Things to do in Skegness

Get up close and personal with these majestic sea mammals at this rescue and rehab centre which helps orphaned or injured seal pups. Little ones will love feeding the seal pups in the rearing room or watching these sleek and agile swimmers at play in the pool.  

There's more than just seals here too – the sanctuary houses an impressive collection of tropical butterflies and a whole bunch of other exotic creatures including alpacas, meerkats and the ever-popular penguins. There’s even some fearsome beasts lurking in the tropical house, such as crocodiles, pythons and scorpions.

The sanctuary is dog-friendly, so as long as you keep your pet on the lead and under control, they don't have to miss out on the fun.

Dive under the waves and surround yourself in the local ecosystem and exotic species at Skegness Aquarium. It’s a really cool modern aquarium with plenty of real sea creatures including octopuses, clownfish, stingrays, and even a zebra shark called Nudge. There's also interactive exhibits, and something called the Shark Attack, but we won’t spoil the surprise! 

Stroll through the tunnel and feel surrounded by an aquatic wonderland, and a fun creative activity called Doodle Cove, where you can see the fish you've drawn in an animated watery world. If all that saltwater makes you thirsty or hungry, there’s a bistro café and a soft play area for the little ones.

If you’d rather see nature in all its glory, then it’s worth a drive down to the nature reserve just south of the town, where there's four miles of walking trails amongst the trees, reedbeds and dunes. Birdwatchers, make sure to take their binoculars and notebooks – you may spot some skylarks and waders in the summer months and Brent geese, snow bunting and other overseas visitors wintering here too.

The reserve has a car park, small visitors’ centre, and toilets, as well as small cafe. If you walk through the dunes at low tide, you’ll also discover a perfectly unspoilt beach, although be careful when the tide changes - there’s a channel through the sand that fills quickly. Dogs are welcome too; keep them on the lead throughout your visit.

Take a walk along the pier and embrace the British coast in its full force. Walking along the pier, you get the perfect balance of views from both out to sea, and towards the coast. For a more relaxed day, why not hire one of the deckchairs on the pier, and catch some sunrays?

Built in 1881, Skegness Pier is one of the oldest still in operation on the east coast. There’s plenty to do here to keep the family happy including laser quest, ten pin bowling, escape rooms, diners, bars and so much more. There are plenty of places to eat and drink, making the Pier an easy space to relax away a whole day. 

Why not try out the futuristic Hologate VR experience, where you can try out state of the art virtual reality games and activities? The Pier is open all year round and is one of the town’s main draws for visitors and locals alike.

Skegness’ local theatre has a full programme of family shows including musicals, comedy, and a seasonal pantomime. You’ll see some leading lights in British comedy passing through, as well as shows such as the Michael Jackson Experience and the song and dance spectacular Stage Struck.  

There are even wrestling shows and movie screenings too, so check out the programme when you arrive to avoid missing anything. Many shows are family friendly (aside from most of the comedy of course!).

Ramp up the adrenalin by visiting the Skegness Raceway. From BMX stunts to monster trucks, you can experience everything here. There are wacky extravaganzas like caravan destruction derbies and banger racing (occasionally with added fireworks). 

It’s explosive entertainment, a lot of fun and best of all – kids go free!