Jet Adventures South Pier Lowestoft

The South Pier at Lowestoft juts out into the North Sea like a finger pointing at the horizon, and Jet Adventures sits right at its tip. You're looking at a speedboat experience - the kind where you climb aboard a rigid inflatable and get properly thrown about in the spray for twenty minutes or so. It's fast, it's loud, and if you've got any sense of adventure in you, it's a genuine rush.

The appeal is straightforward: you get out on the water at proper speed, feel the salt spray, and see Lowestoft's coastline from a completely different angle. The pier itself is worth a wander regardless - old-school British seaside, with arcades and fish and chips joints dotted about. If the weather's decent, the views back towards the town are decent enough.

Families with teenagers will get the most out of this. Younger kids might find it too intense, depending on how brave they are. It's not cheap - speedboat rides rarely are - but it's a decent half-hour activity if you're based at Pakefield Holiday Park or one of the other caravan sites nearby.

Best visited when the sea's calm enough to actually enjoy it rather than spend the whole time gripping the handles. Summer weekends get rammed, so go early or midweek if you can. Once you've done the pier, head into Lowestoft town centre for lunch - it's walked-down but it's got character, especially around the harbour.