Penny Arcades
Here are amusement arcades and entertainment venues across the UK that include vintage penny arcades. The UK's rich seaside amusements history stretches back into the Victorian era, with many working machines still on display today. LFind out about the history and peruse venues with old-world games below.
Penny arcades were the precursors to modern amusement arcades. During the heyday of British seaside holidays (before the rise of low-cost package trips to southern Europe) Victorians flocked to seaside resorts with the same promenades, piers, and entertainment venues that we enjoy today. However, without microchips or digital technology, their seaside attractions were handcrafted mechanical games made from metal and wood. Using larger pre-decimal coins like pennies and tuppence, these machines provided simple, engaging fun. As mechanics advanced to valve and then solid-state technology, many of these machines were upgraded or replaced. Yet, thanks to their durable construction, numerous Victorian-era penny slots and ‘sideshow’ games remain in working condition, offering a rich, hands-on glimpse into the UK’s rich seaside history (still on display at venues nationwide).
Penny arcades date back as far as the 1700s in the UK and offered simple mechanical games and amusements that captivated visitors with their simplicity and ingenuity. Early versions of cascading coin pushers offered players the chance to win big one-pence coins, and mechanical crane machines were popular with both adults and children, evolving into today’s claw machines. Allwin amusement machines were one of the main attractions in vintage penny arcades, and many still exist today, with companies such as the Retro-Arcade Allwin Factory in Lancashire who are still manufacturing the games to this day. One could argue that these are very similar in nature to the Pachinko machines that now dominate modern-day Japan. There were also many types of diorama machines where visitors could press buttons or roll wheels to see miniature models perform various actions. These included mechanical horse races which were early versions of the horse derby machines that became popular in amusement arcades during the 1980s. Of course, one could not leave out the huge range of mechanical penny slots that evolved over the years on both sides of the pond. These "One-Armed Bandits" or "Gamblers" were fully mechanical and much simpler compared to today’s slot machines.
There are still many fully operating penny arcades in the UK, and one such example is Williamson’s Old Penny Arcade, located in the Merrivale Arcade in Great Yarmouth. Here, visitors can exchange modern coins for real pre-decimal coins and use them to interact with the machines. Many amusement arcades across the country also have the occasional vintage penny slot or old-time machine on display as a nod to Britain’s rich amusement history. Several arcades listed on this page feature one or two vintage penny arcade machines for visitors to spot. See if you can find some vintage penny slots at the Coral Island Arcade in Blackpool, or check out what’s on display at Harris Amusements Arcade in Skegness. Further south, Mannings Arcade in Felixstowe has a rich history with some vintage penny slots on display, and don’t miss the Under the Pier Show arcade at Southwold Pier for some wacky takes on vintage-style machines.
Historical Charm
Mechanical Design
Often Hand-made
Penny Simplicity
