Bells Amusements

The seafront amusement arcade at Skegness is exactly what you'd expect from a traditional British seaside town - rows of flashing machines, the ping of coin slots, and the smell of chips wafting in from outside. Bells Amusements sits right in the thick of it, proper old-school stuff with everything from 2p machines to the newer games that actually demand a bit of skill. It's free to walk in and have a look round, though you'll need loose change if you want to actually play anything.

This is the sort of place where families with kids aged five to fifteen will happily burn an hour or so on a rainy afternoon - and trust me, there are plenty of those in Lincolnshire. Teenagers might find it a bit dated compared to what's available inland, but there's something about the sensory chaos of a proper arcade that still works. Adults tend to gravitate towards the retro machines if there are any about, though the novelty wears off fast if you're not actually a gamer.

If you're staying at Butlins Skegness or Haven, you're only a fifteen-minute walk away, so it's a decent filler activity when the sea's too rough or the weather's turned. Skegness Seaview Caravan Park is even closer. Admission's casual - drop in whenever - though specific opening hours are worth checking ahead. Don't expect cutting-edge entertainment, but that's rather the point. It's part of Skegness's charm, not despite its age but because of it.