As Britons flock to coastal resorts to escape the heatwave, experts have revealed the UK's best seaside arcade for indoor fun. Using a scoring system that analyses total games and categories, Live Casinos has ranked the top 20. Astro City in Southend-on-Sea, Essex, topped the list with an overall rating of 9.85 out of 10.
Astro City boasts 56 games across 11 categories, including retro classics like Pac-Man and Donkey Kong, alongside rhythm, racing and shooter experiences such as DanceDanceRevolution, Mario Kart Arcade GP and Time Crisis. Its variety makes it an ideal stop for a day out in Southend-on-Sea, home to the world's longest pleasure pier at 2.158km.
Golden Horseshoe in Southsea ranks second (9.75/10), with a focus on immersive modern entertainment including virtual reality and cinematic games like Halo: Fireteam Raven, Star Wars Battle Pod and Jurassic Park Arcade. Third is Wellington Pier in Great Yarmouth (9.69/10), offering 37 games across 10 categories, blending racing, shooter and family-friendly attractions.
NQ64 in Cardiff and ArCains in Liverpool tie for fourth (both 9.58/10). NQ64 offers a diverse mix including rhythm, fighting and retro classics like Guitar Hero Arcade and Tekken Tag Tournament, while ArCains provides larger-scale games such as Pump It Up XX and Daytona USA 2. Grand Pier in Weston-super-Mare rounds out the top ten (9.21/10) with 34 games across eight categories, including Mario Kart Arcade GP DX and Jurassic Park Arcade.
Kim Vinsencius, founder of Live Casinos, said: 'Seaside arcades have remained a staple of the British coast for generations because they offer something for everyone. The highest-ranked venues stand out by combining classic favourites with modern racing simulators, immersive shooters and interactive experiences. The arcades that performed best weren't simply those with the most machines, but those that offered the greatest variety.'
