UK Piers & Promenades: 40 Brilliant Seaside Strolls by Coast
There's nothing quite like it. Boards under your feet, gulls overhead, the smell of doughnuts drifting out of a kiosk and the sea sloshing about somewhere below the gaps. A proper British pier is half Victorian engineering, half funfair, and it's one of the cheapest grand days out going.
This guide rounds up forty of the best piers and promenades around the coast, grouped so you can plan a weekend or a whole road trip. Some are packed with rides and arcades, some are peaceful planks stretching out into the waves, and a few are simply glorious stretches of prom made for an evening amble with an ice cream.
Every stop links through to its own page or its town guide, so you can see what else is nearby: arcades, chippies, places to stay and the rest. Grab a coat (it's always windier at the end than you think) and let's go for a walk.
North West England
Lancashire and Merseyside are pier country. Blackpool alone still has three, and the Fylde coast keeps a couple more gems up its sleeve.
North Pier, Blackpool The oldest of Blackpool's three piers is the elegant one: Victorian kiosks, wooden decking and a theatre at the far end. Families pop into the old-school arcade at the front, while grandparents tend to make straight for a deckchair and a view of the Tower. Stroll it at sunset, then head south along the prom for the lights. See North Pier's arcade →
Central Pier, Blackpool Right on the Golden Mile, Central Pier is the noisy middle child, with a big wheel you can spot from miles away and a busy arcade in its entrance building that keeps going all year round. It's the easiest pier to fit into a Blackpool day, sandwiched between the Tower, the chippies and the donkeys on the beach. See Central Pier's arcade →
South Pier, Blackpool Down at South Shore, this pier is all about thrills, with rides out over the sand and an arcade housed under a circus-style big top. It sits a short walk from Pleasure Beach and Sandcastle Waterpark, so it slots neatly into a day at that end of town. Teenagers usually rate it as the most fun of the three. See South Pier's arcade →
Blackpool Promenade Miles of prom, a tramline running alongside and the Tower in the middle: Blackpool's seafront is a day out in itself. In autumn the Illuminations turn the whole stretch into a glowing drive-through show. Ride the tram between the piers to save little legs, and take a look at the quirky public art along the Comedy Carpet near the Tower. Explore Blackpool →
St Annes Pier, Lytham St Annes For a gentler Fylde coast fix, St Annes has a handsome Victorian pier with a Tudor-style frontage and an arcade tucked inside. Sand dunes, a wide beach and neat gardens surround it, and the whole place feels a world away from the Golden Mile just up the road. Combine it with a wander along Lytham Green and its famous windmill. See St Annes Pier, Lytham St Annes →
Southport Pier Southport's iron pier is the second-longest in Britain, and at low tide you may find yourself walking over sand rather than sea for much of it. That's half the charm: big skies, wading birds and a proper sense of distance. Back on land, Lord Street's elegant Victorian canopies and a lap of the marine lake make a cracking pairing. Explore Southport →
Morecambe Promenade and Stone Jetty Morecambe doesn't have a pleasure pier any more, but its prom and Stone Jetty more than make up for it. Look out for the bird sculptures and puzzles set into the jetty, then strike a pose with the Eric Morecambe statue. On a clear day the views across the bay to the Lakeland fells are simply stunning. See Morecambe Stone Jetty →
Wales
Welsh piers come with a mountain backdrop more often than not, and a couple of them are among the prettiest in Britain.
Llandudno Pier The longest pier in Wales curves out from beneath the Great Orme, lined with stalls and finishing at an old bandstand that's now a family arcade. With the sweeping Victorian crescent of hotels behind you, it's postcard Wales at its finest. Pair it with the tram or cable car up the Orme for a full day. See Llandudno Pier's arcades →
Royal Pier, Aberystwyth Wales' first pleasure pier holds a family arcade, but Aberystwyth's real show often happens around it. On winter evenings huge flocks of starlings swirl over the water before roosting under the pier, a sight that draws crowds along the prom. Walk the full seafront to Constitution Hill and kick the bar at the end, as local tradition demands. See the Royal Pier arcade →
Mumbles Pier Sitting at the far end of Swansea Bay, Mumbles Pier has a lifeboat station at its tip and some of the finest views in South Wales. The walk or cycle along the bay from Swansea is flat and easy, and Mumbles village itself has ice cream parlours worth the trip. Kids love spotting boats around the headland. Explore Swansea →
Yorkshire and the North East
Fewer pleasure piers survive up here, so the ones that do are treasured, and the harbour walls and seafronts are every bit as dramatic.
Saltburn Pier Saltburn's pier is the last pleasure pier on the Yorkshire coast, and it's a beauty. Ride the Victorian cliff lift down from town, walk out over the surf and watch the wetsuits bobbing about below. Keep an eye out for the knitted decorations that sometimes appear on the railings, a much-loved local tradition with a cheeky streak. Explore Saltburn →
Whitby's West and East Piers Two stone piers wrap their arms around Whitby harbour, each topped with a lighthouse. Walk the West Pier for views of the abbey ruins high on the cliff, then cross the swing bridge and climb the 199 steps for the reverse angle. Fish and chips on the harbourside is practically compulsory after the walk. Explore Whitby →
Scarborough Foreshore and Marine Drive Scarborough has no pleasure pier, but its seafront is a cracker. The South Bay foreshore buzzes with arcades, rock shops and donkey rides, while Marine Drive curls around the castle headland to the calmer North Bay. Walk the whole loop for sea spray on windy days and a proper sense of the town's two personalities. Explore Scarborough →
Lincolnshire and East Anglia
Flat, sandy and full of character, this coast is packed with classic piers, from tiny Victorian survivors to big amusement palaces.
Cleethorpes Pier and Promenade Cleethorpes Pier is short and sweet these days, its grand pavilion now home to a big fish and chip restaurant. The real joy is the long prom, running past Ross Castle folly and the spot where the Greenwich Meridian meets the coast. Stand with a foot in each hemisphere, then hit the arcades opposite the pier. Explore Cleethorpes →
Skegness Pier Storms shortened it long ago, but Skegness Pier still packs in pushers and fairground games right along its length. Outside, the wide sandy beach and the Jolly Fisherman spirit make it the beating heart of Skeg. It's a brilliant rainy-day bolt-hole, and on sunny days the prom outside turns into one long candy floss trail. See Skegness Pier's arcade →
Cromer Pier Cromer's Victorian pier is pure Norfolk charm, with a lifeboat station at the end and the Pavilion Theatre, famous for its traditional end-of-the-pier variety show. Crabbing off the side is a rite of passage for local kids. Buy a dressed Cromer crab from a shop in town and eat it looking back at the cliffs. Explore Cromer →
Britannia Pier, Great Yarmouth The big beast of Great Yarmouth's Golden Mile mixes a theatre, rides, food stalls and a huge arcade, all on one pier. Summer evenings are when it really comes alive, with show crowds and fairground lights. Walk south along the seafront to the quieter Victorian Wellington Pier, and grab chips from the market on the way back. See Britannia Pier, Great Yarmouth →
Claremont Pier, Lowestoft Lowestoft is Britain's most easterly town, so a stroll here means you're among the first to see the sunrise. Claremont Pier fronts the lovely sandy South Beach with a busy arcade at its land end. Follow up with a paddle and a look at the colourful beach huts lining the prom towards Kensington Gardens. See Claremont Pier's arcade →
Southwold Pier Southwold's pier is gloriously eccentric. Alongside the arcade you'll find Tim Hunkin's homemade machines, a collection of daft, clever coin-op contraptions that delight grown-ups as much as kids. Then wander back past the pastel beach huts and the lighthouse into one of Suffolk's prettiest little towns. See Southwold Pier →
Felixstowe Pier Felixstowe's pier entrance building houses the town's biggest arcade, complete with mini bowling and a prize shop. Outside, the long, tidy prom runs past seafront gardens, so you can mix a brisk walk with some fun. Watch the giant container ships glide past towards the port, a sight that never gets old for curious youngsters. See Felixstowe Pier →
Essex and Kent
Day-trip territory for London families, this stretch has the longest pier on the planet and a handful of quirky alternatives.
Southend Pier The longest pleasure pier in the world stretches well over a mile into the Thames Estuary, so it has its own little railway. Ride one way and walk the other for the full experience. Back at the shore, Adventure Island's rides and the arcades along Marine Parade mean nobody gets bored on a Southend day. Explore Southend →
Clacton Pier Clacton's pier is practically a theme park on stilts, with rides, an observation wheel, life-size dinosaurs, adventure golf and a massive arcade. It's the Essex pier for families who want everything in one place. Budget for a full afternoon, then wind down with a walk along the gardens and sands to the west. See Clacton Pier's arcade →
Walton Pier, Walton-on-the-Naze One of the longer piers on the east coast, Walton's has a big all-weather arcade at its head and anglers lined up along the boards. Afterwards walk north to the Naze, where crumbling cliffs give up fossils and sharks' teeth to sharp-eyed children. The Naze Tower, an old navigation landmark, tops off the outing. See Walton Pier's arcade →
Herne Bay Pier Look out to sea from Herne Bay and you'll spot the stranded old pier head standing alone in the water, all that remains of a much longer original. The charity-run pier today has a carousel, helter-skelter and crabbing spots. It's a great one for younger children, and the seafront gardens nearby are lovely for picnics. See Herne Bay Pier →
Margate Harbour Arm Not a pier in the classic sense, Margate's stone Harbour Arm curls out beside the Main Sands and is lined with bars, cafés and little galleries. It's a cracking spot for sunset, with Turner Contemporary on the shore end and Dreamland's rides a short walk along the front. Families can easily make a full day of it. Explore Margate →
Sussex and the South Coast
From Brighton's bright lights to Hastings' award-winning makeover, the south coast has some of the most famous piers in the country.
Brighton Palace Pier Probably Britain's best-known pier, Brighton Palace Pier is crammed with rides at the end, two huge arcades and doughnut stalls all the way along. From the helter-skelter you can see the skeletal remains of the old West Pier along the beach. Arrive early in summer, because it gets properly rammed by lunchtime. See Brighton Palace Pier →
Eastbourne Pier Eastbourne's Victorian pier dates from the early 1870s and still has the ornate kiosks and domed roofs to prove it. You'll find two arcades, a chippy and tea rooms on the boards. The seafront here is wonderfully tidy, with carpet gardens and a bandstand, and Beachy Head is a short drive away. See Eastbourne Pier →
Hastings Pier After a devastating fire, Hastings Pier was rebuilt as a wide, open deck and went on to win the RIBA Stirling Prize for architecture. It's a striking, uncluttered space for events and sea gazing. Pair it with the Old Town, the tall black net huts on the Stade and, when it's running, a ride on one of the cliff railways. Explore Hastings →
Worthing Pier Worthing's art deco pier has a stylish pavilion at each end and an arcade halfway along. The seafront is calm and spacious, ideal for bikes and scooters, and the shingle beach is great for skimming stones. Pop into one of the cafés on the boards for a cuppa with a proper sea view. See Worthing Pier's arcade →
Clarence Pier, Southsea Clarence Pier is really a seaside funfair on the front, with coasters, kids' rides, crazy golf and arcades open all year. Behind it you'll find Southsea Common and views of the warships heading in and out of Portsmouth Harbour. A great place for a cheeky evening of rides after a day at the historic dockyard. See Clarence Pier, Southsea →
South Parade Pier, Southsea At the other end of Southsea's front, the restored South Parade Pier mixes a family arcade, a kids' funfair and fishing off the end. The walk between the two Southsea piers is flat and full of interest, passing the castle, the model village and the rose gardens. Pack a picnic for the Common. See South Parade Pier, Southsea →
Dorset and the Isle of Wight
Golden sands, chalk cliffs and a ferry ride or two: this is where piers meet the Jurassic Coast.
Bournemouth Pier Bournemouth's pier sits at the centre of miles of golden sand, with an arcade at the entrance and the Oceanarium aquarium right beside it. The prom stretches for miles either way, making it brilliant for cycling. Wander up through the Lower Gardens for some shade when the kids have had too much sun. See Bournemouth Pier's arcade →
Swanage Pier Swanage's Victorian pier is a lovely wooden walk out over clear water, popular with divers, anglers and summer boat trips. Look for the stumps of the even older pier alongside. The bay is sheltered and calm, the steam railway runs into town, and Old Harry Rocks is a short coastal walk away. Explore Swanage →
Weymouth Esplanade Weymouth's Georgian esplanade curves around one of the gentlest, sandiest beaches in the south. The colourful Jubilee Clock is a handy meeting point, and Punch and Judy has long been part of the seafront scene. Walk round to the harbour for crab sandwiches and boat-spotting, then back again for ice cream. Explore Weymouth →
Ryde Pier One of the oldest seaside piers in the country, Ryde Pier is still a working gateway to the Isle of Wight, with trains running out to meet the ferries. Walk it on arrival for a grand entrance to your holiday. Ryde's sands stretch out for miles at low tide, perfect for building and digging. Explore Ryde →
Sandown Pier Sandown's Victorian pier is the island's big all-weather fun hub, with arcades and indoor amusements under one roof. The long sandy beach either side is among the Isle of Wight's best for families, and the cliff-top paths lead to Shanklin's Old Village. A good backup plan when the island's weather turns. See Sandown Pier's arcade →
Somerset, Devon and the Bristol Channel
The South West mixes Victorian finery with lively seaside fun, and one pier here was once called the most beautiful in England.
The Grand Pier, Weston-super-Mare Rebuilt after a fire, Weston's Grand Pier has a vast pavilion packed with rides, arcade games and food stops, making it a top choice whatever the weather. Outside, the tide goes out a long way across the bay. Donkeys on the sands and a walk along the prom round off a classic West Country day. See The Grand Pier, Weston-super-Mare →
Clevedon Pier Sir John Betjeman called Clevedon Pier the most beautiful in England, and it's hard to argue. Slender iron arches carry the deck out over the Severn Estuary with not an arcade in sight. Pay a small toll, wander to the end and soak up the view from the pagoda-roofed pier head. Explore Clevedon →
Burnham-on-Sea Pier Britain's shortest pier is little more than one Edwardian pavilion perched on the sand, and that's exactly why people love it. Pop in for a few goes on the pushers, then hunt down the wooden low lighthouse on stilts just along the beach. Burnham's long esplanade is ideal for an easy, flat walk. See Burnham's pier arcade →
Paignton Pier Paignton's seaside pier is lively and loaded with hundreds of machines, adventure golf and a chippy, all overlooking red sands. The green behind the beach hosts summer events, and the steam railway to Kingswear leaves from nearby. It's a classic English Riviera day out that suits grandparents and grandkids alike. See Paignton Pier's amusements →
Tips for a great pier day out
Check the tide before you go. At places like Southport, Weston and Burnham the sea can disappear for hours, which is fantastic for rock pools and sandcastles but less so if you've promised the kids waves under the boards. Some piers also close in very high winds, so it's worth checking the operator's social pages on stormy days.
Bring layers, even in August, because it's always colder at the end of a pier. Keep a few coins handy for the arcades and an eye on younger children near railings and gaps. Many piers are buggy-friendly but some have steps or slopes at the entrance, so check access if you need it.
Finally, build your day around the town as well as the pier: a chippy tea, a paddle and a walk on the prom at sunset turn a quick visit into a proper day out.
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