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A sprawling seaside pier with traditional seaside entertainment has been named as the UK's best - and it's not where you might think.

The UK is lined with beautiful coastlines, from sprawling golden-sand beaches, salt marshes and sand dunes to dramatic whitewashed cliffs, coves and caves. Yet what sets the UK shores apart from anywhere else in the world is its striking collection of historic pleasure piers that stretch out to sea, offering quintessential British seaside charm.

Some of the most notable include Southend Pier in Essex, the world's longest pleasure pier, the iconic Brighton Palace Pier, and Blackpool Pier with its Victorian seaside entertainment. However, there's one pier that has gone a little under the radar - until it was crowned as the national Pier of the Year.

After undergoing a mammoth multimillion-pound renovation, Britannia Pier in Great Yarmouth was named 'Pier of the Year 2026' in the annual National Piers Society's competition. The cherished attraction, originally built in 1858 as one of the Victorian timber-framed piers, topped the list, beating 62 other seaside piers from around the UK - and it makes a fantastic day out!

Britannia Pier has all the traditional seaside attractions for a fun-packed day out, from amusement arcades, rides, attractions, a bar, two pubs and picturesque coastal vistas. At the end is the Britannia Pier Theatre, which has been in operation since 1880, and is one of five remaining pier theatres in the UK, but continues to welcome visitors for a catalogue of entertaining shows.

There are plenty of choices when it comes to seaside cuisine on the pier, with a selection of restaurants, including a fresh seafood bar, an American burger bar, and the beloved Krispies Fish and Chip restaurant. For those sweet treats, there are food stalls offering warm doughnuts, ice cream and churros.

In December 2022, the pier was bought by businessman Joseph Abbott and his wife, Cherise Abbott, who have passionately restored the treasured seaside attraction following a £2.2 million refurbishment that is still ongoing. In a fresh look, they've replaced the 1970s sign with a super sleek, modern façade and an eight-metre digital advertisement screen.

The amusement arcade has also been upgraded and tripled in size, with new rides, attractions and food stalls also introduced. There are further plans to renovate the Pier Tavern, one of the pier's two pubs, with plans to welcome new bars and bifold doors that open onto a seafront terrace to really soak up the views.

Joseph told the BBC: "I used to come to Great Yarmouth as a child - my mum and dad used to bring me, and we used to always go on the pier... play on the rides and the games. To now own it and see it grow - it's fantastic. To win this award... It's a great achievement."

And the revamp of the pier hasn't gone unnoticed, as one visitor wrote on TripAdvisor: "I was not looking forward to seeing the new pier as I was nostalgic for the old style, but good news is, the new pier looks fantastic and has been well renovated, feels so much more spacious now!"

"New advertisement screen is excellent, the new renovated frontage of Britannia Pier looks good and professional, well done," another commented.

Noting its traditional seaside fun, one visitor shared: "Enjoyed the pier amusements with grandchildren. There's plenty of affordable 2p machines which do give out prizes and the attendant even gave us some 'lucky' 2ps, very happy kids, thank you." Although they noted that the toilets might need "more regular cleaning", during their visit in July last year.

While another visitor simply said: "A typical British pier. All the things you'd expect, bars, food, funfair, amusements. Worth a visit, lots to do. Nice view."

For more information about the National Piers Society, visit their website. Or plan your visit to Britannia Pier in Great Yarmouth through their website.