Some seaside towns have an arcade. Others have a whole seafront of them, wall-to-wall lights, pushers clattering in every doorway and prize windows stacked with giant teddies. This guide is about the second kind: the British resorts where you can spend a whole afternoon hopping from one arcade to the next, with chips, rock and a sea view in between. We've picked 35 of the best seaside arcade towns in the UK, grouped by coast, and named some of the standout family arcades in each one. Some are giants like Blackpool, Skegness and Great Yarmouth. Others are smaller, friendlier spots where the arcades are just one part of a classic day by the sea. Click through to each town for the full picture: arcades, places to eat, things to do and where to stay. Lincolnshire coast Lincolnshire's coast might just have more arcades per mile than anywhere else in Britain. These four are the heavy hitters. Skegness Skeg is the big daddy of the East Coast. Grand Parade is a solid run of lights and noise, with Lucky Strike's three floors of pushers and mini bowling, the Plaza with its indoor dodgems and Skegness Pier Arcade stretching right out over the sand. Add donkeys, Botton's rides and the clock tower and you've got a classic day. Explore Skegness → Cleethorpes Cleethorpes packs a lot of fun into a compact prom. Kingpin opposite the pier has mini bowling and a Prize Zone, The Empire fills a restored Victorian theatre with classic pushers, and Fantasy World near the station is a big one for cranes and ticket games. The light railway and the wide sands are right there too. Explore Cleethorpes → Mablethorpe Smaller than Skegness but full of character, Mablethorpe's High Street and beach corner are loaded with amusements. Jacksons has been entertaining families for around a century, The Mirage adds bowling and soft play, and Emojiplanet is a bright, modern spot that younger kids adore. The sandy beach is among the best on this coast. Explore Mablethorpe → Ingoldmells Just up the road from Skegness, Ingoldmells is caravan park central, and Sea Lane is lined with arcades. BJ's Leisure World and Planet Fun both stretch over two floors, while Ingoldmells Point Arcade at Sun City sits closest to the beach. Fantasy Island's rides and the big Ingoldmells market are right on the doorstep. Explore Ingoldmells → Yorkshire and North East coast Grand Victorian resorts, fishing harbours and plenty of pushers. The arcades here come with cliffs, castles and some of the best fish and chips in the country. Scarborough Scarborough's Foreshore Road on the South Bay is one of the great arcade strips. Gilly's has upstairs pinball and Bowlingo, Coney Island fills the old 1859 sea baths building, and the Silver Dollar keeps some working vintage bandits for the nostalgia crowd. The castle on the headland and the harbour make it a full day. Explore Scarborough → Bridlington Brid is a proper family resort with a busy harbour and two big beaches. The Forum is the all-in-one star with bowling and a cinema, Wilsons pairs pushers with doughnuts on the Esplanade, and Premier Amusements on Prince Street gets warm words for its staff. Grab a crab sandwich by the harbour afterwards. Explore Bridlington → Whitby Whitby's arcades cluster on Pier Road by the harbour mouth. Pleasureland has a dedicated Claw Land and space-themed mini bowling, and Funland hides a brilliant retro zone upstairs with Daytona and light-gun games. Then climb the 199 steps to the abbey and reward yourself with fish and chips. Explore Whitby → Seaton Carew A traditional little resort near Hartlepool, Seaton Carew punches above its weight. Golden Sands Amusements has 2p pushers, Pac-Man and Kidzone go-karts, while Talk of the Town on The Front is a ticket-lover's dream with prizes from sweets to gadgets. The long beach is great for a blustery walk. Explore Seaton Carew → Whitley Bay Whitley Bay's revived seafront centres on the gleaming white dome of Spanish City. Close by on Marine Avenue, T J Leisure is a neon-lit family arcade with 2p pushers, grabbers and VR, and Tyne Tees Entertainments adds mini bowling and cranes. St Mary's Lighthouse is a lovely walk up the coast. Explore Whitley Bay → North West coast Home to the most famous seaside arcade strip in Britain, plus some quieter gems along the Lancashire and Merseyside shore. Blackpool Nowhere does arcades like Blackpool. The Golden Mile is wall-to-wall amusements, with Coral Island's pirate-themed halls, Blackpool Amusements in the old Woolworths by the Tower and the old-school arcade at the front of North Pier. Add three piers, the Pleasure Beach and the Illuminations, and you'll struggle to fit it all in. Explore Blackpool → Southport Southport is the more genteel cousin to Blackpool, but Nevill Street still delivers. Silcock's Golden Sovereign is a big red-brick arcade full of ticket pushers and cranes, Silcock's Funtime adds pool tables, and Silcock's Funland sits on the pier forecourt. Finish with a wander along elegant Lord Street. Explore Southport → Morecambe Morecambe's wide prom looks across the bay to the Lake District fells. Pleasureland on Marine Road Central has pushers, cranes and a diner, while Treasure Island is a friendly spot with a well-reviewed prize counter. Don't leave without a photo with the Eric Morecambe statue and a sunset over the bay. Explore Morecambe → Norfolk and Suffolk coast East Anglia's coast is a treasure trove of arcades, from the dazzling Golden Mile to sleepy Victorian resorts. Great Yarmouth Great Yarmouth's Golden Mile is one of the busiest arcade strips anywhere. Britannia Pier has a huge revamped arcade, The Mint adds Quasar laser tag upstairs, and Williamson's Old Penny Arcade at Merrivale Model Village is packed with restored vintage machines. Throw in the Pleasure Beach, two piers and miles of sand. Explore Great Yarmouth → Hemsby Tiny Hemsby is wildly arcade-rich for its size. Beach Road is lined with big halls like Oasis and The Mirage, Richardson's Play & Bowl adds bowling and soft play, and the pirate grotto at Treasure Island on Newport Road is a favourite with kids. The dunes and beach are just beyond. Explore Hemsby → Hunstanton Sunny Hunny faces west, so you get gorgeous sunsets over the Wash. The Showboat is the big family arcade with classic round pushers and a giant Super Grab, Vegas Amusements has a rare Track & Field roll-down, and family-run Golden Sands gets top marks for friendly owners. Don't miss the striped cliffs. Explore Hunstanton → Cromer Cromer is a charming Victorian town with a proper pier and famous crabs. Dunes Amusements on the lower prom has generous pushers and roll-downs, and Leisureland on New Street adds rows of cranes and a big prize shop. A crab sandwich on the pier makes the perfect finish. Explore Cromer → Lowestoft Britain's most easterly town has two piers worth of fun. Claremont Pier's arcade sits right on South Beach, South Pier's big hall has over 200 machines, and Richards Family Entertainment Centre adds bowling and a pier-themed Game Zone. The beaches here are some of the best in Suffolk. Explore Lowestoft → Essex and Kent coast London's traditional seaside playgrounds still deliver loads of family fun, with piers, funfairs and prize shops galore. Southend-on-Sea Southend's Marine Parade is an arcade marathon. Circus Circus at the foot of Pier Hill is one huge fairground-lit hall, New York New York is a ticket-lover's dream with skee ball and basketball, and Funtopia sits inside Adventure Island. Walk or ride out along the famous pier afterwards. Explore Southend → Clacton-on-Sea Clacton is all about the pier. Clacton Pier Amusements has over 200 games, with rows of 2p pushers and grabbers full of big-name plush, and there are rides further out over the water. Magic City on Pier Avenue adds more pushers and cranes, and the sandy beaches stretch both ways. Explore Clacton → Leysdown-on-Sea On the Isle of Sheppey, Leysdown is a short promenade bursting with arcades. Jimmy G's is the giant with Bowlingo, soft play and kids' rides, the big yellow Coin Castle greets you at the start of the prom, and Playtime Amusements has rare roll-downs at the beach end. Explore Leysdown → South coast From Sussex to Dorset, the south coast mixes iconic piers with family-friendly seafronts and harbour towns. Brighton Brighton Palace Pier is the place for arcades here, with two big halls: the Palace of Fun by the gates and the Dome at the far end, both loaded with pushers, tickets, racers and dance machines. Add the rides, the Lanes and the pebble beach and it's a cracking day. Explore Brighton → Bognor Regis Bognor's pier is home to Neptune's, a proper arcade with a family floor of tickets, prizes, cranes, racers and shooters. It's the heart of a traditional seafront with a long shingle-and-sand beach, and a big holiday resort just along the prom. Explore Bognor → Southsea Portsmouth's seaside side has two piers. Clarence Pier has Billy Manning's funfair and arcades plus The Games Wharf prize arcade, while the restored South Parade Pier has pushers, grabbers and simulators. Combine with the Historic Dockyard or a hovercraft view across the Solent. Explore Southsea → Weymouth Weymouth's golden beach and Georgian seafront are a family magnet. Alexandra Gardens is part arcade, part mini fairground, the family-run Royal Arcade sits on the Esplanade, and Southside Funfair at Bowleaze Cove adds rides and a modern arcade. The harbour is perfect for a crabbing session. Explore Weymouth → Bournemouth Miles of golden sand and a lively pier. Bournemouth Pier Amusements has Mario Kart, VR and prize games right at the entrance, Happyland on West Beach is a traditional seafront arcade, and Bowl Central on Westover Road adds bowling and a card-based prize arcade. Explore Bournemouth → South West coast Sandy beaches, sunny piers and big family resorts. The South West has some brilliant arcade towns, from Somerset to Cornwall. Weston-super-Mare Weston's Grand Pier is one of the most spectacular arcades in the country: a huge pavilion packed with pushers, cranes, racers and VR, played on a Fun Card. Golden Gate on Regent Street adds penny pushers and ticket games, and the vast beach is perfect for donkey rides. Explore Weston → Brean Brean is a long strip of caravan parks and beach with loads of arcades. Stardust Amusements is the big bright favourite with themed pushers and a dance machine, Carefree Amusements opposite the old Pontins is well rated, and Brean Theme Park has its own Game Zone. Miles of sand await. Explore Brean → Paignton Paignton Pier has over 300 machines plus adventure golf and fish and chips. Along Torbay Road, Enterprise Amusements is a traditional family arcade and Leisure 2000 has 2p machines and F1 racers. Paignton Zoo and the steam railway are both close by for a bigger day. Explore Paignton → Newquay Cornwall's surf capital has arcades for when the waves aren't playing ball. Carousel Amusements on Fore Street is dog-friendly and great for small kids, and Slots Amusements on East Street has 2p pushers and a driving game. Fistral and the town beaches are a short walk away. Explore Newquay → Wales Welsh resorts mix stunning scenery with proper old-school seaside fun, from Victorian piers to busy holiday coasts. Llandudno The Queen of the Welsh Resorts has a gorgeous Victorian pier with two arcades: Leisure Island at the entrance and The Deck in the old bandstand out at sea. In town, Mostyn Street has Royal Arcade and 5th Avenue, both with friendly staff. The Great Orme looms above it all. Explore Llandudno → Rhyl Rhyl's West Parade is a classic North Wales arcade strip. Les Harker's is an old-school favourite with a prize counter, Palace Fun Centre adds soft play, laser and mini golf, and Bright Spot Arcade is loved for nostalgia. Rhyl's revamped seafront and SC2 waterpark make it a great family base. Explore Rhyl → Barry Island Barry Island's Paget Road and prom are buzzing in summer. Stardust Arcade has a famous Dance Dance Revolution machine, Treasure Island Arcade sits by the Pleasure Park, and Fun Harbour gets rave reviews for generous prizes. Whitmore Bay's sandy beach is right in front. Explore Barry Island → Towyn Towyn and neighbouring Kinmel Bay are packed with caravan parks, so the arcades are busy all season. Knightlys Amusements on Sandbank Road has ticket-paying 2p pushers and a VR arena, and The Black Cat is stuffed with vintage machines for retro fans. Rhyl is just along the coast. Explore Towyn → Tenby Pastel-coloured Tenby is one of the prettiest seaside towns in Britain, with sandy beaches either side of a medieval walled town. For arcade fun, Continue Arcades fills the old Royal Playhouse cinema with free-play retro games, pinball and racers. A perfect rainy-afternoon escape. Explore Tenby → Northern Ireland The Causeway Coast's favourite resort has arcades that have been entertaining families for generations. Portrush Portrush is Northern Ireland's go-to arcade town. Sportsland, also signed The Big Red Game Centre, is an old-school games hall on Main Street, Phil's Amusements offers pushers and bingo, and Goldrush on Dunluce Avenue adds soft play and a café. The Giant's Causeway and Dunluce Castle are a short drive away. Explore Portrush → Planning your seaside arcade trip Most seaside arcades are open all year, but summer weekends and school holidays are when they really come alive, with every machine lit up and the prize shops fully stocked. If you prefer a quieter visit, try a weekday in spring or autumn, when you'll have the pushers to yourself and parking is easier. Many of these towns are close to big caravan and holiday parks, so you can easily combine a few nights away with daily trips to the front. Bring plenty of 2p coins (or load up a tap card), set a budget for the day, and save your tickets for a prize the kids will really love. Don't forget to pair your arcade time with the other seaside classics: a walk on the pier, chips on the prom and an ice cream on the beach. Our piers and seaside food guides are packed with ideas. More Spin Raiders guides UK Family Arcades: 55 brilliant arcades UK Piers and Promenades guide UK Seaside Food guide Explore all arcades

Rain lashing the prom? Kids bouncing off the caravan walls? An aquarium is the classic British answer, and honestly, it's a cracking day out even when the sun's shining. Few things beat standing in a glass tunnel while a shark glides over your head, or watching seal pups getting their strength back before heading home to the sea. The UK is dotted with brilliant aquariums, from huge city attractions with ocean-sized tanks to tiny harbourside centres showing off the crabs, lobsters and wrasse living just off the coast. Lots of them sit right on the seafront too, so you can fit one in between the beach, the chippy and a go on the amusements. We've grouped them by what you most want to see first, then rounded up the rest by region, so you can plan around sharks, penguins, turtles or a bit of hands-on rock pool fun. Sharks and rays If it's teeth and fins you're after, these are the places with the big tanks, the walk-through tunnels and the rays that seem to smile at you through the glass. The Deep Jutting out over the Humber like the prow of a ship, The Deep is a striking building with a towering main tank that you follow down floor by floor. Sharks, rays and huge shoals circle past, and the glass lift rides right through the water. Gentoo penguins add even more fun. See The Deep → Blue Planet Aquarium Beside Cheshire Oaks at Ellesmere Port, Blue Planet is built around a long underwater tunnel where sand tiger sharks cruise slowly overhead, all teeth and attitude. It's a brilliant shout for North West families and North Wales holidaymakers, and the outlet village next door keeps any reluctant shoppers happy afterwards. See Blue Planet Aquarium → SEA LIFE London Aquarium Inside County Hall on the South Bank, right beside the London Eye, this is the capital's big aquarium day out. Sharks are the headline act, with penguins, rays and colourful reef fish close behind. Combine it with a riverside stroll along the Thames and you've got a proper London family day. See SEA LIFE London Aquarium → Deep Sea World Under the famous red Forth Bridge at North Queensferry, Deep Sea World's underwater tunnel puts sand tiger sharks and big rays inches from your nose. It's a short hop from Edinburgh by car or train, and the views of all three bridges outside are worth the trip on their own. See Deep Sea World → National Marine Aquarium Overlooking Sutton Harbour in Plymouth, this is a serious marine science centre as well as a fun day out. The vast main tank is home to sharks and swirling shoals, with displays focusing on British seas too. Wander through the Barbican afterwards for fish and chips by the water. See National Marine Aquarium → Blue Reef Aquarium Hastings Tucked at the foot of the cliffs in Hastings Old Town, this compact aquarium lets you watch rays glide and reef sharks pass overhead. It's a handy wet-weather stop near the fishing huts on the Stade, and the East Hill cliff railway is just a few steps away. See Blue Reef Aquarium Hastings → Penguins, seals and sea lions Waddling penguins and whiskery seals win hearts every time. Several of these centres rescue and release poorly seal pups, so you see real care in action. Cornish Seal Sanctuary On the peaceful Helford River at Gweek, this sanctuary rescues grey seal pups found injured or orphaned along the Cornish coast and nurses them back to health. Resident seals, sea lions, penguins and otters live here permanently. It's a gentle, moving day out, best paired with a Helford pub lunch. See Cornish Seal Sanctuary → SEA LIFE Scarborough Look for the white pyramids at the far end of Scarborough's North Bay. Inside you'll find penguins, otters and plenty of focus on protecting the Yorkshire coast's own marine life. A ride on the little North Bay Railway makes a fun way to arrive. See SEA LIFE Scarborough → SEA LIFE Hunstanton Right on Hunstanton's seafront, this centre is known for its seal rescue work, caring for pups washed up along the Norfolk coast. Penguins and otters keep the younger crowd glued to the glass. Stay for sunset afterwards, because 'Sunny Hunny' faces west across The Wash. The striped cliffs at Old Hunstanton are a short walk along the shore. See SEA LIFE Hunstanton → Exploris Aquarium On the shore of Strangford Lough at Portaferry, Exploris is Northern Ireland's aquarium, with a seal sanctuary looking after rescued pups. Local lough creatures sit alongside more exotic tanks. Take the short car ferry across from Strangford for a scenic way in. The village itself is pretty, with a lovely harbour front for an afternoon cuppa. See Exploris Aquarium → Sealife Adventure Zooquarium On Southend's seafront, this quirky 'zooquarium' mixes ocean tanks with Humboldt penguins, monkeys and meerkats, so it's not just fish. It makes a nice calm break between a walk along the famous pier and an afternoon on the Golden Mile's amusements. See Sealife Adventure Zooquarium → SEA LIFE Weymouth Set in Lodmoor Country Park, a short walk along the front from Weymouth's beach, this centre is partly outdoors, so you get fresh sea air between the tanks. Penguins and otters are favourites, and the nature reserve next door is great for spotting wading birds. See SEA LIFE Weymouth → Turtles, jellyfish and tropical fish Glowing jellyfish, slow-swimming turtles and coral reefs full of colour: these centres are the ones to pick for a bit of underwater wonder. National SEA LIFE Centre Birmingham In Brindleyplace, a stone's throw from the city's canals, this big indoor centre is famous for its sea turtles drifting through a walk-through ocean tunnel. Otters and tropical reef tanks are big hits too. Plenty of restaurants nearby make it an easy city day. See National SEA LIFE Centre Birmingham → Blue Reef Aquarium Portsmouth Facing the sea on Southsea's front, this aquarium is packed with tropical reef fish, plus otters that steal the show. It's perfect when the Solent wind picks up. Southsea Castle and the Historic Dockyard are nearby for a bigger day. A seafront location means you can pair it with a paddle, a cone and the fun of Clarence Pier. See Blue Reef Aquarium Portsmouth → Bristol Aquarium On Bristol's lively Harbourside, this all-weather aquarium has a walk-through tunnel and a steamy botanical house full of tropical plants. Colourful reef tanks and curious rays keep everyone interested. Combine it with We The Curious science centre or a harbour boat trip. See Bristol Aquarium → SEA LIFE Manchester Next to the Trafford Centre, SEA LIFE Manchester is ideal when you need a few hours of indoor fun. Tropical fish, sharks and rays share the tanks, and the rock pool area is great for younger kids. Shopping and food are right on the doorstep. Arrive early on wet weekends, as it's a popular choice when the Manchester rain sets in. See SEA LIFE Manchester → Blue Reef Aquarium Newquay Perched right above Towan Beach, this Newquay aquarium is all about tropical colour, with reef fish, rays and a walk-through tunnel. Pop in when the surf's flat or the clouds roll in. Then head straight back down the steps onto the sand. It's ideal for younger children who need a break from wind and waves. See Blue Reef Aquarium Newquay → Talks, feeding and interactive zones The best aquarium visits are the hands-on ones. Look out for feeding demos, keeper talks and touch pools where kids can gently meet starfish and crabs. Anglesey Sea Zoo Overlooking the Menai Strait near Brynsiencyn, Anglesey Sea Zoo celebrates the surprising colours and shapes of Britain's own seas. Wrecks, lobsters, conger eels and tiny local creatures come with brilliant explanations. It's a lovely stop on any Anglesey trip, especially on a blowy afternoon. See Anglesey Sea Zoo → Skegness Aquarium Set sail on a pirate-themed adventure among sharks, rays and all sorts of curious creatures. Skegness Aquarium sits on the seafront, so it's an easy add-on to a day of donkey rides, candy floss and amusements along the front. Watch out for feeding sessions. See Skegness Aquarium → SEA LIFE Blackpool On the Promenade near the Tower, SEA LIFE Blackpool has an ocean tunnel, sharks and plenty of interactive bits for kids. It's often bundled with other big Blackpool attractions, so compare tickets before you go. The arcades and the Tower are only a stroll away. See SEA LIFE Blackpool → SEA LIFE Brighton Underneath Brighton's seafront hides a beautiful Victorian aquarium that opened in 1872, with ornate arches and pillars. Turtles, rays and sharks fill the old tanks, and keeper talks run through the day. Brighton Palace Pier is just across the road. See SEA LIFE Brighton → Oceanarium Bournemouth Right by Bournemouth Pier at West Beach, the Oceanarium takes you through zones themed on waters from around the world. It's an easy indoor stop between beach sessions. Look out for feeding demos, then grab an ice cream on the prom. Keep an eye out for the otters, which are always a favourite with younger visitors. See Oceanarium Bournemouth → Conservation and rescue Some of the most rewarding visits are to smaller centres where marine research, rescue and local conservation are at the heart of everything. Macduff Marine Aquarium On the Moray Firth coast in Aberdeenshire, Macduff focuses on the sea life of the North Sea right outside. Its centrepiece is an open-topped kelp reef tank, so you're looking down at real local wildlife. Combine it with a wander round Banff across the bay. See Macduff Marine Aquarium → Sea Trust Wales - Sea Mor Aquarium Down by the harbour at Goodwick near Fishguard, this small aquarium is run by the Sea Trust Wales charity and showcases the creatures living off the Pembrokeshire coast. It's intimate, educational and great for curious kids. Head up to the coast path afterwards for dolphin-spotting. Volunteers are full of stories about local sightings. See Sea Trust Wales - Sea Mor Aquarium → Scottish Seabird Centre On North Berwick's harbour, this conservation charity brings the Bass Rock gannet colony and the puffins of the Forth islands to life. Seasonal boat trips get you out among the wildlife. Pair it with North Berwick's sandy beaches and a seafood lunch. See Scottish Seabird Centre → Ocean Explorer Centre Just outside Oban, this marine science centre lets you discover what scientists are learning about Scotland's seas. Hands-on exhibits make it great for budding marine biologists. Ganavan Sands beach is nearby for a picnic with island views. It's a smart, slightly different take on the aquarium idea, perfect for curious older children. See Ocean Explorer Centre → More aquariums in England Not every great aquarium fits neatly into one theme. These English favourites are all-rounders, ideal for slotting into a seaside break or a Lakes holiday when you need a few hours under cover. SEA LIFE Great Yarmouth Smack on Great Yarmouth's Marine Parade, this aquarium slots nicely into a day on the Golden Mile. Sharks, rays and plenty of colourful tanks give everyone a breather from the sun or the drizzle. Then it's back out for chips and the amusements. Little ones usually make a beeline for the rock pool area, where gentle hands are the rule. See SEA LIFE Great Yarmouth → Tynemouth Aquarium Overlooking the long sweep of Longsands beach, Tynemouth Aquarium makes a cosy stop on the North East coast. Rays, reef fish and North Sea creatures are all on show. Tynemouth Priory and Front Street's cafés round off the day beautifully. On breezy days it's a welcome warm-up after a bracing walk out along the pier to the lighthouse. See Tynemouth Aquarium → Lakes Aquarium At Lakeside, at the southern tip of Windermere, Lakes Aquarium follows the water from mountain streams to the sea, with otters stealing the show. The steam railway and lake cruise boats stop right outside, so you can build a whole day around it. See Lakes Aquarium → More aquariums in Scotland Scotland's coast and lochs are full of life, and these two centres make easy additions to a city break or a Highland road trip. SEA LIFE Loch Lomond At Loch Lomond Shores in Balloch, this centre mixes freshwater life from the loch with tropical tanks and otters. Grab a loch cruise or hire a bike afterwards. It's an easy day trip from Glasgow, with stunning hills all around. The shopping and food at Loch Lomond Shores mean nobody goes hungry either. See SEA LIFE Loch Lomond → St Andrews Aquarium Near the famous West Sands in St Andrews, this friendly aquarium is a good fit for younger families. Local and tropical creatures fill the tanks. Follow it with a walk along the beach and a peek at the Old Course and the cathedral ruins. It's compact, so a couple of hours is plenty, leaving time for an ice cream on the Scores. See St Andrews Aquarium → Plan your aquarium day out Aquariums get busiest on rainy days and in school holidays, so arriving early, or later in the afternoon, makes a big difference. Book online if you can, and check whether a combo ticket with nearby attractions saves money. Most places post feeding and talk times on a board near the entrance. Pushchairs are usually fine, but some older buildings have stairs, so check access if needed. Flash photography is often discouraged near the tanks. Many of these centres sit right on the seafront, so make the most of it with a stroll, a cone and a go on the arcades. More Spin Raiders guides UK Zoos & Wildlife Parks guide UK Family Days Out guide All aquariums and sea life centres

There's nothing quite like that first glimpse of a coaster track over the treetops from the car park. The kids go quiet, somebody's stomach does a little flip, and you know the day has properly started. Britain does theme parks brilliantly, from monster resorts with hotels and waterparks bolted on to cheerful little family parks where the queues are short and the ice cream is never far away. This guide sorts the best of them by what you're actually after. Want white-knuckle coasters that'll have the teenagers screaming? Sorted. Got toddlers who just want Peppa, Thomas and a gentle teacups ride? Covered. Rainy forecast, animal lovers in the family, or a Halloween scare night on the cards? There's a section for all of it. Each park has a quick rundown of what makes it special, who it suits best and a tip for making more of the trip. Click through for more on each place and the towns around them. UK theme parks for thrill rides If the plan is loops, launches and drops that leave your legs wobbling, start here. These are the parks the coaster fans rave about. Alton Towers Staffordshire's heavyweight is the one most thrill-seekers have circled on the calendar. The Smiler twists through fourteen inversions, Oblivion tips you over a vertical drop into a hole in the ground, and the Wicker Man brings wooden coaster rattle with a fiery theme. Stay over at one of the on-site hotels and you can split the rides across two days without rushing. See Alton Towers → Thorpe Park Thorpe Park sits on a set of lakes near Chertsey and is built squarely for teenagers and grown-ups who want maximum adrenaline. Stealth launches you skyward in seconds, Colossus throws in ten inversions, and Hyperia is a towering newer addition with serious airtime. Small children will find less to do here, so it's ideal for a mates' day or older kids. See Thorpe Park → Blackpool Pleasure Beach Right on the Prom, Pleasure Beach mixes historic rides with modern monsters. The Big One still dominates the skyline, Icon delivers a double launch, and the Big Dipper and Grand National give you old-school wooden thrills. Nickelodeon Land sits within the resort for younger ones, and the rest of Blackpool's front is right outside the gates when you fancy chips and the arcades. See Blackpool Pleasure Beach → Oakwood Pembrokeshire's theme park near Narberth is best known for Megafobia, a wooden coaster that fans have been raving about since the nineties. Drenched brings a soaking on hot days, and there's a decent spread of family rides too. Pair it with a few days on the Pembrokeshire coast, where beaches, castles and Folly Farm are all within an easy drive. Explore Narberth → M&D's Scotland's Theme Park Set in Strathclyde Country Park near Motherwell, M&D's is Scotland's go-to for coasters and fairground spins without a long trek south. Alongside the rides you'll find bowling, soft play and a big Game Zone arcade, so it works whatever the Scottish weather throws at you. Amazonia, a warm tropical house full of monkeys and snakes, is right on site too. Explore Motherwell → Adventure Island Southend's seafront park packs a surprising amount into a compact spot right by the pier. Rage and Axis bring genuine thrills for brave teenagers, while gentler rides keep little ones happy. Because it sits on the front, you can mix a few big rides with a walk along the famous pier, a paddle and a proper seaside lunch. See Adventure Island → Family theme parks These parks are designed around younger children, with gentle rides, characters they know and plenty of space to let off steam between queues. LEGOLAND Windsor Brick fans aged roughly three to twelve will be in heaven here. Miniland recreates famous landmarks in millions of LEGO pieces, LEGO Ninjago World has hands-on battles, and Mythica brings dragons and flying beasts. Two themed hotels on site make it easy to turn the visit into a weekend, and Windsor Castle and the town are only a short hop away. See LEGOLAND Windsor → Paultons Park On the edge of the New Forest near Romsey, Paultons is home to Peppa Pig World, which makes it a firm favourite with pre-schoolers. Older kids get the Lost Kingdom, packed with dinosaurs and family coasters, and Tornado Springs adds more lively rides. The beautifully kept gardens are a bonus, and the New Forest ponies are waiting nearby for the drive home. Explore Romsey → Drayton Manor Near Tamworth, Drayton Manor is the home of Thomas Land, where little engine fans can ride with Thomas and his friends. There's a proper zoo inside the park as well as bigger rides for older brothers and sisters, so one ticket covers the whole family. The on-site hotel means you can stay over and squeeze in a second day of Thomas. See Drayton Manor → Gulliver's World Warrington's park is built around children aged two to thirteen, so everything is pitched at the right size. The Antelope wooden coaster is a perfect first taste of thrills, and there are loads of play areas between the rides. Grown-ups without kids aren't the target here, which is exactly why families love the relaxed pace and shorter waits. See Gulliver's World → Gulliver's Land Milton Keynes has its own Gulliver's park, with gentle rides, play areas and shows aimed at the under-thirteens. It's handy for families across the south Midlands who don't fancy a long drive. Gulliver's Dinosaur and Farm Park is close by too, so you could stretch the trip over a weekend and swap rides for roaring dinosaurs and farm animals. See Gulliver's Land → Diggerland Yorkshire Ever seen a seven-year-old's face when they're handed the controls of a real digger? That's the whole idea at Diggerland, where kids and adults ride, drive and operate genuine construction machines. The Castleford park is easy to reach from the M62, and there are sister sites in Kent, Devon and Durham if you live further afield. See Diggerland Yorkshire → Sundown Adventureland Tucked away in Nottinghamshire near Retford, Sundown is made for children under ten. Rides and play areas are themed around stories and make-believe, so little ones feel like the park was built just for them. It's a calmer alternative to the big resorts, which makes it perfect for a first theme park visit or a toddler birthday treat. See Sundown Adventureland → Water rides and water parks When the sun's out, or when you just fancy a splash, these waterparks and parks with soaking rides are the ones to pack the towels for. Alton Towers Waterpark Inside the Splash Landings Hotel, this tropical-themed waterpark has a lazy river, a water coaster and smaller splash areas for little ones. It's a brilliant add-on to a theme park break, especially if you're staying at the resort. Many families save it for the morning after a big ride day, when tired legs are glad of a float. See Alton Towers Waterpark → Sandcastle Waterpark Blackpool's indoor waterpark on the South Shore means the weather outside simply doesn't matter. Twisting slides, wave action and splash zones keep all ages busy, and it's toasty warm all year. Pleasure Beach is practically next door, so it's easy to combine the two across a weekend on the Fylde coast. See Sandcastle Waterpark → Splashdown Quaywest Overlooking Goodrington Sands in Paignton, Quaywest is an outdoor waterpark with twisting slides and pirate-themed splash play. On a hot Devon day there are few better spots for a family soaking. The beach is right there for sandcastles afterwards, and Paignton Zoo is just up the road if you're planning a full English Riviera break. See Splashdown Quaywest → Alpamare Scarborough Up on Scarborough's North Bay, Alpamare combines indoor slides with warm outdoor pools, so you can bob about in the open air even when the North Sea breeze is blowing. It's a lovely contrast to a day on the sands. The North Bay beach huts, cliff walks and the castle are all close by. See Alpamare Scarborough → The Wave Coventry's striking blue waterpark sits right in the city centre and packs in rapids, a lazy river and plenty of slides. Being indoors, it's a reliable choice whatever the forecast. It suits families from across the Midlands who want a splashy day without driving to the coast, and the city's museums are close if you want to make more of the trip. See The Wave → Waterworld Stoke-on-Trent's long-standing tropical waterpark has flumes, a wave pool and indoor play areas under one roof. It makes a good rainy-day partner to Alton Towers, which is within driving distance across Staffordshire. Pack goggles for the little ones and plan for a couple of hours at least, because nobody will want to get out. See Waterworld → Indoor parks British weather being what it is, it pays to know where the fun carries on under a roof. These are the parks and play spaces that don't care about rain. Fantasy Island Next to Skegness, Ingoldmells is home to Fantasy Island, where a giant pyramid shelters a whole load of rides from the Lincolnshire wind. Outside you'll find bigger coasters, and the huge market and arcades keep everyone busy between rides. It's a classic east coast day, and the caravan parks around it make a cheap and cheerful base. Explore Ingoldmells → Inflata Nation Hull Inflata Nation is an indoor inflatable theme park, which basically means a warehouse full of bouncy obstacle courses, slides and giant inflatables. The Hull branch is great for burning off energy on a grey day, and grown-ups are welcome to join in. Book a session in advance during school holidays, then head to The Deep afterwards for something calmer. See Inflata Nation Hull → Funtopia Southend Funtopia gives Southend an indoor option for days when the seafront is getting a battering. It's a handy back-up plan for families who've travelled for the coast, and it means the day doesn't have to end when the clouds roll in. Adventure Island and the pier are close for when the sun comes back out. See Funtopia Southend → Xscape Yorkshire Just off the M62 at Castleford, Xscape is a giant indoor leisure centre with a real-snow slope at Snozone, climbing walls, a trampoline park and plenty of places to eat. It's less a theme park and more an all-weather playground for older kids and teenagers. Diggerland Yorkshire is nearby if you fancy combining the two. See Xscape Yorkshire → Peter Rabbit: Explore & Play Blackpool's indoor play attraction built around Beatrix Potter's much-loved stories is aimed squarely at toddlers and pre-schoolers. Little ones can climb, explore and play in Mr McGregor's garden-style spaces while parents grab a breather. It's a gentle, soothing contrast to the noise of the Prom and an easy fit on a rainy Blackpool morning. See Peter Rabbit: Explore & Play → Theme parks with animal attractions Why choose between rides and animals when you can have both? These parks pair coasters with zoos, farms and wildlife encounters. Chessington World of Adventures Part zoo, part theme park, Chessington in south-west London lets you watch big cats and gorillas, then hop on the Gruffalo River Ride Adventure or a Minecraft-themed experience. It strikes a lovely balance for mixed-age families. The safari-themed hotel on site makes a sleepover feel like an adventure, and central London is close enough to tack on a city day. See Chessington World of Adventures → Flamingo Land Near Malton in North Yorkshire, Flamingo Land combines a full zoo with a theme park, so you can see rhinos and giraffes in the morning and brave Mumbo Jumbo's steep drop in the afternoon. There's a holiday village too. York, Castle Howard and Scarborough are all within easy reach, making it the centrepiece of a great Yorkshire break. See Flamingo Land → Folly Farm Near Kilgetty in Pembrokeshire, Folly Farm rolls a zoo, a working farm and an indoor vintage fairground into one big day out. The old-fashioned rides and side stalls under cover are a real treat on a wet day. Tenby and Saundersfoot are both close for beach time, and Oakwood is within reach for older thrill-seekers. See Folly Farm → Woodlands Family Theme Park Down in South Devon near Dartmouth, Woodlands mixes water rides, huge indoor play zones and a zoo-farm where kids can meet the animals. It's very much a park for younger families, with lots of undercover space if the Devon drizzle sets in. Combine it with a trip to Dartmouth's harbour or a ferry ride across the Dart. See Woodlands Family Theme Park → Seasonal events Some of the best park days happen outside summer. Halloween scare nights, fireworks and autumn lights give you a reason to go back again and again. Fright Nights at Thorpe Park Every autumn Thorpe Park turns up the terror with Fright Nights, adding scare mazes and live actors to the usual coasters. It's aimed at teens and adults rather than little ones, and riding Stealth after dark with screams echoing round the lake is something else. Book early, because Halloween weekends sell out fast. See Thorpe Park → Scarefest at Alton Towers Alton Towers' Halloween season, Scarefest, brings scare attractions and spooky theming to the park, with gentler family-friendly options alongside the frights. The resort is also known for its fireworks around Bonfire Night. Autumn colour in the old gardens makes it a beautiful time to visit, even before the scares kick in. See Alton Towers → Blackpool Illuminations Combine a late-season Pleasure Beach visit with the Illuminations, the famous lights that run along the seafront from late summer into autumn. Drive or ride a tram along the Prom after dark to see the displays. It turns a theme park trip into a proper Blackpool weekend, with the Tower and the piers all lit up too. Explore Blackpool → Dreamland Margate Margate's restored amusement park has the Scenic Railway, a historic wooden coaster, plus vintage rides with a retro feel. Dreamland also hosts gigs and events through the year, so it's worth checking what's on before you go. Pair it with Margate's sandy beach, the old town and the Turner Contemporary for a brilliant Kent seaside day. See Dreamland Margate → Smaller parks worth the trip Not every great day needs a mega-resort. These smaller parks bring charm, character and often a gentler price tag. Lightwater Valley Near Ripon in North Yorkshire, Lightwater Valley has been reinvented as a park for younger families, with rides and play aimed at little ones rather than big-coaster fans. Its countryside setting makes it a peaceful alternative to the giants. Combine it with Ripon's cathedral, Fountains Abbey or a wander round the Yorkshire Dales. Explore Ripon → Gulliver's Kingdom Clinging to the hillside above Matlock Bath, Gulliver's Kingdom squeezes rides and play areas into the Derbyshire woodland. It's aimed at younger children, and the setting is part of the fun. Right next door you'll find the Heights of Abraham cable cars, and the village's riverside chippies and ice cream shops are perfect for afterwards. See Gulliver's Kingdom → Gulliver's Valley The newest of the Gulliver's parks sits near junction 31 of the M1 outside Rotherham. Expect rides for two to thirteen year olds, more than thirty animatronic dinosaurs and Chuckle Street, a nod to the famous local comedy brothers. With lodges on site, it's easy to turn into a short break for the whole family. See Gulliver's Valley → Brean Theme Park Brean's theme park sits beside the Somerset coast just off the M5, with free entry and more than forty rides including coasters, a log flume and the Terror Castle ghost train. You can choose wristbands or pay as you go, so it's flexible for budgets. The long sandy beach at Brean is right there for a run around afterwards. See Brean Theme Park → Wicksteed Park Kettering's century-old park blends classic rides with acres of free parkland, so families can spend as much or as little as they like. Its Grade II listed water chute is a genuine piece of history and still a hoot to ride. Bring a picnic, let the kids loose on the playgrounds and dip into the rides as you please. See Wicksteed Park → Joyland On Great Yarmouth's Golden Mile, Joyland has been giving families a thrill since 1949. Its famous Snails ride is a seaside institution, and there's a little kids' arcade at the back. It's compact and cheerful, ideal for younger children, and the beach, the piers and the rest of the seafront are all on the doorstep. See Joyland → Pleasurewood Hills Near Lowestoft on the Suffolk coast, Pleasurewood Hills is a friendly mid-sized park with rides, shows and coasters to suit most ages. It's a great pick for East Anglian families who want a proper theme park without heading to the big southern resorts. Lowestoft's beaches and the Broads are close by to round off a holiday. See Pleasurewood Hills → GreenWood Family Park Near Y Felinheli in North Wales, GreenWood is set in woodland and has a people-powered coaster, a water slide, climbing towers and shows. It's a lovely, eco-minded day out that suits active younger families. Caernarfon Castle and the edge of Snowdonia are close, so it slots neatly into a North Wales holiday. See GreenWood Family Park → Blackgang Chine Perched on the Isle of Wight's south coast, Blackgang Chine is full of dinosaurs, pirates and imaginative themed lands with sea views thrown in. It's quirky, charming and perfect for children with big imaginations. Make it part of an island holiday, with the Needles, sandy beaches and the island's steam railway nearby. See Blackgang Chine → Planning your theme park day Book online before you go. Most parks are cheaper in advance than on the gate, and some offer deals if you pick a quieter day. Check the park's website for the operating calendar, because many of them close or open only at weekends outside the summer and school holidays. Arrive early, head straight to the biggest rides at the back of the park and work your way forward as the queues build. Check height restrictions before you go so nobody's left disappointed, and pack a picnic, suncream and a waterproof — sometimes all on the same day. If you're travelling far, a resort hotel or nearby caravan park can turn one rushed day into two relaxed ones, and leaves time for the beaches, castles and arcades nearby. More Spin Raiders guides UK family days out guide UK zoos & wildlife parks guide All theme parks

There's a sound every British kid knows. The clatter of coppers dropping off a pusher shelf, the jingle of a crane that's just missed, the beep-beep of a ticket game spitting out a long paper tongue. Family arcades are pure seaside joy, and they're one of the few days out where a handful of change can keep everyone grinning for an hour. This guide rounds up 55 family-friendly amusement arcades across the UK, from the big piers of Blackpool and Brighton to tiny harbour arcades in Cornwall, Ayrshire and County Down. You'll find 2p pushers, claw machines, air hockey, dance machines, ticket games with prize counters and the odd retro cabinet tucked in a corner. We've grouped them by region so you can plan a proper day out, or add one to a trip you've already got booked. Every arcade below links to its own page, where you'll find more on the machines, the location and what's nearby. What makes a great family arcade The best family arcades feel like a funfair with a roof on. Look for a good spread of 2p pushers (classic round ones and modern themed ones), cranes stocked with decent plush, a few ride-in racers and something everyone can play together, like air hockey or a dance machine. Ticket games are the secret weapon. Kids love feeding a long strip of tickets into the counter and choosing a prize, even if it's a rubber duck and a pencil. Arcades with a well-stocked prize shop and friendly staff on the counter tend to be the ones families come back to. Location matters too. An arcade on a pier or right on the prom means you can mix it up: a bit of beach, a bit of chips, a quick blast on the pushers when the clouds roll in. Many also add mini bowling, soft play or a café, which turns a quick visit into a proper half-day. Family arcades in Lincolnshire and the East Coast Lincolnshire's coast is arcade country. From Cleethorpes down to Skegness, the fronts are lined with flashing lights, prize windows and the smell of fresh doughnuts. Kingpin, Cleethorpes Right opposite Cleethorpes pier, Kingpin is a big seafront all-rounder. The headline act is a six-lane mini bowling alley, which is perfect for a quick family match, backed up by rows of 2p pushers and a well-stocked Prize Zone. Pop in after a walk along the prom or a paddle on the sands. See Kingpin, Cleethorpes → The Empire, Cleethorpes Housed in a restored Victorian theatre from 1896, The Empire has bags of character. Inside you'll find a cracking run of classic pushers, big ticket games and a crane themed like a chocolate factory, which younger kids find impossible to walk past. It's a lovely one for grandparents who remember the old Cleethorpes front. See The Empire, Cleethorpes → Jacksons Amusements, Mablethorpe A Mablethorpe fixture for around a century, Jacksons sits on the corner by the beach and is brilliant for little ones. There are loads of kiddie rides, ticket pushers and cranes, plus a prize shop to spend those winnings. Grown-ups can grab a drink in the Jolly Jacks bar while the kids decide between a bouncy ball and a fidget toy. See Jacksons Amusements, Mablethorpe → The Mirage, Mablethorpe On Mablethorpe's High Street, The Mirage packs far more in than you'd expect. Alongside pushers, cranes, racers and pinball there's an eight-lane bowling alley and soft play, so it works for every age in the family. Handy on a drizzly afternoon when the beach has lost its appeal. See The Mirage, Mablethorpe → Lucky Strike, Skegness Three floors of fun on Skegness Grand Parade. Lucky Strike mixes 2p pushers and grabbers with mini bowling, retro racers and soft play, and the cafés upstairs have views over the sea. Park the pushchair, grab a brew and let the older kids loose on the racing games. See Lucky Strike, Skegness → Tower Cinema Amusements, Skegness Tucked under Skegness's historic Tower Cinema, this one's full of surprises. Look out for shelf-prize 2p pushers, rare Catching Duck grabbers and a VR Starship ride that teenagers love. Combine it with a film upstairs on a rainy day and you've got the whole afternoon sorted. See Tower Cinema Amusements, Skegness → Skegness Pier Arcade Pushers run the full length of the pier building here, along with 2p roll-downs and fairground-style ticket games. The real bonus is everything else under the same roof: bowling, Laser Quest and soft play. Walk out to the end afterwards for a breather and a view back over the beach. See Skegness Pier Arcade → Ingoldmells Point Arcade The family arcade at Sun City sits closest to the beach at Ingoldmells Point. Expect pushers, cranes, kiddie rides, mini bowling and a big prize shop. It's handy if you're staying on one of the many caravan parks nearby, and Fantasy Island is only a short stroll along Sea Lane. See Ingoldmells Point Arcade → Yorkshire coast Yorkshire's resorts do arcades with a bit of grandeur, from old sea baths in Scarborough to the harbourside fun of Whitby. The Forum, Bridlington Bridlington's big seafront complex is a one-stop rainy-day rescue. The arcade has 2p pushers, family games, VR and a huge prize shop, and there's bowling and a cinema in the same building. Brid's harbour and its famous sands are a few minutes' walk away when the sun comes back out. See The Forum, Bridlington → Gilly's Amusements, Scarborough A proper Foreshore Road favourite on Scarborough's South Bay. Downstairs is all classic 2p pushers and cranes; upstairs you'll find pinball, pool and Bowlingo mini bowling. Great for families with a mix of ages, and you're right by the harbour for fish and chips afterwards. See Gilly's Amusements, Scarborough → Coney Island, Scarborough You can't miss the big red frontage. Coney Island fills Scarborough's old sea baths building, which dates back to 1859, with pushers, racing games and cranes. It's a handsome bit of seaside history with modern fun inside, and it sits slap bang on the South Bay front. See Coney Island, Scarborough → Pleasureland, Whitby Whitby's big family arcade on Pier Road has a dedicated Claw Land, space-themed mini bowling, pushers and kiddie rides, all played on tap cards. Pirate golf is just over the road, so you can easily turn it into an afternoon before climbing the 199 steps to the abbey. See Pleasureland, Whitby → Funland, Whitby Parents of a certain age, this one's for you. Funland's upstairs retro zone has pinball, Daytona and light-gun games, with mini bowling too, while the ground floor keeps the kids busy with pushers. Brilliant for showing your children what arcades looked like when you were their age. See Funland, Whitby → Holdsworths Amusements, Filey Filey is a gentler resort than its neighbours, and Holdsworths suits it perfectly. The arcade sits on Coble Landing by the fishing boats and the lifeboat station, so you can watch the boats, play a few pushers and wander onto the long sandy beach without getting back in the car. See Holdsworths Amusements, Filey → Game King, Withernsea Withernsea's all-in-one on Memorial Avenue has 2p falls, cranes and ticket games plus six-lane bowling, soft play and a café-bar. It's a cracking pick for a quieter Holderness seaside trip, and the lighthouse museum in town makes a nice extra stop. See Game King, Withernsea → Seldons Leisureworld, Saltburn Saltburn's red and white pier building houses this traditional family arcade, with 2p pushers, tickets, a prize bar and kiddie rides. Pair it with a trip on the Victorian cliff lift and a stroll along Saltburn's lovely pier for a classic, unhurried seaside day. See Seldons Leisureworld, Saltburn → North West Blackpool is the undisputed king of the arcade, but don't overlook Southport, Morecambe and New Brighton. Coral Island, Blackpool Look for the giant skull on the prom. Coral Island is a free-entry, pirate-themed arcade with 2p pushers, a Camel Derby race game, indoor rides and a huge prize shop. It's one of the most family-focused spots on the front and sits handily near the Tower and Central Pier. See Coral Island, Blackpool → Blackpool Amusements In the old Woolworths building right next to the Tower, this two-floor family arcade is known for being spotless and packed with 2p pushers. There's a cheap café too, which is a lifesaver when the kids are flagging. Ideal before or after a Tower Ballroom visit. See Blackpool Amusements → North Pier Arcade, Blackpool Blackpool's oldest pier keeps things gloriously old-school. At the front you'll find classic pushers, a Donkey Derby, cranes and ticket games. Walk the boards afterwards for a quieter take on Blackpool and some cracking views back to the Tower. See North Pier Arcade, Blackpool → Playdium, Blackpool Pleasure Beach Inside Blackpool Pleasure Beach, Playdium is the place for a breather between rides. Ticket and prize games, cranes, grabbers, video games and driving games keep everyone happy while the queues for the big coasters die down. See Playdium, Blackpool Pleasure Beach → Silcock's Funland, Southport Pier On the Southport Pier forecourt, Silcock's Funland is a dedicated family amusement centre with children's games and ticket games. Afterwards, head inland for a wander along elegant Lord Street, with its Victorian glass canopies and independent cafés. See Silcock's Funland, Southport Pier → Pleasureland, Morecambe A big seafront family arcade on Marine Road Central, Pleasureland has 2p pushers, cranes and a prize shop, plus a diner for a quick bite. Morecambe Bay's sunsets are famous, and the Eric Morecambe statue is a short stroll along the prom for the obligatory photo. See Pleasureland, Morecambe → New Palace, New Brighton The Wilkie family have run this seafront funfair since 1939. Inside is the Bright Spot family arcade and Adventureland soft play, with outdoor rides alongside. Combine it with the Fort Perch Rock and lighthouse views at the end of the prom for a full Wirral day. See New Palace, New Brighton → South West From Weston's grand pier to harbour arcades in Cornwall, the South West mixes big seaside fun with pretty fishing towns. The Grand Pier, Weston-super-Mare One of the most impressive arcades in the country, set in a huge pavilion at the end of Weston's pier. You'll find 2p pushers, cranes, racers, ticket games and VR, all played on a top-up Fun Card. Make a day of it on the vast beach below. See The Grand Pier, Weston-super-Mare → Paignton Pier With over 300 machines plus Lost City Adventure Golf, fish and chips and sweet treats, Paignton Pier is an English Riviera classic. Walk out over the sea between games, then head next door to Paignton's sandy beach and the green for a picnic. See Paignton Pier → Golden Palms, Torquay Right on Torquay harbourside, Golden Palms is a big open-fronted arcade with pushers, cranes, ticket prizes and mini bowling lanes. Perfect for a quick stop between boat-watching on the harbour and an ice cream along the waterfront. See Golden Palms, Torquay → Stardust Amusements, Brean Brean's big bright family arcade has themed 2p pushers, a huge prize counter and a dance machine that draws a crowd. With over a thousand glowing reviews, it's a firm favourite for holidaymakers at Brean's caravan parks, and the long beach is right on the doorstep. See Stardust Amusements, Brean → Burnham Pier Amusements, Burnham-on-Sea Often called Britain's shortest pier, Burnham's is really one Edwardian pavilion, and it's full of 2p pushers, grabbers and a prize counter. Small but much loved. Afterwards, walk along to the quirky low lighthouse on stilts on the beach. See Burnham Pier Amusements, Burnham-on-Sea → Funworld, Swanage Swanage's seafront family arcade on Shore Road has 2p machines, grabbers, racers and tickets. Combine it with a ride on the Swanage Railway steam trains or a walk out to Old Harry Rocks for a Jurassic Coast day with something for everyone. See Funworld, Swanage → Patsea Arcadia, St Ives Signed Patsea Arcadia since 1934, this harbourside arcade on Wharf Road brings a dash of old-fashioned fun to St Ives. There's a horse racing game, a shooting gallery, grabbers and ticket games. Handy when the Cornish weather turns and the harbour beach empties. See Patsea Arcadia, St Ives → Alexandra Gardens, Weymouth Part arcade, part mini fairground, Alexandra Gardens sits on Weymouth's Esplanade with pushers, ticket games and kiddie rides played on a card system. Weymouth's golden beach and its famous sand sculptures are right in front, so it's an easy add-on to a beach day. See Alexandra Gardens, Weymouth → South East and East Anglia Piers, prize shops and Golden Mile glitz: the South East and East Anglia have some of the busiest family arcades in the country. Brighton Palace Pier Two big arcades on one famous pier: the Palace of Fun by the gates and the Dome at the far end. Expect pushers, tickets, racers and dance machines, then rides and doughnuts outside. A Brighton day out isn't quite complete without a wander down the boards. See Brighton Palace Pier → Clacton Pier A massive pier arcade with over 200 games. Rows of 2p pushers, grabbers full of big-name plush, ticket games and a prize shop keep families busy for hours, and there are rides further out along the pier for when the kids want a change. See Clacton Pier → Walton Pier, Walton-on-the-Naze Walton's long pier has a huge all-weather arcade with rows of 2p pushers, cranes, a prize shop, bowling and indoor rides. It's a calmer alternative to Clacton down the road, and the Naze Tower and its cliffs make a brilliant walk afterwards. See Walton Pier, Walton-on-the-Naze → Funtopia, Southend-on-Sea Adventure Island's indoor arcade sits right by Southend Pier, with video games, pushers, cranes and tickets on a game card. Soft play and rides make it a winner for younger kids, and the pier's own little railway is a short walk away. See Funtopia, Southend-on-Sea → Wellington Pier, Great Yarmouth Great Yarmouth's Victorian Wellington Pier is home to a modern ticket arcade with pushers, simulators and six-lane Bowlingo. It's at the quieter end of the Golden Mile, close to the Winter Gardens and the Pleasure Beach, so easy to slot into a full Yarmouth day. See Wellington Pier, Great Yarmouth → The Mint, Great Yarmouth A Golden Mile family favourite with Quasar laser tag upstairs, generous pusher prizes and a Star Wars pinball that older kids will queue for. It's a cracking base for an afternoon on the seafront, with the beach just across the road. See The Mint, Great Yarmouth → Williamson's Old Penny Arcade, Great Yarmouth Something completely different. Inside Merrivale Model Village you'll find nearly 100 restored vintage penny machines, including allwins and What the Butler Saw. It's like a working museum, and a lovely way to show kids how their great-grandparents spent their pennies at the seaside. See Williamson's Old Penny Arcade, Great Yarmouth → The Showboat, Hunstanton Hunstanton's big family arcade is packed with classic round pushers, 20p cranes, VR and a giant Super Grab. Sunny Hunny is famous for sunsets over the Wash and its striped cliffs, so save the arcade for the late afternoon and finish on the beach. See The Showboat, Hunstanton → Dunes Amusements, Cromer On Cromer's lower prom by the pier, Dunes has generous 2p pushers, cranes, roll-downs and ticket games. Grab a Cromer crab sandwich, watch the lifeboat station at the end of the pier, then pop back for one more go on the pushers. See Dunes Amusements, Cromer → Jimmy G's, Leysdown-on-Sea On the Isle of Sheppey, Jimmy G's is a giant seafront arcade with pushers, giant cranes, Bowlingo, prize bingo, soft play and kids' rides out the back. It's the beating heart of Leysdown's prom, and the beach is just steps away. See Jimmy G's, Leysdown-on-Sea → Wales Welsh piers and proms are dotted with brilliant family arcades, from Victorian bandstands to busy Barry Island. Royal Pier, Aberystwyth Wales's first pleasure pier is home to an air-conditioned family arcade full of big ride-in games, ticket games and mini bowling. Combine it with a ride on the Cliff Railway up Constitution Hill and a walk along the elegant prom. See Royal Pier, Aberystwyth → Llandudno Pier Llandudno's lovely Victorian pier has two arcades: Leisure Island at the entrance and The Deck in the old bandstand right out at sea. Both have 2p pushers, grabbers and prizes. Pair with the Great Orme tramway for a properly memorable family day. See Llandudno Pier → Hi-Tide Arcade, Porthcawl By Coney Beach in Porthcawl, Hi-Tide has 2p pushers, cranes, air hockey, racing sims, retro games and a prize counter, plus a café and mini bowling. Rest Bay and the Porthcawl prom are lovely for a breezy walk afterwards. See Hi-Tide Arcade, Porthcawl → Stardust Arcade, Barry Island Compact but full of energy, Stardust on Paget Road has 2p pushers, ticket games, cranes and a loud, well-loved Dance Dance Revolution machine. Fans of a certain sitcom will want a stroll along the prom, and Whitmore Bay's sands are right there. See Stardust Arcade, Barry Island → Knightlys Amusements, Towyn A Towyn favourite on Sandbank Road, Knightlys has 2p pushers that pay out tickets, cranes, a big prize shop and a VR arena. It's a hit with families staying at the many North Wales caravan parks, and the fairground is close by. See Knightlys Amusements, Towyn → Pwllheli Funland Family run for over 60 years, Pwllheli Funland on Y Maes is a year-round arcade with a café, plus dodgems and fairground rides in season. A handy treat if you're exploring the Llŷn Peninsula and need a rainy-day plan. See Pwllheli Funland → Scotland Scotland's seaside arcades are smaller in number but big on charm, often family-run for generations. Codonas, Aberdeen Aberdeen's beach funfair has an indoor Play 'n' Win arcade, bowling, karting and laser tag. Families rate it for value, and it sits right on the beach esplanade, so you can watch for dolphins at the harbour mouth before or after. See Codonas, Aberdeen → Golden Disc, Ayr Ayr's original seafront arcade on Wellington Lane has penny falls, claws, bowling and kids' karts, plus a huge prize shop. A great add-on to a stroll on Ayr's big sandy beach with views across to Arran. See Golden Disc, Ayr → Pleasureland, Arbroath Arbroath's indoor funfair and arcade has been going since 1975, with free entry, ticket games and dodgems, plus a vintage waltzer that's a treat in itself. Combine it with a famous Arbroath smokie from the harbour. See Pleasureland, Arbroath → Nobles Amusements, Portobello On Portobello Promenade since 1984, Nobles brings proper seaside fun to Edinburgh's beach. Expect 2p pushers, cranes, over 50 tap-card games and a prize zone, with street food just outside. Easy by bus from the city centre. See Nobles Amusements, Portobello → Culliss Amusements, Largs Run by the same family for four generations, Culliss on Gallowgate Street is a friendly Largs institution. Combine a visit with an ice cream from the town's famous parlours and a walk along the front to the Pencil monument. See Culliss Amusements, Largs → Northern Ireland From the Causeway Coast to the Mourne foothills, Northern Ireland has some proper old-school arcades. Kent Amusements, Newcastle On Newcastle's Central Promenade in County Down, Kent Amusements has indoor dodgems, ticket games, prizes and new VR games. With the Mourne Mountains rising behind the town, it's a brilliant spot to finish a day of beach and hill walks. See Kent Amusements, Newcastle → Sportsland, Portrush An old-school games hall on Portrush Main Street, also signed The Big Red Game Centre, with 2p machines, cranes, pinball, pool and snooker. Perfect after a trip to the Giant's Causeway or a day on the town's lovely beaches. See Sportsland, Portrush → Funstation, Belfast A modern Funcard arcade in Belfast's Titanic Quarter, with cranes, video games and a big prize counter. It's a handy family treat to pair with a visit to Titanic Belfast and a stroll along the Lagan waterfront. See Funstation, Belfast → Tips for a brilliant arcade day out Set a budget before you go in and stick to it. A bag of 2p coins goes a long way on the pushers, and many arcades now use tap cards, so you can load an amount and know exactly where you stand. Let the kids hold their own card or cup of coins, as it makes them feel grown-up and keeps things fair between siblings. Save your tickets. Lots of arcades let you keep tickets or points on a card between visits, so you can build up to a bigger prize rather than grabbing a sweet every time. Ask at the prize counter on your first visit. Arcades are perfect rainy-day backup, but they're even better as part of a bigger seaside day. Plan a beach walk, chips on the prom and a stroll along the pier, then slot in the arcade when everyone needs a bit of excitement. Head to our seaside arcade towns guide for the best resorts to base yourself. More Spin Raiders guides UK Seaside Arcades: the best arcade towns UK Family Days Out guide Explore all arcades

Everybody knows Stonehenge and the Tower of London. Brilliant, yes, but you'll be sharing them with half the planet. This guide is about the other stuff: the places you stumble on down a single-track lane and can't quite believe nobody told you about. Think a cinema hiding in a pine wood, a grotto lined with millions of shells, a chapel wedged into a sea cliff and a Highland beach so white it looks photoshopped. Some need a boat, a tide table or a decent pair of boots. A few are right off a main road and still get missed. All of them are the sort of place you'll be banging on about for weeks. We've split the list into little-known places, quirky finds, scenic spots and secret beaches (mostly in England), then given Scotland and Wales their own sections, because frankly they've got too many to squeeze in anywhere else. Pick one, pack a flask and go and find it. Little-known places Quiet abbeys, cliff-hugging villages and caves you can row through. These are the English corners that slip under most people's radar. Lundy Island Three miles of granite sitting out in the Bristol Channel, Lundy has no cars, one pub and a whole lot of sky. Puffins return to the cliffs in spring, seals loaf about below, and the Landmark Trust runs the island's quirky holiday lets. Day trips sail in season from Bideford or Ilfracombe, so check the boat before you plan anything. Lindisfarne Priory and Holy Island Twice a day the North Sea swallows the causeway and Holy Island turns back into an island. Time it right and you get the red sandstone priory ruins, a little castle on its rock and a village selling the famous mead. Read the tide tables properly: cars get stranded here every year. See Lindisfarne Priory and Holy Island → Finchale Priory Tucked in a loop of the River Wear just outside Durham, Finchale is a peaceful set of 13th-century priory ruins that grew up around the hermit St Godric. Riverside paths, picnic grass and hardly any crowds make it a lovely half-day, and you can easily pair it with the cathedral back in the city. Explore Durham → Rievaulx Abbey Down a narrow valley near Helmsley, Rievaulx's huge Cistercian arches rise out of the trees like something from a painting. It was one of the great monasteries of the North before Henry VIII shut it down. For the full effect, walk up to the grassy Rievaulx Terrace above and look down on the whole thing. See Rievaulx Abbey → Staithes Squeezed into a cleft in the cliffs between Whitby and Saltburn, Staithes is a tangle of fishermen's cottages, steep alleys and a tiny harbour. A young James Cook worked here before going to sea, and artists have painted it for well over a century. Park at the top and walk down; your car will thank you. Robin Hood's Bay Smuggling stories, cobbled lanes dropping straight to the sea and rock pools full of crabs: Robin Hood's Bay has bags of charm. At low tide the scars are brilliant for fossil spotting. Walk or cycle the old railway path known as the Cinder Track to Whitby if you fancy a proper day of it. Uffington White Horse This sleek chalk horse on the Oxfordshire downs is thought to be around 3,000 years old, putting it among the most ancient hill figures in Britain. It's best seen from a distance, but up close you get Dragon Hill, the Iron Age hillfort and huge views. Wayland's Smithy, a Neolithic long barrow, is a short walk along the Ridgeway. Thor's Cave That gaping hole you can see high on the crag above the Manifold Valley? You can climb right up into it. Thor's Cave frames the Staffordshire hills like a giant window, and it's only a short, steep pull from the Manifold Way. The rock inside gets slippery, so wear shoes with grip. Gaping Gill Fell Beck plunges down a shaft on the side of Ingleborough into one of Britain's biggest known cave chambers. Normally that's strictly for experienced cavers, but local caving clubs run winch meets on certain bank holidays, lowering members of the public down in a chair. Even just peering into the hole from the fell is unforgettable. Castleton's Blue John caves Castleton sits on a honeycomb of caverns, and a couple of them are the only known source of Blue John, a swirly purple-and-yellow mineral. Guided tours take you down among the old workings and glittering chambers. The village gift shops sell Blue John jewellery, and Mam Tor is right on the doorstep for a leg-stretch afterwards. See The Blue John Cavern → Speedwell Cavern Here's a cave tour with a difference: you go by boat. Speedwell is an old lead mine at the foot of Winnats Pass, and visitors are guided along a flooded tunnel to a cavern with a seemingly bottomless pool. Bring a layer, as it's chilly underground even in August, and combine it with the other Castleton caves. Quirky finds Strange, wonderful and occasionally baffling. These are the places that make you say 'hang on, what?' The Shell Grotto Nobody knows who built it, when, or why. Found by accident in 1835, Margate's Shell Grotto is a winding underground passage and chamber covered in millions of shells set into mosaics. Theories range from pagan temple to rich man's folly. It's small, so allow under an hour and then hit the seafront. Explore Margate → Kinema in the Woods Woodhall Spa in Lincolnshire hides a cracking surprise: a 1920s picture house set among the pines, famous for its rear projection system. On some screenings an organ rises up for an interval tune. It's pure nostalgia, a proper night out for film fans, and handy if you're exploring Lincoln or the Wolds. The Forbidden Corner Part garden, part maze, part fever dream, the Forbidden Corner near Middleham is crammed with tunnels, trick doors, giant faces and statues that squirt water when you least expect it. Kids go feral for it, and grown-ups secretly love it just as much. Tickets are usually booked ahead, so sort that before you set off. Puzzlewood Moss-covered rocks, twisted roots and narrow paths that loop back on themselves: Puzzlewood in the Forest of Dean looks like a film set because it often is one, with Star Wars and Doctor Who both shooting here. Little ones love the maze-like trail. Wear shoes you don't mind getting muddy and explore the wider forest too. Minack Theatre Imagine watching a play while the Atlantic crashes below the stage. Rowena Cade built the Minack largely by hand on the cliffs at Porthcurno from the 1930s onwards, and it's still staging shows today. Visit by day to wander the terraces and gardens, then book an evening performance and bring a cushion. Dungeness Flat, eerie and strangely beautiful, Dungeness is a vast shingle headland of tarred fishing huts, two lighthouses and a nuclear power station on the horizon. Derek Jarman's Prospect Cottage and its garden draw art fans from everywhere. Ride the miniature Romney, Hythe and Dymchurch Railway in, and finish with fish and chips. Scenic spots Grab your camera. These English viewpoints, waterfalls and coves look like somebody turned the saturation up. Malham Cove A colossal curved wall of limestone rising behind Malham village, with a strange cracked pavement of rock on top. Harry Potter fans might recognise it from the Deathly Hallows. Climb the steps for the view, then carry on to Gordale Scar and Janet's Foss to make a brilliant circular walk. The Roaches Rearing above Leek, the Roaches are a jagged gritstone ridge covered in wind-carved boulders and climbers clinging to them. The ridge walk is short but spectacular, with views over Tittesworth reservoir and across Cheshire. Don't miss Lud's Church nearby, a mossy chasm tied to the legend of Sir Gawain. High Force Waterfall When the Tees is in full flow, High Force roars over a band of hard dolerite rock in Upper Teesdale and you'll hear it before you see it. Woodland paths lead to the viewpoint on the south bank. Walk downstream along the Pennine Way to gentler Low Force for a quieter, prettier contrast. St Nectan's Glen Follow a wooded stream near Tintagel and you'll reach a waterfall that punches through a hole in the rock into a mossy basin. Visitors leave ribbons and stacked stones, and plenty swear the glen feels magical. Pack wellies or water shoes if you fancy paddling in the plunge pool. Golitha Falls On the edge of Bodmin Moor, the River Fowey tumbles through a string of rapids and little cascades under ancient oaks. Golitha is more about the whole wooded gorge than one big drop, so it's lovely in any season. The path from Draynes Bridge is gentle enough for younger walkers. Symonds Yat Rock From this rocky perch high above the Wye, you watch the river loop lazily around a wooded bend. In spring and summer, peregrine falcons nest on the nearby cliffs and volunteers often set up telescopes. Afterwards, drop down to the village for a riverside pint and a go on the hand-pulled ferry. See Symonds Yat Rock → St Michael's Mount A castle on a rocky island off Marazion, linked to the mainland by a cobbled causeway that only appears at low tide. Walk over, then catch a little boat back if the sea comes in. The gardens on the slopes are surprisingly lush, and the views across Mount's Bay are glorious. Tintagel Haven and Merlin's Cave Below Tintagel's cliff-top ruins lies a small rocky beach where the sea has bored a cave right through the headland. Legend links it to Merlin, and at low tide you can wander in and hear the waves echo. Check tide times first, and make a day of it with the castle above. Secret beaches Turquoise water, empty sand and not a deckchair in sight. From Cornwall to the far north of Scotland, these beaches are worth the walk in. Kynance Cove Glowing turquoise water, white sand and dark serpentine rocks streaked green and red make Kynance on the Lizard look almost Mediterranean. At low tide, little islands and caves open up to explore. It's no longer much of a secret in August, so come early or out of season and grab a crab sandwich at the café. Bamburgh Beach Miles of pale Northumbrian sand, dunes for the kids to tumble down and Bamburgh Castle looming on its rock above. Few beaches have a backdrop quite like it. On a clear day you can spot the Farne Islands and Holy Island on the horizon. Bring a windbreak: it's the North Sea, after all. Cuckmere Haven Where the River Cuckmere snakes to the sea through flat meadows, you get one of the classic views of England: the white Seven Sisters cliffs lined up along the coast. The shingle beach is wild and peaceful. Walk up onto Seaford Head for the postcard shot of the coastguard cottages. Achmelvich Beach A short hop from Lochinver in Sutherland, Achmelvich is a curve of white shell sand and impossibly clear blue water backed by rocky knolls. On a sunny day it could pass for the Caribbean, though the sea temperature will remind you otherwise. Explore the coves along the coast to find your own private bit. Glenbrittle At the end of a long, winding road on Skye, Glenbrittle's dark sandy beach sits right beneath the jagged Cuillin ridge. It's moody, dramatic and gloriously remote, with a campsite nearby for those who want to stay. Pair it with the Fairy Pools, which are on the same road. Llanddwyn Island Reached through Newborough Forest and along a long sweep of sand on Anglesey, Llanddwyn is a tidal island with a little lighthouse, a ruined church and views of Snowdonia. It's linked to St Dwynwen, the Welsh patron saint of lovers. Keep an eye out for red squirrels in the forest on the way. Hidden gems in Scotland Scotland does hidden gems on another scale entirely. Some take a ferry, some take a long drive, and every single one is worth it. Loup of Fintry Just outside the village of Fintry in the Stirlingshire hills, the Endrick Water drops over a stepped series of falls in a quiet glen. It's beautifully low-key, with no visitor centre and no crowds. Combine it with a walk in the Campsie Fells or a drive through to Loch Lomond. Loch Coruisk Ringed by the Black Cuillin, Loch Coruisk is one of the wildest spots in Britain, and the easiest way in is by boat from Elgol. Trips usually pass seals on the way and give you time ashore to explore. Bring waterproofs whatever the forecast says, because Skye weather loves a twist. Fairy Pools A chain of crystal-clear pools and little waterfalls tumbling off the Cuillin into Glen Brittle. The water is a startling blue-green, and hardy souls do swim in it. The car park fills quickly in summer, so get there early, and wear proper footwear for the stepping stones. Smoo Cave Near Durness on the far north coast, Smoo Cave has a huge sea-cut entrance and an inner chamber where a waterfall crashes in from above. It's a must-stop on the North Coast 500. When conditions allow, small tours take visitors further in, and the nearby beaches are stunning. Staffa and Fingal's Cave Staffa is an uninhabited island built from hexagonal basalt columns, and Fingal's Cave inspired Mendelssohn's famous overture. Boat trips run from Mull and Iona in season. Between spring and summer, puffins nest on the clifftops and can be remarkably unbothered by visitors sitting quietly nearby. Plockton Palm trees in the Highlands? Plockton has them, thanks to the warm Gulf Stream. This pretty village curls around a sheltered bay on Loch Carron, with whitewashed cottages and boats bobbing about. Seal-spotting cruises leave from the shore, and the Isle of Skye is a short drive away. Dunnottar Castle Perched on a sheer-sided rock jutting into the North Sea, Dunnottar is one of the most dramatic ruins anywhere. During the 17th century, the Honours of Scotland were hidden here from Cromwell's army. Walk the cliff path from Stonehaven harbour and grab a fish supper when you get back. Explore Stonehaven → Loch an Eilein In Rothiemurchus forest near Aviemore, this calm loch hides a ruined castle on a tiny island. An easy path loops the whole shoreline through ancient Caledonian pines. It's ideal for families, buggies and anyone after a gentle walk with red squirrels, crested tits and a proper Highland feel. The Whaligoe Steps South of Wick, a flight of over 300 stone steps zigzags down a sheer cliff to a tiny natural harbour. Fishermen once landed herring here and women carried the catch back up. The climb down is easy; coming back up is a proper workout. Watch your footing in the wet. Bow Fiddle Rock Off Portknockie on the Moray coast stands a sea arch shaped just like the tip of a fiddle bow. Seabirds pack its ledges, and sunrise and sunset light it up beautifully. Follow the coastal path to the neighbouring villages of Cullen, home of Cullen skink, for a warming bowl afterwards. Blackness Castle Built in the 15th century and nicknamed the ship that never sailed, Blackness Castle juts into the Firth of Forth like a stone battleship. Outlander fans will recognise it. Climb the towers for views of the Forth bridges, then head to nearby Linlithgow Palace to finish the day. See Blackness Castle → The Italian Chapel On the tiny Orkney island of Lamb Holm, Italian prisoners of war turned two Nissen huts into a beautiful chapel using scrap, paint and real devotion. The painted interior is genuinely moving. You drive there over the Churchill Barriers, which those same prisoners helped to build during the war. Isle of Iona and Iona Abbey St Columba landed on Iona in 563 and founded the monastery that helped spread Christianity across Scotland. Today it's a peaceful island of white beaches and green machair, reached by a short ferry from Fionnphort on Mull. Visitors can't bring cars, so walk or hire a bike. See Iona Abbey → Corrieshalloch Gorge South of Ullapool, the ground suddenly splits into a deep, narrow gorge with the Falls of Measach thundering below. A Victorian suspension bridge lets you look straight down, and a viewing platform juts out further along. It's a quick stop off the road but leaves a big impression. See Corrieshalloch Gorge → Grey Mare's Tail Between Moffat and Selkirk, a long white waterfall pours down the hillside in the Moffat Water valley. A short path gives a good view, while fitter walkers can climb beside it to remote Loch Skeen. Look out for feral goats and peregrines on the crags. See Grey Mare's Tail → Skara Brae A storm in the 1850s uncovered a Stone Age village on the Bay of Skaill, complete with stone beds, dressers and hearths. It's older than the pyramids and astonishingly well preserved. Combine it with the Ring of Brodgar and the Standing Stones of Stenness for a jaw-dropping Neolithic day. See Skara Brae → Hidden gems in Wales Wales punches way above its weight for secret spots, from cliff chapels to copper-coloured hillsides. Portmeirion Sir Clough Williams-Ellis built this colourful Italianate fantasy village on the Dwyryd estuary, and it still looks like nowhere else in Britain. Fans of The Prisoner come on pilgrimage. Wander the piazzas, gardens and woodland, then stay for dinner if you want the place almost to yourself after the day visitors leave. Pistyll Rhaeadr Tucked at the end of a lane beyond Llanrhaeadr-ym-Mochnant, this waterfall drops in a long silver ribbon down a cliff, then shoots through a natural rock arch. It's one of the Seven Wonders of Wales in the old rhyme. There's a small tearoom at the bottom, and paths climb to the top. St Govan's Chapel Squeezed into a gap in the Pembrokeshire cliffs near Bosherston, this tiny stone chapel is reached by a flight of steps that legend says you can never count the same twice. Give it a go. The coast nearby is used for military training, so check access before you set off. Porth Wen Brickworks On the wild north coast of Anglesey stand the shells of a Victorian brickworks: beehive kilns, chimneys and crumbling sheds beside a lonely bay. It's a photographer's dream, best seen from the Anglesey Coastal Path. The site itself is on private land and unstable, so admire it from the path. Tretower Court Near Crickhowell in the Usk valley, Tretower pairs a round Norman tower with a superbly preserved medieval manor house. Cared for by Cadw, it feels refreshingly uncrowded, and the recreated period garden is a treat. Combine it with a stroll around Crickhowell's independent shops. Aberglaslyn Pass Just south of Beddgelert, the Afon Glaslyn crashes through a narrow, wooded gorge. A riverside path, with a few rocky scrambles, follows it down, and the steam trains of the Welsh Highland Railway chug through the pass too. Start in Beddgelert and visit Gelert's grave on the way. Elan Valley West of Rhayader, a chain of Victorian dams and reservoirs built to supply Birmingham sits among wild hills. When the reservoirs are full, water cascades over the stone dams. Cycle or walk the old railway trail, and look up: red kites are everywhere here. Tintern Abbey Roofless and soaring, Tintern Abbey stands on the banks of the Wye and has inspired the likes of Wordsworth and Turner. The Gothic windows frame the wooded hills perfectly. Walk up to the Devil's Pulpit on the English side for the best view down onto the ruins. Parys Mountain Above Amlwch on Anglesey, centuries of copper mining have left a landscape of orange, purple and ochre that looks more like Mars than Wales. A waymarked trail leads around the old workings and the windmill on top. Stick to the path: there are steep drops and old shafts. Planning your hidden gems trip Half the fun of a hidden gem is the getting there, but a bit of planning goes a long way. Check tide tables for tidal islands, causeways and coves like Lindisfarne, St Michael's Mount and Merlin's Cave. Island boat trips to Lundy, Staffa and Loch Coruisk are weather dependent, so have a back-up plan and book ahead in summer. Many of these places have small car parks, single-track roads or no facilities at all. Arrive early, bring snacks, water and layers, and wear proper footwear for wet rocks and steep paths. Phone signal can vanish in the Highlands and rural Wales, so download your maps before you go. Most importantly, treat these spots kindly. Take your litter home, stick to paths and keep dogs on leads around wildlife and livestock. That way they stay special for the next lot of explorers. More Spin Raiders guides UK Nature Places guide UK Rural Villages guide More hidden gems

There's nothing quite like it. The kettle's on, the float's sitting pretty, mist is lifting off the water and the rest of the world can wait. Fishing is one of the best days out the UK has going, and the choice of lakes up and down the country is frankly ridiculous. This guide rounds up 55 cracking waters, from big-name carp complexes in Oxfordshire and Kent to quiet tench meres in Norfolk, busy match venues in Yorkshire and Warwickshire, and wild trout lochs in Scotland. There are proper Lincolnshire favourites too, because you can't write about fishing without a nod to the flatlands. Whether you're after a first-ever bite for the kids, a weekend chasing a personal best or a full week on the bank with the family nearby, there's something here for you. Always check the fishery's own rules, booking system and licence requirements before you set off. Carp fishing Fancy hearing a bite alarm scream? These are dependable carp waters where a day ticket or short session gives you a real shot at a cracking fish. Linear Fisheries A sprawling complex of old gravel pits near Stanton Harcourt in Oxfordshire, Linear is a household name among carp anglers. Each lake has its own character, from busy runs waters to moodier, harder pits holding pike and bream as well. Great if you want variety without driving between venues. Todber Manor Tucked into the rolling Dorset countryside, Todber Manor mixes prolific carp lakes with pools stuffed with silverfish. It suits pleasure anglers and match lads alike, and the setting is properly pretty. Combine a session with a wander round nearby Blackmore Vale villages for a lovely weekend. Gold Valley Lakes Gold Valley sits on the Hampshire and Surrey border, a handy escape for anglers from the Aldershot and Farnborough side. Carp and bream are the main targets across several lakes, and the mix of open swims makes it a friendly spot for newer carpers learning the ropes. Great Somerford Lakes Out in the Wiltshire countryside, Great Somerford offers a relaxed complex with carp topping the bill and a good mix of coarse species alongside. It's the sort of place where you can fish a slow afternoon in peace, then pop into a nearby village pub on the way home. Albyns Farm Lake Essex anglers looking for a straightforward carp pool will like Albyns Farm, a farm lake that keeps things simple. Turn up, pick a swim and settle in. It's an easy option for a short session from east London or the wider Essex commuter belt. Suffolk Water Park Close to Ipswich, Suffolk Water Park gives you carp, pike and bream across its waters, so you can switch tactics with the seasons. Winter lure anglers and summer carp fans both get a look in, which makes it a handy year-round option in East Anglia. Specimen lakes These are the waters people dream about. Expect to book ahead, read the rules carefully and put in the hours, but the rewards can be unforgettable. Elphicks Fisheries Deep in the Kent Weald near Horsmonden, Elphicks is a pre-book specimen carp venue with a serious reputation. Lakes are run with care and the fish are looked after, so expect proper rules and limited spaces. Plan your trip early and pair it with a pub lunch in the Weald. Wraysbury 1 Few lakes carry as much carp angling history as Wraysbury 1 in Berkshire. This big, testing gravel pit near Heathrow has produced some of the most famous carp the sport has known. Access arrangements vary, so check the current ticket and syndicate set-up before getting your hopes up. Berners Hall Fishery Berners Hall, in rural Essex near Ongar, is a go-to for anglers chasing big carp and catfish on a ticket rather than a syndicate. Long sessions are part of the appeal here, so bring the bivvy, a decent stove and plenty of patience. A D H Fisheries Five lakes make up this Lincolnshire specimen carp venue, giving you plenty of options if one water is being stubborn. It's a favourite with anglers from across the East Midlands and Humber who want big-fish chances without trekking to the south of England. Horcott Lakes Sitting in the Cotswold Water Park near Fairford, Horcott is a classic Gloucestershire gravel pit fishery known for big carp. Clear water, weed beds and wary fish mean watercraft really matters. Spend a day walking the banks before you cast and you'll fish it far better. The Folly Lakes The Folly Lakes in Cambridgeshire run on a pre-book basis, keeping pressure down and the fishing calm. Specimen carp are the draw, and the small numbers on the bank make for a peaceful session in the fen country. Seymour Fishery Want a lake to yourself? Seymour Fishery in Somerset works on private hire, so you and your mates book the water exclusively. It's a brilliant idea for a stag do with a difference, a birthday session or a few days of uninterrupted specimen carp angling. A12 Lakes Easy to reach from the main road it's named after, A12 Lakes is an Essex day ticket complex with big carp on the cards. Handy for anglers from Chelmsford, Colchester and beyond, and a solid choice when you fancy a crack at a lump without a waiting list. Coarse fishing Roach, rudd, tench, bream, crucians and the odd surprise carp. These waters are perfect for float and feeder fans who love a mixed bag. Lindholme Lakes Country Park On the Isle of Axholme near Epworth, Lindholme Lakes is a big North Lincolnshire complex with carp, F1s and silverfish spread across plenty of waters. Pleasure anglers and match regulars both love it, and there's room to stretch out. A short hop from Scunthorpe, Doncaster and Grimsby. See Lindholme Lakes → Messingham Sands Fishery Just outside Scunthorpe in North Lincolnshire, Messingham Sands offers several coarse waters with different set-ups and rules. Read up on which lake suits your style before you arrive. It's a relaxed local favourite for a few hours on the float or feeder. See Messingham Sands → The Oaks Lakes In North Yorkshire, The Oaks Lakes gives you carp, tench and silverfish in a tidy commercial setting. It's a reliable place to build a mixed net, and a nice way to spend a summer evening before heading into York or the Dales for tea. Chester Lakes Cheshire anglers and visitors to Chester can nip out to Chester Lakes for carp plus roach and rudd. Small fish make it lively for beginners, while the carp keep experienced hands interested. A fishing morning pairs well with an afternoon on Chester's famous city walls. Star Carr Lakes Star Carr Lakes in East Yorkshire serves up a coarse mix with carp at the heart of it. It's a friendly day ticket stop for anglers from Hull, Beverley and the coast, and a great alternative when the sea's too lumpy for a beach session. Woodhouse Grange Fishery Woodhouse Grange keeps it simple: well-stocked commercial pools where carp are the main event. It's a good Yorkshire choice for building confidence with method feeders and pellet waggler, and the steady sport makes it ideal for practice before a match. Old Fen Lakes Old Fen Lakes in Norfolk is a quieter coarse fishery where carp and tench share the water. Early mornings in late spring, when tench start fizzing, are something special. It slots in nicely with a trip to the Broads or the North Norfolk coast. Marsh Farm Surrey's Marsh Farm is beloved by fans of crucian carp and tench, two of the most charming fish you can catch on a float. Light tackle and a bit of finesse pay off here. A gorgeous, old-fashioned style of angling only an hour or so from London. Rocklands Mere Rocklands Mere in Norfolk is pure traditional angling: tench, crucians and a float dipping in the reeds. No frantic commercial vibe, just you and the water. Bring bread, a pin and some patience for a proper throwback day out in Breckland. Shrewley Pools Farm Spring-fed and set on a Warwickshire farm, Shrewley Pools keeps its water clear and its carp and tench in fine condition. Bring polarising glasses, because spotting fish is half the fun. Easy to reach from Warwick, Leamington and the M40. Match fishing Like a bit of competition? These venues are built for pegged matches, steady weights and a buzzing car park on a Sunday morning. Hayfield Lakes South Yorkshire's Hayfield Lakes is a busy match and day ticket venue packed with carp and F1s. Pegs are well laid out and the lakes fish consistently, which is why clubs keep coming back. Ideal practice ground if you're new to the match scene around Doncaster. Partridge Lakes Partridge Lakes in Cheshire, near Warrington, has a long track record of hosting serious matches. Carp, F1s and ide keep the sport ticking along. Pleasure anglers are welcome too, so it's a great place to watch the pros and pick up tips. Makins Fishery Makins is a big Warwickshire commercial complex with a reputation among match anglers across the Midlands. Lots of lakes mean lots of pegs, and carp dominate the weights. Turn up on a weekday and you'll often find a quieter bank to practise your pole work. Tunnel Barn Farm Pole fans, this Warwickshire venue is your playground. Tunnel Barn Farm is famous on the circuit for F1s and carp, with barbel adding a twist. Neat, purpose-built pegs make it comfortable, and it's close to the canal network if you want a stroll afterwards. Alders Farm Fishery In Buckinghamshire, Alders Farm runs both day tickets and matches, with carp and F1s keeping the floats busy. It's handy for Milton Keynes anglers and a solid spot to test new rigs. Check the match calendar if you'd rather have a lake to yourself. Buttonhole Fishery Buttonhole Fishery in Norfolk has a match and pleasure lake with a carp-and-coarse mix. Friendly, unfussy and rewarding, it's a nice entry point for anglers trying their first open match. Pop over to the coast afterwards for chips by the sea. Alvechurch Fisheries South of Birmingham in Worcestershire, Alvechurch Fisheries is a well-known day ticket complex with carp, barbel and silverfish. Its waters suit pleasure anglers and match fishers alike. A handy escape when the city gets a bit much, with the Lickey Hills close by. Hayton Lakes Fishery Near Retford in north Nottinghamshire, Hayton Lakes covers coarse, match and specimen carp fishing, with different arrangements for day tickets and booked sessions. Within easy reach of Lincolnshire and South Yorkshire, it's a great all-rounder for anglers who like to switch styles. See Hayton Lakes → Fly fishing Swap the bait box for a fly box. From chalk-stream style lakes to vast Scottish lochs, these waters are where trout anglers come alive. Chew Valley Lake South of Bristol in Somerset, Chew Valley Lake is one of the country's best-known reservoir trout fisheries, with boat and bank fishing available. It's famous for big pike too, under special arrangements. Bird lovers adore it, so bring binoculars for the quieter moments. Loch Leven Loch Leven, beside Kinross, is legendary among fly anglers for its wild brown trout, traditionally fished from boats drifting across the loch. Mary Queen of Scots was once imprisoned on its island castle. Combine a day afloat with a walk on the Loch Leven Heritage Trail. Explore Kinross → Avon Springs Clear, spring-fed lakes in Wiltshire make Avon Springs a joy for sight-fishing trout. You can watch fish cruising and pick your moment. It's a smashing place for improving your casting, and it sits not far from Salisbury and Stonehenge for a bigger day out. Pochard Lake Pochard Lake in Bedfordshire is a stocked rainbow trout fishery that suits newcomers to the fly. Manageable water and stocked fish give you a fair chance of a bend in the rod. Ideal for a half-day lesson or a gentle introduction. Llyn Brenig High on the moors of Denbighshire in North Wales, Llyn Brenig is a big reservoir with a strong fly fishing following. Wild skies and open water make it feel a world away. There's a visitor centre and walking trails, so non-anglers in the party stay happy too. Farmoor Reservoir Just west of Oxford, Farmoor Reservoir offers bank fishing for trout along its walls. It's easy to reach and good for a quick evening session after work. Sailors and walkers share the space, giving it a lively, sociable feel. Esthwaite Water Near Hawkshead in the Lake District, Esthwaite Water is a managed fishery known for trout and big pike. It's quieter than its famous neighbour Windermere and the scenery is classic Lakeland. Afterwards, wander into Hawkshead for a nosey round the shops. Explore the Lake District → Loch Lomond Loch Lomond, on the edge of the Highlands, holds pike, trout and migratory salmon in a truly stunning setting. Permits and rules matter here, so sort them out first. Then just soak up the islands, the hills and that famous loch-side light. Family fishing Want the kids hooked for life? Pick somewhere with easy access, plenty of bites and something else to do when little legs get restless. Derwentwater Right next to Keswick, Derwentwater is a natural lake where perch, pike and trout swim beneath some of the Lake District's best views. Perch are perfect for youngsters, being bold and hungry. Mix in a launch trip round the lake and an ice cream in town. Explore the Lake District → Angel of the North Lakes Up in the North East, Angel of the North Lakes is a day ticket venue with carp, bream and crucians. Bites tend to come steadily, which keeps young anglers interested. Make it a full day by visiting Antony Gormley's famous sculpture nearby. Bain Valley Fisheries In the Lincolnshire countryside along the River Bain, Bain Valley Fisheries offers carp, pike and trout, so there's something for every age and ability. It's a lovely spot for a family taster session, and the Wolds and Woodhall Spa are close for a picnic afterwards. Ardingly Reservoir Ardingly Reservoir in West Sussex mixes carp, pike and bream with lovely walks along its banks. Non-anglers can stroll while the keen ones fish. It's an easy trip from Brighton, Crawley and Haywards Heath, and a peaceful contrast to the busy coast. Upper Tamar Lake On the Devon and Cornwall border near Bude, Upper Tamar Lake has carp, perch and bream in a rural reservoir setting. There's room to spread out a picnic blanket, and the beaches of Bude are a short drive for an afternoon paddle after a morning on the bank. Day ticket fisheries No membership, no fuss. Grab a ticket, pick a peg and get fishing. These are reliable spots for a spontaneous session. Manor Farm Lakes Bedfordshire's Manor Farm Lakes keeps day ticket anglers happy with carp, tench and bream. It's a welcoming venue for families and newcomers, and the variety means you can float fish for tench one hour and target carp the next. Cottington Lakes In east Kent, Cottington Lakes offers day ticket carp and coarse fishing not far from the coast. After a session, the seaside towns of Deal and Sandwich are close by for fish and chips, so it's a cracking option on a Kent holiday. Drayton Reservoir Drayton Reservoir in Northamptonshire is a day ticket carp water with plenty of bank space. Big open swims make casting easy and give you room to set up comfortably. Handy for anglers heading up and down the M1 or living around Daventry. Springvale Fishing Lakes Nottinghamshire's Springvale Fishing Lakes offers carp, F1s and coarse species across a day ticket complex. It's the kind of reliable place you keep in your back pocket for when you just need to get out on the bank for a few hours. Lodge Farm Fisheries Lodge Farm Fisheries in South Yorkshire puts carp, bream and ide on the menu. Ide add a dash of colour to any net, and kids love them. It's an easy drive from Sheffield, Rotherham and Doncaster for a no-fuss day ticket. Fishing holidays Why stop at one day? These venues let you stay over, so you can be on the bank at first light while the rest of the family enjoys the extras. Westwood Lakes Westwood Lakes is a Lincolnshire commercial holiday complex where you can wake up and be fishing within minutes. Carp, F1s and silvers keep things busy. It's ideal for a long weekend with your mates or a family break where the anglers get their fix. Docklow Pools Docklow Pools in Herefordshire combines a fishery with holiday accommodation, and its lakes hold carp, tench and catfish. Rolling countryside and quiet lanes make it a proper escape. Ludlow and Hereford are both within reach for a day off the bank. Hallcroft Fishery and Holiday Park On Hallcroft Road in Retford, this north Nottinghamshire venue pairs fishing with touring, camping and holiday stays. Pitch up, fish and repeat. It's well placed for a break from Lincolnshire or Yorkshire, and Sherwood Forest is close by for a family day out. See Hallcroft Fishery → White Acres Holiday Park Near Newquay in Cornwall, White Acres is a huge holiday park built around its fishing, with lots of lakes to choose from. While you fish, the family can enjoy the pool, entertainment and the nearby beaches. A dream combination for angling families. See White Acres → Tattershall Lakes Country Park Tattershall Lakes is a big lakeside holiday park in Lincolnshire with plenty to keep everyone busy, from water sports and an Aqua Park to an arcade. Check what fishing is on offer during your stay, and visit nearby Tattershall Castle while you're there. See Tattershall Lakes → Fishing by county Lincolnshire punches well above its weight, with commercial complexes, holiday fisheries and specimen waters dotted from the Humber down to the Fens. Lindholme Lakes, Messingham Sands, A D H, Bain Valley and Westwood are all worth a look, and the drains and rivers add miles of natural fishing. Yorkshire is packed with match and day ticket venues, especially around Doncaster, Sheffield and York, while the East Riding has quieter coarse waters. Kent mixes specimen venues like Elphicks with day ticket lakes near the coast. Essex is big-carp country, with Berners Hall, A12 Lakes and Albyns Farm all within reach of London. Norfolk is a gem for traditional tench and crucian fishing, and the Broads add pike and bream. Derbyshire is best known for reservoir trout fishing such as Carsington Water and the Peak District reservoirs, plus plenty of local coarse ponds. Lancashire offers commercial pools, canal fishing on the Lancaster Canal and river angling on the Ribble. Planning your fishing trip First things first: if you're 13 or over and fishing for freshwater fish in England or Wales, you'll need a rod fishing licence on top of any fishery permit. Scotland has different rules, so check before you go. Always read the fishery's own rules, as many have bans on certain baits, minimum hook sizes, landing net and unhooking mat requirements, and limits on night fishing. Pre-book venues can fill up fast, especially in summer. Pack layers, sun cream, a flask and more snacks than you think you'll need. If you're bringing kids, keep sessions short and pick a lake known for steady bites. And once you're done, put everything back as you found it, take your litter home and leave the swim tidy for the next angler. More Spin Raiders guides UK Golf Courses guide UK Nature Places guide All fishing lakes

If you love a day out with a bit of history under your feet, Britain is spoiled rotten. Up and down the country you'll find towns that still follow the street plans laid out by Norman barons, Edwardian castle-builders and canny wool merchants, with crooked timber frames, city walls you can walk on and cathedrals that took generations to finish. We've pulled together 60 of the best medieval towns across England, Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland, plus one cracking bonus just over the border in Ireland. Each one gets a quick rundown of what makes it special and why it's worth the trip. Where we've got a dedicated town guide on Spin Raiders, just click through for more ideas on where to go and what to do while you're there. England Arundel Arundel is pure storybook stuff. The huge castle towers over the River Arun, and the steep high street below still follows its old market layout, lined with antique shops, tearooms and independent bookshops. Add the striking Catholic cathedral at the top of the hill and you've got a proper postcard of a day out. Bath Everyone knows Bath for its Roman baths and Georgian crescents, but the medieval chapter matters too. The abbey at its heart was the town's power base for centuries, and the current building, with its famous carved angels climbing ladders on the west front, is a showstopper you really shouldn't skip. Berwick-upon-Tweed Few towns have been fought over quite like Berwick, which changed hands between England and Scotland again and again. The result is a remarkable set of fortified walls you can walk right round, with river and sea views all the way. It's a brilliant blustery stroll with history at every corner. Explore Berwick-upon-Tweed → Beverley Beverley grew rich on pilgrims coming to the shrine of St John, and the Minster they funded is jaw-dropping, honestly rivalling plenty of cathedrals. Pair it with St Mary's Church, the North Bar gateway and the busy market squares, and this East Yorkshire gem easily fills a lazy, happy afternoon. Explore Beverley → Boston Back in the Middle Ages Boston was one of England's busiest ports, trading wool across the North Sea with Hanseatic merchants. You can't miss the legacy: the soaring tower of St Botolph's, better known as the Boston Stump, is visible for miles across the flat Lincolnshire fens and worth the climb if it's open. Explore Boston → Bristol Long before the docks were full of bars and museums, Bristol was a powerhouse port with a mighty Norman castle on the peninsula where Castle Park now sits. Wander between St Mary Redcliffe, often called one of England's finest parish churches, and the old city streets, and you'll feel those trading roots. Explore Bristol → Bury St Edmunds This handsome Suffolk town grew up around one of the richest Benedictine abbeys in the land, built to honour the martyred King Edmund. The abbey ruins now sit within lovely gardens beside the cathedral, and the town's tidy grid of streets still reflects the monks' original planning. Perfect for a gentle mooch. Canterbury Chaucer's pilgrims had the right idea. Canterbury Cathedral is the beating heart of English Christianity and the scene of Thomas Becket's murder, and the city around it is a joy of twisting lanes, half-timbered buildings and stretches of old wall. Grab a river punt if the weather's kind and the queues aren't silly. Explore Canterbury → Carlisle Sitting right on the frontier, Carlisle spent centuries braced for trouble from across the border. Its sturdy red sandstone castle and compact cathedral sit close together, so you can tick off both in one go, and Hadrian's Wall country is right on the doorstep if you fancy stretching the day out a bit. Explore Carlisle → Chester Chester is the full package. You can walk roughly two miles round its city walls, the most complete in Britain, then drop down into the Rows, those unique two-tier galleried shopping streets. Throw in the Eastgate Clock, the cathedral and a riverside walk along the Dee and you'll be busy all day. Explore Chester → Chichester Chichester's four main streets meet at an ornate market cross, a neat clue to its Saxon and Roman planning. The Norman cathedral is unusual for having a separate bell tower, and big stretches of the old walls survive for a pleasant loop. It's an easy, relaxed sort of city with plenty of places to stop for lunch. Explore Chichester → Chipping Campden If you want honey-coloured Cotswold stone at its very best, head here. Wealthy wool merchants made Chipping Campden boom in the fourteenth century, and their fine houses still line the curving high street. Look out for the open-sided Market Hall and the grand wool church of St James at the end of town. Clitheroe Clitheroe's little Norman keep is often described as one of the smallest in England, perched on a limestone outcrop above a busy market town. Climb up for big views over the Ribble Valley towards Pendle Hill, then head back down for the shops and cafés. Small castle, massive views, great day. Corfe Castle Village The jagged ruins of Corfe Castle are one of the most dramatic sights in Dorset, and the village below is built from the same grey Purbeck stone, so the whole place feels of a piece. Arrive by steam train on the Swanage Railway if you can and make a real occasion of it. Coventry In the fourteenth century Coventry was one of England's biggest cities, made rich by cloth and dyeing. Plenty was lost in the Blitz, but the ruined old cathedral standing beside the modern one is incredibly moving, and pockets like Spon Street and the medieval Guildhall still give you a taste of the old city. Explore Coventry → Durham Durham's cathedral and castle crown a rocky peninsula wrapped in a loop of the River Wear, and together they're a UNESCO World Heritage Site. The cathedral's Norman stonework is breathtaking, and the riverside paths below give you some of the finest views in the north. Steep cobbles, so bring comfy shoes. Explore Durham → Exeter Exeter kept much of its Roman wall and built on it through the Middle Ages as a busy trading city. The cathedral's long, unbroken vaulted ceiling is a real wow moment, and you can explore the Quayside, the old city wall and even the medieval underground passages if you book a tour. Explore Exeter → Hastings Hastings was one of the original Cinque Ports, and its Old Town still has that salty seafaring character, with narrow twittens, timber-framed pubs and the tall black net huts on the Stade. Ride the West Hill Cliff Railway up towards the castle ruins for sweeping views over the Channel. Explore Hastings → Hereford Hereford is a laid-back market city on the River Wye with a real treasure in its cathedral: the Mappa Mundi, a remarkable medieval map of the world, alongside a historic chained library. It's the kind of thing you'll be telling people about for weeks, and the surrounding countryside is gorgeous too. Explore Hereford → Kingston upon Hull The clue is in the name. Edward I bought the settlement and renamed it King's Town, building it up as a port to serve his ambitions. Today the Old Town by the marina is packed with history, from Hull Minster to cobbled streets and museums, and it's a lot more charming than people expect. Explore Kingston upon Hull → Knaresborough Knaresborough is one of those places that looks unreal in photos: houses stacked up a cliff above the River Nidd, a railway viaduct across the gorge and castle ruins on top. Hire a rowing boat, explore the castle grounds and finish with a wander round the market square. Lavenham Lavenham is often called England's best-preserved medieval village, and it's easy to see why. Hundreds of listed timber-framed buildings lean at wonky angles along its streets, many of them painted in soft Suffolk pink. Don't miss the Guildhall and the great wool church of St Peter and St Paul. Lincoln Lincoln is a medieval double act. The castle holds one of the surviving copies of Magna Carta, and the vast cathedral was, for a couple of centuries, reckoned to be the tallest building in the world. Between them you'll find Steep Hill, which lives up to its name and is lined with lovely little shops. Explore Lincoln → London It's easy to forget, but medieval London is still hiding in plain sight. The Tower of London, Westminster Abbey, Westminster Hall and the twisting lanes of the City all date back to the Middle Ages. Follow the old street pattern around Cheapside and you're walking the same routes as medieval traders. Explore London → Ludlow Ludlow is a real gem on the Welsh Marches, with hundreds of listed buildings packed into its streets and a mighty castle ruin at the top of town. It's also got a big reputation for food, so plan your visit around a market day or a good lunch and you can't really go wrong. Newmarket Most folk know Newmarket for horse racing, but the town's roots go back to a medieval market charter, which is literally where the name comes from. Stroll the high street, look out for the historic buildings tucked between shops, and pair it with a visit to the National Horseracing Museum. Explore Newmarket → Norwich In the Middle Ages Norwich was one of the wealthiest cities in England, and it shows. There's a Norman castle, a magnificent cathedral with a tall spire and the second-largest cloister in the country, cobbled Elm Hill and more medieval churches than you could ever count in a day. Explore Norwich → Oxford Oxford's university began taking shape in the twelfth century and its colleges grew up within an older Saxon town plan. Wander the lanes between quads and chapels, peek into the Bodleian, climb a tower for a view of those dreaming spires and spot the Saxon tower of St Michael at the North Gate. Explore Oxford → Plymouth Plymouth grew from a small fishing settlement into a major port, and the historic Barbican is where you'll feel that story most. Cobbled streets, old merchants' houses and the harbourside all have bags of character, and you can stand near the spot where the Mayflower set sail in 1620. Explore Plymouth → Portsmouth Portsmouth has been guarding the south coast since the twelfth century, and its naval story runs deep. Old Portsmouth's Round Tower and fortifications let you walk the harbour mouth, and the Historic Dockyard, home to the Mary Rose and HMS Victory, is a full day out on its own. Explore Portsmouth → Reading Reading's medieval claim to fame is its abbey, founded by Henry I, who was buried there. The Abbey Quarter ruins have been opened up to visitors and make a peaceful escape from the busy town centre. Look out for the Forbury Gardens next door, too, home to the famous lion statue. Explore Reading → Rye Rye looks like a film set. Cobbled Mermaid Street, the medieval Landgate and the stubby Ypres Tower all survive, and the town sits up on a hill gazing over the marshes towards the sea that once made it an important Cinque Port. Brilliant for photos, ice cream and a nose round antique shops. Salisbury Salisbury was laid out from scratch in the thirteenth century as a planned new town beside its brand-new cathedral, which has the tallest spire in Britain. The cathedral close is one of the loveliest spaces in the country, and the cathedral also holds a remarkable original copy of Magna Carta. Explore Salisbury → Sandwich Sandwich is a quiet little treasure on the Kent coast. Once a rich Cinque Port, its medieval street pattern survives almost intact, with timber-framed houses, the Barbican gate by the river and a cosy, unhurried feel. It's ideal for a slow wander followed by a lazy lunch. Sherborne Sherborne has not one but two castles, the ruined Old Castle and the later Sherborne Castle across the lake, plus a superb abbey with a beautiful fan-vaulted ceiling. The golden stone town in between is elegant and walkable, and it's a smashing base for exploring north Dorset. Shrewsbury Wrapped in a tight loop of the River Severn, Shrewsbury is a maze of black-and-white timber buildings and narrow passages locals call shuts. It's said to have hundreds of listed buildings, and getting a bit lost among the shuts and the old streets is half the fun. Explore Shrewsbury → Stratford-upon-Avon Stratford's grid of streets dates back to a twelfth-century market charter, which is why the old town is so easy to explore on foot. Of course, Shakespeare is the main draw, and his timber-framed birthplace is a classic, but the riverside, Holy Trinity Church and the old Guild Chapel are well worth your time too. Tewkesbury Tewkesbury is a treat for anyone who loves a narrow passage, with dozens of medieval alleys squeezed between its timber-framed buildings. Its great Norman abbey was saved at the Dissolution when the townsfolk bought it, and the town also gave its name to a famous Wars of the Roses battle. Thetford Thetford was one of the biggest towns in England at the time of Domesday, and that heritage is everywhere if you look. The ruined Cluniac priory and the huge Castle Hill earthworks are both free to explore, and Thetford Forest is right on the doorstep for a walk afterwards. Explore Thetford → Warwick Warwick Castle is the headline act and it's a big one, with towers, ramparts and all sorts going on throughout the year. Beyond the castle, the town itself is charming, with a medieval gateway, timber-framed Lord Leycester Hospital and the striking Collegiate Church of St Mary. Explore Warwick → Wells Wells is England's smallest city and one of its most beautiful. The cathedral's west front is covered in medieval statues, and next door the moated Bishop's Palace is still going strong. Find Vicars' Close too, reckoned to be one of the oldest intact residential streets in Europe. Winchcombe Tucked into the Cotswold hills, Winchcombe was once an important Saxon town, and today it's a cosy base for walkers. The big draw nearby is Sudeley Castle, where Katherine Parr, the last of Henry VIII's wives, is buried in the chapel. Gorgeous gardens, too. Winchester Winchester was the capital of Alfred the Great's Wessex and stayed hugely important under the Normans. Its cathedral is one of the longest in Europe, and the Great Hall holds the famous round table linked to King Arthur legends. The cathedral close and water meadows are a lovely way to finish. York York is about as medieval as it gets. Walk the city walls, gaze up at the Minster with its huge stained glass windows and then squeeze down the Shambles, the famously overhanging street that many reckon is the best-preserved medieval street in Europe. Snickelways and tearooms galore. Explore York → Wales Beaumaris Beaumaris Castle on Anglesey was Edward I's last great castle in Wales, and although it was never finished, its near-perfect concentric design is a marvel. The little seafront town alongside is full of character, with views across the Menai Strait to the mountains of Snowdonia. Caernarfon Caernarfon Castle is one of the most imposing fortresses anywhere, with banded stone walls and polygonal towers. Built by Edward I and now a World Heritage Site, it's surrounded by a tight walled town that you can still explore. The waterfront makes a cracking spot for chips. Explore Caernarfon → Cardigan Cardigan's castle on the River Teifi has a big claim to fame: it's linked to what's often described as the first recorded eisteddfod, held there in 1176. The castle and grounds have been beautifully restored, and the riverside town is a friendly gateway to the Ceredigion coast. Conwy Conwy is a showstopper. Its town walls are among the most complete medieval walls in Europe, and you can walk long sections with views over the estuary. Add the hulking castle, the tiny red Smallest House in Great Britain on the quay and a lovely harbour, and it's a must for anyone touring North Wales. Flint Flint was the first of Edward I's Welsh castle towns and was laid out on a neat grid plan, a style borrowed from French bastide towns. The castle ruins on the Dee estuary have a distinctive detached great tower, and the site is free and peaceful to explore. Harlech Harlech Castle sits high on its rock looking out over Tremadog Bay with Snowdonia behind it, and the views are stunning. It's part of the same World Heritage group as Conwy and Caernarfon, and once you've explored the walls you can head down to the huge sandy beach below. Newport (Monmouthshire) Newport grew up as a Norman settlement guarding a crossing of the River Usk, and the ruins of its castle still stand by the river. Look out for the cathedral of St Woolos up on Stow Hill and the remarkable medieval Newport Ship, discovered during building work by the river. Scotland Dunfermline Dunfermline was once Scotland's royal capital, and its abbey is the resting place of Robert the Bruce. Explore the abbey and palace ruins, stroll through the gorgeous Pittencrieff Park and take in a town that has played a huge role in Scottish history. Explore Dunfermline → Edinburgh Edinburgh's Old Town is a medieval marvel. The Royal Mile runs down from the castle on its volcanic rock towards Holyrood, with dark closes and wynds branching off on every side. Give yourself time, because every corner seems to have another story waiting. Explore Edinburgh → Elgin Elgin was a royal burgh by the twelfth century, and its medieval street layout still shapes the town centre. The ruined cathedral, once known as the Lantern of the North, is beautiful and atmospheric, and Moray's whisky country and coast are all within easy reach. Linlithgow Linlithgow is a royal burgh with a fabulous centrepiece: the roofless palace where Mary, Queen of Scots was born, sitting above a peaceful loch. The historic high street and cross below make for a lovely wander, and it's an easy hop from Edinburgh or Glasgow. St Andrews St Andrews has three main medieval streets that converge on its ruined cathedral, once the largest church in Scotland. Add the castle on the cliffs, Scotland's oldest university and long sandy beaches, and you've got a town that feels both historic and buzzing. Stirling Whoever held Stirling held the key to Scotland, and its castle sits high on a crag guarding the route across the River Forth. The nearby Wallace Monument and the Old Town's cobbled streets make it easy to spend a full day soaking up the history. Explore Stirling → Northern Ireland Carrickfergus Carrickfergus Castle is one of the best-preserved Norman castles in Ireland, standing on a rocky shore by Belfast Lough. The town is often called the oldest in County Antrim, and its harbour, old town walls and church make for a really rewarding day out. Explore Carrickfergus → Derry Derry's city walls are the only complete set of walls in Ireland, and you can walk the whole circuit above the streets with views over the River Foyle. The Peace Bridge, the Guildhall and the murals of the Bogside all add powerful modern chapters to the story. Explore Derry → Ireland Drogheda Just south of the border in County Louth, Drogheda grew into a major Anglo-Norman trading town on the River Boyne. St Laurence's Gate, a striking medieval barbican, still stands, and the Boyne Valley's ancient sites like Newgrange are close by for a bigger adventure. Plan your medieval day out So there you have it: 60 medieval towns packed with castles, cathedrals, crooked timber frames and walls you can walk along. Whether you fancy a quick local outing or a weekend away, there's a slice of the Middle Ages within reach of pretty much everyone in the UK. Pick a town, grab your comfy shoes and go and explore. And if you find a favourite we haven't mentioned, let us know in the comments!

The final World Fireworks Championship date gives you a reason to plan an October evening in Blackpool now. Make the fireworks the fixed point in your itinerary, then choose the arcade visits, food stops and journey home that fit comfortably around it. The final championship night The official programme lists Germany's Haupt Feuerwerke for Saturday 10 October 2026. Build-up is scheduled from 7pm, with firing at 7.30pm. This free display is on the beach in front of Blackpool Tower at Tower Festival Headland. Timings remain subject to the organiser's updates. What to organise this week If you are staying overnight, compare the complete cost of your trip before booking: accommodation, travel, parking where needed, and any meals you want included. Check cancellation terms and your arrival arrangements. An appealing room price is less useful if it leaves you with an awkward journey back after the evening. For a day trip, choose your return service first and work backwards. Allow time to move away from the viewing area after the display. If your group has different priorities, agree one or two arcade stops in advance and leave the rest optional. A shorter route gives you more time at the places you actually want to enjoy. Plan your arcade stops before you travel Use the Spin Raiders Blackpool guide to pick your stops and check the venue details before setting off. Choose a manageable route around the part of the seafront you intend to visit rather than trying to cover the whole town in one evening. Opening hours, admission rules and the availability of particular machines can change, so confirm anything essential directly with the venue. Explore Blackpool venues on Spin Raiders Make the evening work for your group For a family outing, choose suitable amusement areas and keep any adults-only gaming areas separate from the plan. Agree a spending limit for arcade games before arriving. If your group wants a meal as well, leave a generous gap before the display rather than relying on a last-minute table close to the seafront. Pack for a coastal evening: an extra layer and comfortable shoes make a difference when you are standing outside. Agree a meeting place in case your group gets separated, and keep your return journey details handy. Anyone with access requirements should check the viewing arrangements with the organiser before travelling. Check the official update before leaving Outdoor events can change because of weather or operational conditions. Check the organiser's latest information on the day, including any changes to timings and transport arrangements. The photograph accompanying this guide shows Blackpool at dusk; it is not an image of the forthcoming display. Official World Fireworks Championship programme

When arcades shut and sporting fixtures disappeared from the calendar in 2020, gambling habits changed too. The question behind this post was whether people were moving online. The original answer was much more confident than the evidence justified. Its claims of three percentage points of overall growth and a fifteen-point jump in live betting did not identify a clear dataset, comparison period or measure. Those figures have been withdrawn rather than repeated as established facts. The Gambling Commission’s pandemic reporting separated active accounts, bets, session lengths and gross gambling yield. These measures answer different questions. An increase in betting revenue, for example, is not the same as an increase in the number of people gambling. There is another reason to read old releases carefully. The Commission now flags its September 2020 operator-data release, published that November, because an operator supplied incorrect information. It directs readers to corrected data in later releases. Even an accurate market total cannot show whether a particular person was coping well. Nor can it establish whether a public-health restriction was justified. The earlier headline blurred those separate issues. This corrected archive note keeps the original subject—gambling behaviour during lockdown—while removing the unsupported conclusion and the invitation to respond to it by taking up casino offers. Gambling Commission: September 2020 data and its correction notice

At last—Onetec Day had arrived. After weeks of countdowns and sneak peeks, 22 May 2021 was the day the Hairy Slotters were due to show viewers around the refurbished Casino Lounge. Matt and the team had put a lot of work into the venue. The live tour was a chance to see how it had turned out, especially for everyone who had been following the refit from home. The final preview focused on the T7 terminals and the £500-jackpot games. These sat alongside the classic machines featured earlier in the build-up, giving the tour a mix of old favourites and newer games. The plan was to follow the tour with a series of Hairy Slotters videos from the venue. At the time, viewers knew the channel as ReelWorldSlots. What stands out in The Shuff's original announcement is the excitement about being back together after the closures. The machines gave everyone something to watch; the return to a familiar place gave the day its meaning. This is the announcement from 22 May 2021. The event and the casino promotions originally attached to it have ended.

Two more sleeps. By this point in the May 2021 countdown, the waiting was almost over and the Hairy Slotters' live tour was just around the corner. This preview turned to Magic 7 and Bar 7, with a suitably bad “magic” and “bar none” pun in the original post. They were among the familiar games readers were looking forward to seeing at Onetec. The tour was planned for 22 May on the ReelWorldSlots YouTube channel. Matt and the team had been preparing the Casino Lounge, and the photographs gave everyone at home another look before the cameras went live. That was all this update needed to do: share the latest glimpse of the venue and remind viewers when to join in. If you followed the countdown, this was the point where the plans started to feel real. Which machine would you have headed for first? That was the question in the comments, and it's still a good way to remember the day. An archive update from May 2021; the tour date is historical.

We can go to Onetec this month. That was the thought behind this update on 1 May 2021, with 21 sleeps left until the planned tour on 22 May. Matt and the team were bringing classic and modern machines together in the new Casino Lounge. The latest delivery gave readers something new to look at while the preparations continued. The original photographs included the new arrivals, T7 terminals and Haunted House. They were small glimpses of a bigger refit, shared as the room came together. The Hairy Slotters were due to show the transformation in a live programme on the ReelWorldSlots YouTube channel. For anyone unable to travel, that meant being able to see the venue and join the conversation from home. Looking back, this was the start of the final stretch. The earlier posts had introduced the work; now there was a date close enough to count down to. If you remember the old arcade, which part of the new lounge surprised you most? First published on 1 May 2021. The event dates refer to that year's Onetec Day.