The amusement arcade industry, once in steady decline, has seen a strong post-COVID resurgence driven by renewed demand for out-of-home entertainment. Coupled with recent advances in technology and manufacturing, this shift has revitalised the sector and helped propel arcades back into mainstream appeal worldwide.
Blackpool needs no introduction as the UK’s largest seaside entertainment resort. Its wide, flat shoreline has hosted family holidays for generations, evolving from traveller sideshows, palm reading and donkey rides into a destination of major casinos and large-scale entertainment complexes. Today the resort attracts more than 20 million visitors a year, reflected in the busy promenades and steady flow of traffic that continue late into the night, almost as constant as the Blackpool Illuminations themselves.
Hemsby is a hidden gem of a seaside resort located just eight miles north of Great Yarmouth seafront. It offers classic funfair rides, traditional seaside attractions, and some of the best amusement arcades on the east coast, making it a worthwhile stop when exploring East Anglia.
Clacton offers a strong mix of amusements clustered around the beach and pier, which form the heart of the town’s tourist area. Everything along the seafront is within easy walking distance, and with plenty of parking available, it’s a convenient, low-stress seaside resort with a good variety of attractions.
Pubs, hotels, and shops sit close to the promenade, and with direct rail links from Colchester and London, Clacton is easily reached by car or public transport from across the region.
Skegness is located on the east coast of Lincolnshire and is accessible through Boston from the south, Lincoln from the west, or Grimsby from the north. Trains are available direct from the East Midlands Rail operator and depart from several towns and cities in the Midlands, including Nottingham, Leicester, Sheffield and Derby, all with wider connections to London, Birmingham, Glasgow, etc.
Great Yarmouth is home to a huge selection of amusements and entertainment centres. For day-trippers, arriving by train or car is straightforward; there are plenty of parking options at the seafront and walking from the train station makes for an enjoyable stroll through the town centre down to Marine Parade.