Last Updated on June 24, 2024 by Suzy McCullough
Skegness is one of those seaside towns where you are supposed to either love it or hate it. I don’t see why it has to be for some and not for everyone. We love it for so many reasons but the main one is that there is just so much to do there. Visit Skegness and I challenge you to not have fun. It’s so diverse and there’s plenty for young and old. You don’t even have to spend much money. We have visited countless times and each visit has been different. The best thing is visiting in the winter as car parking is heavily reduced in price. You can also easily find free street parking over the winter.
Skegness is a coastal seaside resort on the Lincolnshire coast. When I was little it was our closest beach from Derbyshire so I have many happy memories of visiting as a child. It has the nicknames Skeg, Skeggy and Skeg-Vegas. If you’ve been to Skegness you don’t generally end up calling it that. There’s more than enough to fill up a day, possibly even two or three depending on the time of year you visit.
I will also include things to do just outside of Skegness at the bottom of this post.
Fairy Dell Paddling Pool
If you head to the top end of the boating lake away from the main hub of Skegness Centre you will find a tucked-away treasure. The Fairy Dell paddling pool is free to visit and open during the summer months. It has sprinklers and an ornamental fountain plus plenty of little pools to paddle in. It’s a really lovely spot. It has been open for 100 years now and had a major refurbishment back in 2006. Find Out More
Boating
There is a lovely big boating lake in Skegness. It’s next to the big main car park and the Skegness Aquarium. It’s also a great lake to spot some ducks or geese. There are boats and pedalos to hire. There are no prices on the internet, I do remember it not being an especially cheap activity.
Bowling
There are at least two places to go bowling in Skegness. The Empire which is relatively new and located almost opposite the Embassy Theatre. Plus Skegness Bowl is located downstairs in the Skegness Pier. Both have special offers and deals throughout the year.
Amusements
You are never far from a large amusement arcade in Skegness. There are plenty of 2p slots, fruit machines and arcade games in places such as Skegness Pier, Lucky Strike, Funland and more.
Crazy Golf
We love a game of crazy golf. Next to Skegness Aquarium is the Jolly Roger pirate-themed adventure golf. The Jolly Roger is a 9-hole course around water hazards and obstacles with an excellent pirate theme. We have played this course even in cooler months.
Donkey Rides
There have been donkey rides on the beach at Skegness for decades now. The price seems to creep up a little every time we visit though. The donkeys are there during the warmer months and can be found on the beach near the main car park. Prices may have increased since I took this photo.
Soft Play
If the weather isn’t great why not head to one of the Soft Play centres in Skegness? There is Captain Kids’ adventure world in Skegness Pier. This soft play is in the middle of the indoor section of the pier. Some of the equipment goes right over the amusements but access is only via a gated door where you have to pay to enter. There is also Kids World in the Lucky Strike Arcade which is relatively large.
A little further down the road, you will find The Suncastle. This is a large pub with a soft play area. There is an area for under 5 and an area for over 5. There are also a few rides inside for kids.
Play on the Beach
The best thing about the beaches in Lincolnshire is the vast quantity of sand. The tide goes out more than it comes in. In other words, it can sometimes be a very long walk across the sand to paddle in the sea. It is an award-winning sandy beach.
Embassy Swimming Pool
Also in the heart of the town, you will find the Embassy swimming pool. This has an indoor and outdoor heated pool. The outdoor pool is very popular in the summer months and they also have sun loungers outside and a shallow area for kids to paddle in.
Walk the Victorian Pier
As well as the amusements, soft play, bowling and everything else the Skegness Pier has to offer you must also walk outside. If you keep walking through the amusements you will eventually go outside via a set of doors. This then brings you out onto the old Victorian Pier. In winter it’s pretty much you, a few other people and the pier which is lovely when walking out towards the sea. In the summer months, they do have a few things outside for the kids to go on.
Other attractions within Skegness Pier. Also in Skegness Pier, you will find Laser Quest, Escape rooms, the new Pier beach bar and Virtual reality.
Skegness Aquarium
The Aquarium has only been open for a few years. It’s a lovely place to spend an hour or two but it is quite expensive considering the size. It is what you make it though and the more time you spend looking in the tanks and getting involved in crafts, talks and feeding times the more you will get out of a visit. There is also an outdoor area with large dinosaurs on a winding path.
Skegness Natureland Seal Sanctuary
This place is small, very small. Natureland Seal Sanctuary is just a short walk from the main town. However, it does great work and for that, they are worth visiting. It is well known for rescuing and rehabilitating orphaned and injured seals that become stranded on Lincolnshire beaches. Visitors can see the various stages of their rehabilitation and hear about the rescue work at feeding times. They have other animals such as goats, penguins, meerkats and more.
Eat some Fresh Donuts
One thing they do really well in Skegness is fresh hot doughnuts. We will often buy some as a treat. They are usually cooked while you wait and are a sugary taste sensation. I can highly recommend some.
Go to the Theatre
There are two theatres in Skegness, Neverland Theatre and the larger Embassy Theatre. Neverland is an independent theatre that puts on pantomimes (even over the summer), touring productions and local plays. Embassy Theatre has a lot of tribute acts and comedians as well as larger touring productions such as the Sooty show and the Tiger Who Came to Tea. They have a pantomime every winter and roller skating events throughout the year.
Botton’s Pleasure Beach Skegness
The Pleasure Beach is a small theme park right by the beach and the main attraction in Skegness. They have rides in one main central area and then a few spilling off at the edge such as a log flume, go-karts and boating. The rides are open for the Spring and summer months. There is no charge to enter and you can go on the rides by purchasing bundles of coin tokens. The more you purchase the cheaper the rides. You can also purchase specially-priced wristbands.
Just Outside of Skegness – Things to do
Skegness Raceway
Skegness Raceway has a ¼ mile tarmac race track, its unique wide bends and short straights offer the best Banger and Stock Car racing in the country. Monster Truck Car Crushing, Car and Motorbike Stunts plus our famous Caravan Bangers. Plus Kids go Free to all of their events. Most of their events take place throughout the spring and summer. It is a short drive out of Ingoldmells in the Skegness area.
Hardy’s Animal Farm
Hardy’s is a wonderful farm park with plenty to do including some lovely unique things. They have pitchfork-crazy golf which you play with a pitchfork and a football, plus ride on toy horses, go-karts, free-range goats to feed, tractor rides and so much more. Also located a short drive out of Ingoldmells. They have some great indoor and outdoor play areas.
Fantasy Island
Fantasy Island is our favourite place to visit for rides in the Midlands. There is more than you think crammed into essentially a parking lot in Ingoldmells, near Butlins. It is free to walk around Fantasy Island and they also have a market set amongst the rides.
There are rides indoors and outdoors and you can either purchase a wristband according to height or pay for individual rides. We love the indoor balloon ride and dinosaur-crazy golf.
Tiny Tots Village Indoor Playzone
Also in Ingoldmells and opposite Fantasy Island, you will find Tiny Tots Village Indoor Playzone. It is a relatively large themed indoor playcentre for children aged up to 10 years. They have a soft play area, ride-ons and playhouses. Plus a cafe with plenty of seating.
Butlins Day Visits
We love Butlins in Skegness, well Ingoldmells really but who cares. It is located on the beachfront and has some great rides, fabulous entertainment, a wonderful swimming pool with slides, restaurants and so much more. You don’t have to be staying there to enjoy the fun.
They also offer day visits that include unlimited rides on their Traditional Fairground and Tots Little Stars Fairground. Plus live shows during the day, entry to Splash Waterworld and access to their indoor soft play and outdoor play areas. Under 2s go free! To guarantee your entry, book your day visit tickets online before you go and save 20%. Why not check out my review of Butlins?
Village Church Farm
The Village Church Farm is a free attraction on the outskirts of Skegness. It is Lincolnshire’s only open-air museum. There is plenty to see and do there and they hold some great events throughout most of the year. They have a collection of Lincolnshire buildings which include a Grade II Listed Georgian Farmhouse which is decorated and furnished to a Victorian era.
Gibraltar Point
Gibraltar Point is a lovely nature reserve by the sea on the outskirts of Skegness. The only fee you have to pay is one to park your car. They have a relatively new visitor centre plus walks around the reservoir mostly on paths, with some accessible routes. It is very picturesque and it is a good place to spot wild birds.
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