Top 5 Best Southend Amusements

Southend is located on the Thames Estuary and is around an hour from central London by train. The area combines the charm of classic Victorian seaside architecture with the benefits of modern investment more commonly found closer to the capital. Visitors arriving by rail are often pleasantly surprised, guided toward the seafront through a lively town centre filled with energy, independent shops and well-known high street brands.

Reaching the seafront reveals beautifully manicured stepped gardens and an elevated viewpoint, complete with a lift down to the lower promenade. With Adventure Island and the iconic Southend Pier stretching out below, the view creates a memorable first impression and sets the scene perfectly for a day of seaside fun and exploration.

Top 5 Best Southend arcades

Southend has no shortage of impressive seaside amusement arcades, matching the size and scale of other leading UK resorts. Our top five Southend amusements are all located along Marine Parade and within easy walking distance of the main tourist area, making it simple to explore them all and find the perfect gaming fun for both families and adult players alike.

5) Retropolis Amusements

Visitors to Southend who venture a little further along the seafront will be rewarded with Retropolis, a venue that captures how arcades used to be. Leading the revival of classic fruit machines, it showcases a strong collection of retro arcade favourites, primarily Cat D £5 jackpot machines from the genre’s golden era.

While the arcade does not have children's ticket redemption games, it offers an authentic window into the past. Expect to find well-known titles from Maygay, Barcrest and JPM, presented in a setting that celebrates traditional British arcade culture.

4) New York New York / Monte Carlo Amusements

Two great amusement venues that are internally linked, with New York New York offering a wide range of larger fairground-style games, while Monte Carlo focuses more on fruit machines and adult gaming options. Together, they form a seafront gaming powerhouse, catering to families chasing tickets as well as players seeking big jackpots.

Modern coin pushers are spread throughout both venues, offering shelf prizes and ticket wins. Above Monte Carlo, there is an upstairs prize shop and a children’s arcade area featuring some rarer children’s machines, making it well worth exploring.

3) Funtopia Amusements

As part of the wider Adventure Island Amusement Park, Funtopia (Adventure Inside) is a unique amusements venue set on the lower level of a large auditorium-style space. A beautifully presented Carousel greets visitors before descending to a spacious gaming floor filled with a varied mix of amusements and family attractions.

With its playful pirate theme, on-site food options, and direct access to the outdoor adventure park rides, Funtopia works perfectly as either a starting point or a finale to a day exploring Adventure Island.

2) Electric Avenue Amusements

With its darker branding and dimly lit arcade floor, Electric Avenue has a distinctly cool, alternative edge that appeals to teens and young adults looking for a place to hang out in style. The amusement floor is packed with neon glowing arcade machines, while upstairs is home to the equally stylish Kingpins Bowling alley and bar, which has an awesome terrace balcony, adding to the venue’s late-night appeal.

The amusements lineup includes modern ticket coin pushers, fairground-style redemption games and big arcade favourites such as Connect Four Hoops and Space Invaders. Claw machines, fruit machines and a range of adult gaming options round out a venue that blends arcade energy with a nightlife vibe in the right way!

1) Circus Circus Amusements

With its prime Marine Parade position and fun, fairground signage, Circus Circus Amusements is impossible to miss and instantly recognisable as THE iconic Southend venue. Situated at the start of the tourist area, it’s the first attraction many visitors see, with its colourful exterior drawing attention by day and looking even more impressive once the lights come on at night. Inside, the venue is large, lively and packed with machines to suit every type of player.

Classic and retro arcade favourites sit alongside the latest arcade technology, with ticket redemption woven throughout and a large prize shop providing plenty of opportunities to win. An impressive selection of fruit machines and a spacious slots lounge at the rear also make Circus Circus a strong choice for adult visitors, whether stopping in between pubs or taking a break from the casino above. As a starting point on the seafront, Circus Circus sets the tone for a great day or night out and helps keep Southend firmly on the map as one of the UK’s most loved seaside resorts.

Day or Night?

Southend-on-Sea offers a lively seafront by day and a more grown-up energy at night. Daytime brings classic seaside fun, from amusements and adventure attractions to walks along the pier and promenade gardens. 

Evenings see the town light up with illuminated venues, late-opening attractions and a buzzing social scene. With two leading casinos holding late licences, Southend also stands out as a seaside destination that keeps the action going well into the night.

Perfect for Summer and Winter?

Southend works well in both summer and winter, offering different rewards depending on the season. In warmer months, good weather makes it easy to build beach time into the day, whether that means a paddle in the sea, sandcastle building or simply soaking up the sun, ideal for families watching the budget.

Winter naturally brings fewer beach-based activities, but the quieter atmosphere comes with shorter queues, easier parking and a more relaxed pace. Many attractions remain open year-round (with reduced hours) and there are also unique winter entertainment events that occur each year. 

Southend Resort Verdict

Southend delivers all the ingredients of a great seaside day out, from amusement arcades and adventure parks to casinos, pubs and the full spread of classic British seaside food. While the beach itself may not be the headline act, the town more than makes up for it with the world’s longest pier and a lively, entertainment-led seafront. Its easy rail links from London only add to the appeal, bringing a steady stream of visitors looking for fun by the sea.

Southend has clearly benefited from strong investment in its infrastructure, giving it a more polished feel than many northern resorts, although this can mean slightly higher prices for food and accommodation. That said, with a bit of planning it remains an affordable and approachable destination for families, couples and groups alike, and a place where memorable seaside moments are easy to come by.