Pleasureland Amusements Arcade Whitby

Pleasureland is a large amusement arcade and entertainment venue located on Pier Road, in the heart of Whitby’s busy tourist area on the north bank of the River Esk. It is one of three amusement arcades in Whitby and is particularly well suited to families with children.

What makes Pleasureland stand out is its variety of themed areas and attractions. Rather than simply being one large arcade, children can explore different worlds, from pirates and Wild West adventures to space-themed bowling and the colourful Claw Land. There is plenty to keep young minds entertained, while parents and older family members can easily join in.

The arcade welcomes well-behaved dogs, while the entrance is wheelchair-friendly with a slight step. To the right, Flavours ice cream bar serves delicious ice creams, sweet treats, drinks and snacks, making it perfect for hot days or anyone with a sweet tooth.

Opposite is Pleasure Island Adventure Golf, a pirate-themed mini golf course perfect for children who love swashbuckling adventures. Its immersive theme feels like stepping into a movie and fits naturally with Whitby’s harbour and maritime surroundings.

Next to the mini golf is an arcade shooting gallery with an old-world frontier theme. Up to eight players can compete at once, taking aim at targets that trigger fun effects. A classic seaside attraction and a great family activity.

Inside, Pleasureland continues the themed approach with Space Bowlingo, an eight-lane mini bowling alley with a futuristic space theme. There is also the colourful Claw Land zone, offering a range of claw games to explore.

Nearly all the attractions use Pleasureland’s Tap Tap card system, making it easy for parents to load credit and keep track of spending while children choose which attractions to enjoy. It also removes the need to carry pockets full of coins that can easily be lost.

Kids Arcade Games

Younger children are well catered for with a fun selection of kiddie rides, including a Peppa Pig diorama and London Bus, fire truck, Wild West horse and kart, Bunny Spaceship and Magic Castle Wheel. They also make great photo opportunities for a memorable holiday snap. Vintage kiddie rides include a motorbike and ride-on horse, which may interest kiddie ride enthusiasts.

Dotted around the venue are several mini claw machines for smaller players, with step stools provided for the coin pushers and taller claws. Other child-friendly games include Minions Whack-a-Mole, Happy Miner and Chick Chick Chicken, plus classic bubble-gum-style vending machines.

Claw Machines

Claw Land is a bright, futuristic area with eye-catching LED lines along the walls and circular LED features across the ceiling. It has a strong selection of claw machines, including Claw Land-branded grabbers, Story Land cranes, classic E-Claws, Over the Edge, Find-a-Key, Skill Cut Winner and Duck Party games.

Younger children are also catered for with smaller machines such as Prize Box, Toy Box and Shining Cube. Prizes range from colourful toys to popular branded plush characters including Jellycat, Winnie the Pooh and Pokémon.

Claw Land is also a great fit for Pleasureland’s Tap Tap card system, a feature commonly found in ‘clawcades’ across the US and Asia. Tap cards allow parents to set a budget while giving children the freedom to choose which machines to play, helping them learn about budgeting and making choices along the way.

Coin Pushers

Pleasureland Amusements has a strong selection of coin pushers, including Minions, Simpsons Donut Days, Butterfly, Rollercoaster, Ice Cream and Busy Bees. There is also Key to Success, which adds an instant-win element with prize lockers.

The 2p machines are packed with coins ready to fall, alongside a good selection of winnable shelf prizes including fun toys and sweets. This gives players plenty to aim for beyond simply building up their coin pile. For convenient, uninterrupted play, 2p, 10p and £1 change machines are located throughout the venue, making it easy to top up your coins without having to leave the arcade.

Classic Arcade Games

Pleasureland has a great selection of classic arcade games, including the eye-catching Emoji Power Puck and Flash Hockey air hockey tables, both featuring striking LED edge lighting.

The fairground-style games include Connect 4 Hoops, Wild West Shootout, three-lane Ice Ball Skee-Ball, Down the Clown and World Football Pro. Fans of arcade racers can take on two-player Furious Speed DX, Asphalt Motoblitz DX and the ever-popular Mario Kart DX.

There are also two modern basketball arcade machines ‘To Tha Net’ with its interactive digital backboard, plus Quarterback Pro, an American football throwing game. At the entrance, a boxing punch machine gives groups of friends the chance to test their strength.

Pleasureland does not offer ticket redemption, keeping these games focused purely on fun, competition and beating the high score.

VR Arcades

Inside the Pleasureland Arcade visitors can enjoy a Typhoon simulator, which is an early example of immersive arcade simulation, giving players a taste of the motion and visual effects now common in modern VR attractions.

For racing fans, there is also the Super Speed triple-screen VR racing simulator, an immersive sit-in motion simulator that moves and vibrates in sync with the action on screen.

Fruit Machines

There are three triple-row low stakes fruit machines for adults to have a quick go on while the kids explore the other attractions. These are Batman Begins, Party Time Classic and Bullion Bars. There is no dedicated adult gaming slots lounge, keeping the focus firmly on family fun.

Venue Verdict

Pleasureland packs an impressive variety of family entertainment under one roof, making it a great choice for children with big imaginations. From Claw Land and colourful kiddie rides to pirate adventures, Bowlingo and classic arcade fun, there is something to keep children of all ages entertained.

With delicious ice cream, treats and drinks alongside so many attractions, Pleasureland is much more than a quick arcade stop. Plan a full day at this venue while in Whitby and enjoy a family day packed with fun, whatever the weather.

There are plenty more fantastic arcade machines and attractions to discover, so be sure to visit Pleasureland in person and explore everything it has to offer for the whole family.