10 Best Classic Seaside Arcade Machines - A Pier Review

After enjoying the Guardian’s article on classic seaside arcades, we just had to throw our own two pence into the mix

Seaside Amusement Arcades are back - and not just as a nostalgic memory. They are properly back.

Post-lockdown, with the cost of living squeezing overseas travel and wanderlust refusing to budge, Brits have been returning in droves to the coastal towns they once left behind. UK seaside resorts from Skegness to Weston-Super-Mare are experiencing a renaissance, and with them, the humble amusement arcade.

Arcades offer an experience that’s all-weather, all-ages, and utterly, unapologetically fun. Whether it's modern machines blaring K‑pop while flinging tickets like confetti, or retro coin pushers still clinging on from the 80s, there’s something unshakably magical about these clattering, flashing, slightly sticky temples of joy.

So here, based on decades of day trips, trivia, tickets, and tokens, is our list of the 10 best classic seaside arcade machines that continue to define the experience.

1. Coin Pushers

No seaside arcade is complete without the eternal clatter of copper coins tumbling off the shelf. These hypnotic machines (often 2p or 10p varieties) have long evolved past their humble origins. Today’s coin pushers feature built-in fruit machine reels, wheel spinners, and shelf prizes such as sweets and keychains to keep the temptation high.

Classics like Crompton’s Carousel remain popular staples of UK arcades. Modern machines often showcase branding from DC superheroes to Pac-Man and reward players with tickets to exchange for prizes, combining nostalgia with fresh excitement.

2. Claw Machines

The claw machine is an arcade rite of passage, from Steven the Seagull teddies to plush Disney characters tempting players of all ages. These crane games have changed little since the 80s, sometimes frustratingly difficult, sometimes surprisingly generous (especially when nobody’s watching), with classic machines like the Elaut EX-1 still going strong fifty years on!

Today, UK arcades feature an eclectic mix of these timeless machines with some still playing the same seaside jingles their parents heard as children. Alongside them are modern versions offering bonus games, instant-win prizes, and big-ticket rewards, blending nostalgia with modern gameplay.

3. Fairground Games

Hook-a-duck, ring toss, and tin-can-alley may have started at fairgrounds, but they’ve long since found a second life in arcades. Many seaside venues now dedicate whole sections to these fun, competitive games, from classic carnival-style setups to high-energy attractions. Today, they light up and beep, rewarding players with ticket prizes whether they’re chasing high scores or just having fun competing against their mates. These machines preserve the innocent spirit of summer fête, only with more LEDs (and less mud).

Each new season brings fresh innovations, as arcades roll out ever-more elaborate, operator-free versions of fairground games and sideshow favourites. From gigantic high strikers to modern coconut shy games, these amusements channel generations of pier boardwalk tradition into something addictively fun and endlessly replayable.

4. Fruit Machines

Love them or loathe them, the classic British fruit machine (low-stakes, flashing lights and fruity innuendos) has long been a seaside mainstay. Many arcades enforce a 16+ age limit, but for adults who remember £5 jackpot repeats, holds, and nudges, they’re a window back to youth - a spin through nostalgia lit by flashing reels and familiar sounds.

Sadly, the mechanical charm is fading, with many machines swapped for digital terminals or replaced entirely by “adolescent-friendly” ticket redemption slots. Revival efforts are bubbling, with older £5 jackpot fruit machines becoming collectable in some circles and dedicated retro arcades popping up in places like Blackpool and Southend. It is safe to say that, for now, in certain corners, the old mechanical reels still spin on.

5. Arcade Racing Games

From horses to cars to motorcycles, arcade racing machines have evolved with technology but remain true to their simple premise: control the machine, win the race, and claim the high score (or prize). Classic favourites like Whittaker’s Gold Cup (horse derby) still run strong, alongside modern versions (Lucky Ducks) that keep the fun alive.

Large, iconic OutRun machines can still be found at seaside amusements in Blackpool and Skegness, and the familiar sound of "Daytona" Rally can still be heard today. Whether throwing balls at the Camel Derby or tearing through pixelated cityscapes, classic racing games remain seated alongside modern machines, fuelling a generational rush of competition and speed.

6. Kiddie Rides

Strategically placed near the entrance or foyer, these classic coin-operated ride-ons are designed to catch the eye of families with young children. Whether it’s Teletubbies, fire engines, or Postman Pat vans, they’ve brought joy to generations of little ones too small for the bigger rides, and offered cautious parents a moment to catch their breath. Beyond the fun, these kiddie rides make perfect photo opportunities, creating treasured memories that last long after the coins run out.

7. Air Hockey

A timeless arcade staple, air hockey brings together kids, teens, parents and grandparents in the thrill of slamming a puck across a cushion of air. The rules are simple, the games are fast, and the bragging rights can last all day.

It's loud, competitive, and yes, the puck will almost always fly off the table at least once. But that's all part of the fun. Since it arrived in the 1970s, air hockey hasn't needed to change. It just works. That said, modern twists like Pac-Man Smash are worth seeking out.

8. Boxing Punch Machine

Often found right by the entrance, these boxing machines evolved from humble ‘strength tester’ carnival games and are built to grab attention. One loud punch is all it takes to turn heads. Whether it’s lads on holiday or teens just passing by, it’s hard to resist having a go (and it’s crazily addictive).

One hit, a score, a reaction. That’s the whole story - short, dramatic, and perfect for modern short-form content. No wonder they’re a favourite of influencers and TikTok stars. These games are played in groups, usually with plenty of encouragement, and always for pride.

9. Pinball

The soundtrack of every arcade used to be the ding-ding-ding of pinball bumpers and flippers. Born in the early 20th century, electrified in the 1970s, and immortalised by The Who, pinball has cycled from near extinction to a retro-cool revival.

Modern machines, featuring themes from Jurassic Park to Stranger Things, combine physical chaos with digital scoreboards offering addictive replays. Some have even become collectables, with rare tables fetching five-figure sums. Companies like Retro Arcade Specialists UK are actively promoting them, placing machines in arcades, entertainment venues, and even service stations across the UK.

10. Arcade Shooting Galleries

Before everything became digital, there were arcade shooting galleries. These theatrical, diorama-based games (pirates, ghosts, jungles, wild west) evolved from tin-can alley and allowed players to fire light guns at animatronic targets that twitched, yelped, or erupted with noise.

Today they are becoming rarer, often swapped out for compact, relocatable machines that take up less space. However, seaside venues with space (like Piers) still take pride in these classic shooting galleries. Professor Coggins is a modern, portable take on this classic, so if you see him, don’t hesitate to grab the rifle and enjoy some old-school fun with a fresh twist.

Honourable Mentions
• Horse, Kentucky or Camel Derby games - still found on piers across the UK
• Zoltar Machines - American-made and popularised, still great fun
• Basketball Machines - also American, perfect for sibling rivalry
• Skee Ball - technically American, though similar games have been enjoyed here for centuries
• Prize Bingo - a national treasure, still thriving in seaside towns across the country

Big thanks to @KeithStuart at The Guardian for shining a spotlight on the fact that classic arcade games are still very much alive and kicking. All across UK seaside resorts, these timeless machines are stocked with coins, prizes, and tickets — ready for a new generation of players.

If this list made you want to rummage for 2p coins, we won’t blame you. The magic of arcades is that, just like the seaside itself, they never really went away. Thanks to the explosion of video socials among younger generations, the whole world is rediscovering the culture of classic arcade machines, now enhanced by modern technology.

(photo credit Patel Poojan)