Enjoy entertainment aplenty at Weston-super-Mare’s Grand Pier. The landmark pier is home to an assortment of amusements including go-karts, a house of horrors and a roller coaster, as well as more than 500 arcade games. Challenge your friends or family to a game of air hockey, perfect your aim in the shooting galleries and admire the spectacular views of the coastline from the pier’s end.
Ride the Robocoaster, one of Britain’s smallest rollercoasters. Soar above the arcade machines and out the vaulted pavilion roof on this exhilarating amusement ride. Other fun attractions include the Sidewinder, an eight-person swinging ride that extends over the balcony. Many of the rides at Grand Pier are suitable for both adults and children.
The pier’s Crystal Maze consists of 148 mirror doors and is one of the only mirror mazes in the United Kingdom. In the Laser Maze, weave around a complex of intersecting green laser beams as you race the clock to capture the “jewels.”
Also worth seeking out is the exciting split-level go-kart track, which stretches about 1,000 feet (300 metres). Drivers who take to the circuit will have to navigate eight thrilling turns. Other rides at Grand Pier include bumper cars, a house of horrors with ghouls and ghosts and a Formula One simulator.
Choose from a wide range of dining options at the pier. Stop at the Edwardian-style tearoom for cake and tea, dine on fish and chips at one of the restaurants or treat yourself to an American-style sundae at the ice-cream parlor. A pirate-themed bar offers a large selection of locally brewed beers.
The pier is open every day of the year except for Christmas Day and is just a short walk away from the centre of Weston-super-Mare. Check the official website for special offers and pricing before you go. While in the city, you may also want to visit the nearby Weston SeaQuarium and the High Street, the central shopping hub of Weston-super-Mare.
Grand Pier is at its liveliest during weekends and school holidays. For a quieter experience, visit mid-week when the family-friendly arcade games, amusement rides and dining establishments are less busy.
