About Us
Discover the “Carrot” of Weston-super-Mare – The Silica
Weston's Silica tower of light is one of the town's most curious tourist attractions - and that in itself makes it a must-see!
Dubbed locally as the carrot or parsnip, due to the fact that it looks like a giant root vegetable, this 30-metre high tower divides opinion like nothing else.
Understated in its appearance this quirky 2006 structure is transformed at night.
By day, it’s a curious landmark – bold, tall, and impossible to ignore. But by night? That’s when the magic happens. The Silica comes alive when its spire lights up in a multitude of colours. It represents sand, water, and light – the very elements that make Weston so special – and is a striking piece of public art hiding in plain sight.
It has 6,000 glass prisms and and was designed by artists Wolfgang Buttress and Fiona Heron initially as a bus shelter, information kiosk, and work of art all rolled into one,
After a period in the doldrums it is now going to be returned to being an information provider with touch screens for the public as well as remaining as Weston's most divisive tourist attraction.
Whether you view it as a carrot, parsnip, or even a lava lamp, the Silica invites conversation and a smile. It’s a popular meeting spot and a quirky photo opportunity for tourists exploring the town.
Find it at:
Big Lamp Corner, Weston-super-Mare – right in the town centre, next to the bus interchange.
Local insight:
Some say it’s a carrot. Others say it’s a parsnip. We say it’s time to see it as Weston’s answer to the Eiffel Tower – just a lot shorter and shaped like a vegetable!
Top Tip:
Visit at dusk to see the lighting effects kick in – it makes for a great snapshot and a unique memory of Weston-super-Mare.
So while you're soaking in the traditional seaside charm of Weston, don't miss out on this modern twist – the town's very own vegetable-shaped icon!
