertainment venue. Built in 1866, it's now a decaying iron structure jutting into the sea - no funfair, no theatres, no crowds. Just rust, exposed girders, and the relentless sea eating away at it.

You can't actually walk on it anymore. Access has been restricted for years, and frankly, it's not safe. But that doesn't stop people coming to photograph it from the promenade. There's something compelling about watching a Victorian landmark slowly disappear. It's melancholic rather than uplifting - a proper memento mori for a seaside town.

This is genuinely worth viewing if you're interested in industrial history or Victorian engineering, but manage your expectations. Bring a decent camera if you want decent shots. Twenty minutes of your time, maximum. The real action on Brighton's seafront happens at the working Palace Pier to the east.

If you're camping at Pegs and Pitches or Brighton Caravan and Motorhome Club just down the coast, West Pier makes an easy morning walk along the promenade. Combine it with a proper wander around the Lanes, the seafront itself, or the shingle beach. It's not a destination in itself - it's a poignant waypoint on a Brighton day out. The pier's slow collapse is darkly fascinating, but don't expect to spend hours here. Go for the story, not for activities.