It is difficult to explain Southwold Pier as it is both traditional yet modern and fun yet conservative!

The entrance to the pier makes it looka little run down in my opinion - which is a shame, as it is anything but once you get onto the pier.

There are several individual gift shops selling high quality items (no cheap seaside tat here, although still plenty of lovely souveneirs of a day at the pier) and a restaurant and coffee shop with lovely outside dining areas perfect on a sunny day for relaxing with a cp of tea whilst looking out at the brightly coloured beach huts along the sea front that Southwold is famous for.

There is also an amusement arcade where only low value (2p and 10p) games machines are in use and Tim Hunkin's fun "under the pier show" which is a collection of one off home made slot machines with fun names such as rent a dog which have to be seen to be believed!

There is also a water clock which gives a show every half hour and brings a smile to the faces of those watching.

The pier is very sturdy boarded (I'm not always very good walking on piers as I feel unsafe, but here was fine) and it's not too long so you can easily walk down to the bottom and have a look back to the shore line.

It's a nice place to visit and manages to incorporate traditional seaside pastimes into a modern space without going down the tacky route.