The Jolly Fisherman

The Jolly Fisherman is one of Skegness's most recognisable landmarks - a quirky Victorian statue that's been welcoming visitors to the seafront since 1936. Officially titled 'John Hassall's Jolly Fisherman', it's become the visual shorthand for the entire resort. You'll find it right on the promenade, impossible to miss, and it makes for the sort of photo that screams seaside nostalgia.

What draws people here is partly the historical oddity of it all. The statue dates back to a 1905 advertising poster that became so embedded in local identity that they eventually cast it in bronze. It's the kind of thing that makes Skegness feel like it's frozen in a particular era - and that's either its charm or its drawback, depending on your tastes.

You won't need long here. Five minutes to find it, have a look around, take the obligatory photo, and you're done. It works best as part of a broader wander along Skegness seafront rather than a destination in itself. Families staying at Butlins or Haven Skegness will stumble across it naturally - it's practically on your doorstep if you're in those parks.

If you're genuinely interested in Victorian seaside heritage and early 20th-century advertising history, it's worth a proper look. Everyone else should treat it as a quick photo stop between fish and chips and the amusements. Free to visit, naturally.