The Grand Pier

The Grand Pier stretches out into the Bristol Channel like a proper Victorian statement, and walking its length takes you away from the seafront hustle into something altogether quieter. It's a working pier - rides, arcades, the usual seaside mechanics - but what makes it worth the trip from Burnham-on-Sea town centre is the sheer sense of being out over the water. On a clear day the views back towards the Somerset coast are genuinely good.

You'll find the standard pier attractions: fairground rides for kids, slot machines, fish and chips stalls, that sort of thing. It's not cutting-edge entertainment, but that's rather the point. Families with younger children get the most from it - teenagers will work through it in an hour, then want to head elsewhere. The pier itself is free to walk, though rides and arcade games cost extra.

Timing-wise, allow 90 minutes if you're doing everything, less if you're just having a stroll and a snack. Summer weekends get rammed, so go early or visit midweek if you can. The pier holds up reasonably well considering the coastal battering it takes.

It slots neatly into a park holiday stay at Golden Sands or Yellow Sands - both are within four miles - as a rainy-day option or a half-day break from the caravan. Brean Theme Park down the coast offers similar energy if you want to compare. The Grand Pier isn't going to redefine your holiday, but it's solid, unpretentious fun.