Astro City in Southend-on-Sea, Essex, has been named the UK's best seaside arcade, according to a new study by Live Casinos. The arcade scored an impressive 9.85 out of 10, outperforming famous coastal destinations such as Brighton and Bognor Regis.
Top Arcades Revealed as Heatwave Drives Brits to Coast
As Britons flock to coastal resorts to cool down during a sizzling heatwave, experts have identified the top seaside arcades for indoor fun. The study analyzed arcades based on total number of games and different game categories, ranking the top 20 across the UK.
Astro City's collection spans 56 games across 11 categories, featuring iconic retro titles such as Pac-Man and Donkey Kong, alongside rhythm, racing, and shooter experiences including DanceDanceRevolution, Mario Kart Arcade GP, and Time Crisis. Its wide variety makes it an ideal stop for a day out in Southend-on-Sea, which is also home to the world's longest pleasure pier at 2.158 km.
Golden Horseshoe and Wellington Pier Take Silver and Bronze
Golden Horseshoe in Southsea ranks second with a score of 9.75 out of 10, particularly influenced by its strong focus on immersive, modern arcade entertainment. Its lineup blends virtual reality and cinematic experiences such as Halo: Fireteam Raven, Star Wars Battle Pod, and Jurassic Park Arcade, alongside popular racing titles including Mario Kart Arcade GP DX and Daytona Championship USA.
Third place goes to Wellington Pier in Great Yarmouth (9.69 out of 10), with 37 games across 10 categories. Its blend of racing, shooter, and family-friendly attractions makes it a popular all-ages stop on the Great Yarmouth seafront.
NQ64 Cardiff and ArCains Liverpool Tie for Fourth
NQ64 in Cardiff and ArCains in Liverpool rank joint fourth, both scoring 9.58 out of 10, but offer distinctly different arcade experiences. NQ64 Cardiff, despite having fewer machines overall, provides a highly diverse mix of genres including rhythm, fighting, and retro classics such as Guitar Hero Arcade and Tekken Tag Tournament. In contrast, ArCains in Liverpool offers a larger-scale arcade with standout titles like Pump It Up XX and Daytona USA 2, delivering a more expansive but slightly less varied selection overall.
Grand Pier in Weston-super-Mare Rounds Out Top Ten
Grand Pier in Weston-super-Mare, famous for its quarter-mile-long indoor theme park built right over the sea and the biggest in South West England, ranks tenth (9.21 out of 10). It offers 34 games across eight categories, including modern arcade favourites and classic attractions such as Mario Kart Arcade GP DX, Jurassic Park Arcade, and redemption machines like Claw Machine and Deal or No Deal.
Kim Vinsencius, founder of Live Casinos, told the Express: "Seaside arcades have remained a staple of the British coast for generations because they offer something for everyone. While classic games still draw plenty of nostalgia, the highest-ranked venues stand out by combining those favourites with modern racing simulators, immersive shooter games, and interactive experiences. The arcades that performed best in the study weren't simply those with the most machines, but those that offered the greatest variety, giving visitors of all ages more reasons to stay and play."
Full Top 20 Rankings
The complete top 20 seaside arcades include: 1. Astro City (Southend-on-Sea, 9.85), 2. Golden Horseshoe (Southsea, 9.75), 3. Wellington Pier (Great Yarmouth, 9.69), =4. NQ64 (Cardiff, 9.58) and ArCains (Liverpool, 9.58), 6. The Arcade Warehouse (North Shields, 9.53), 7. Funland (Whitby, 9.34), =8. Gold Rush (Great Yarmouth, 9.22) and Sandown Pier (Sandown, 9.22), 10. Grand Pier (Weston-super-Mare, 9.21), 11. Totton Arcade (Southampton, 9.20), 12. Merrivale Model Village & Old Penny Arcade (Great Yarmouth, 9.14), 13. Butlins Minehead (Minehead, 9.12), 14. Gilly's Leisure Centre (Scarborough, 8.86), 15. Brighton Pier (Palace of Fun) (Brighton, 8.84), 16. Butlins (Skyline Pavilion, Hotshots & Studio 36) (Bognor Regis, 8.79), 17. Continue? Tenby (Tenby, 8.77), 18. Haven Primrose Valley (Primrose Valley, 8.74), 19. Namco @ Haven Combe Haven (Hastings, 8.72), 20. Mirage (Mablethorpe, 8.67).
