Great Yarmouth Pleasure Beach

The seafront at Great Yarmouth comes alive the moment you spot the roller coaster silhouettes against the Norfolk sky. Pleasure Beach is proper old-school seaside fun - the sort of place where generations of families have screamed on the same rides their parents did. You'll find everything from wooden coasters that rattle and shake to gentler attractions for younger kids, alongside the usual arcade games and food stalls that smell of fried everything.

It's a working theme park with real history running through it, not some corporate clone. Walkers and families passing through will find an hour or two here worthwhile, though it's not the sort of place to build a whole day around unless you've got kids aged under twelve. Teenagers might find it a bit dated compared to what they'd get elsewhere.

The beach itself is right there, so you can grab an ice cream and wander along the prom before or after - that's the real draw for many people. It's free to enter the park and walk around; you pay per ride or grab a wristband if you're serious about the coasters.

If you're based at Haven Seashore or Haven Hopton just down the coast, or any of the other parks clustered nearby, Pleasure Beach makes a solid rainy-day option or a few hours' entertainment when you fancy a break from the caravan. It won't blow your mind, but it does exactly what it says - offers a proper seaside afternoon without pretension.