HEADING to a seaside pier during the summer is a staple part of a UK staycation – and one popular pier will have free entry for the next three years.
Bournemouth Pier has announced that it is scrapping its entry fees until at least the end of October 2029.
The announcement is part of a move to encourage people to visit the pier, supporting the local economy and tourism in the region.
In a post on Instagram, the pier commented: “No toll. No barriers. Just the pier, as it should be.
“We’ve teamed up with BCP [Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole] Council to keep Bournemouth Pier open and accessible for everyone, indefinitely.
“After a hugely positive first year, the toll suspension isn’t just staying… it’s becoming part of the future.
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“More visitors, more energy, more reasons to spend time by the sea.”
The post added that there will be “pop-ups landing throughout the year” as well.
The pier can be found on Bournemouth Beach, which features golden sand and stretches for seven miles.
On the pier, there are a number of different attractions including RockReef – an indoor climbing centre at the end of the pier, that has 28 themed walls of different difficulties, costing from £20 per session.
There’s also PierZip – the world’s first pier-to-shore zip line – which costs £27 per person.
These aren’t the only adrenaline-based activities visitors can get stuck into…
Kids can have a go at the aerial course, suspended six metres above the ground, costing £11.50 per person.
And they can venture into the Piercave, which features three tunnels to crawl through and a large ball pit.
It also costs £11.50 per person.
Or they could try the Leap of Faith or drop down the Vertical Slide.
A two-hour session including the climbing, aerial course, Piercave, Vertical Slide and Leap of Faith costs £36 per person.
After burning energy at the different attractions, visitors can grab something to eat at Key West Restaurant where you can pizza costs as little as £14.95 or a cream tea will set you back £9.50.
If you just need a caffeine fix, then you can opt for Coffee Reef, where you can pick up a latte, cappuccino or flat white for £4.50.
There’s also a news and gift shop as well as a beach shop selling seaside essentials such as buckets and spades.
The pier is also a 10 to 15-minute walk from Bournemouth town centre.
Many people have taken to social media to express their excitement for the news.
One person said: “Love this! The right decision.”
The pier previously announced in April last year that it was temporarily suspending the entry fee for 2025, to make it more accessible to the local community.
Since the entry fee was scrapped, the pier has seen more visitors and engagement.
According to the Bournemouth Echo, Sarah Hunter, Managing Director of Adventure Attractions, said: “Increasing accessibility to the pier has always been our ambition, and the response over the past year has been incredibly positive.
“Continuing the toll suspension allows us to build on that momentum and ensure the pier remains a place everyone can enjoy, all year round.”
The entry fee will be suspended until the end of the current pier operator’s term, which includes 2026, 2027, 2028 and up to the end of October 2029.
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The Alan, Manchester
The Alan looks extremely grand, being built into a beautiful Grade II listed building. Spread across six floors, with 137 rooms, each one looks like a fancy design magazine. From the concrete coffee tables to the pink plastered walls, the industrial-inspired designs perfectly replicate the history of the city.
The Queen at Chester Hotel
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The University Arms Hotel, Cambridge
This Cambridge hotel is in the ideal spot, within walking distance to bars, shops and hotspots like the university colleges and Parker’s Piece. The inside couldn’t be prettier, with huge stained glass windows, grand chandeliers, and rooms with enormous clawfoot bath tubs.
In other UK seaside news, a popular English city has revealed a £750,000 makeover of its Victorian promenade, which has been closed for over a decade.
Plus, here are our favourite old-fashioned English seaside resorts – with quaint promenades and retro beach huts.