Things to do in Burnham-on-Sea

Burnham has a great, crescent-shaped sandy beach, which has lifeguard patrols to protect swimmers and paddlers throughout the summer. It’s a great place to walk, jog or simply wander, while looking out for landmarks like the pier or renowned ‘low lighthouse’, a Grade II-listed red and white boxlike lighthouse which dates back to 1832. 

Burnham’s gently sloping sand warms the sea for swimming, and there’s a promenade to wander along too. Make sure you try the local fish and chips and sit on the sea wall to watch the distant fishing boats.

The Apex Leisure and Wildlife Park is another of Burnham’s outdoor highlights. Over 42 acres, you’ll find a skate park, a playground and three large, picturesque lakes which formed in abandoned clay pits. It’s home to thousands of waterfowl including swans, moorhen, geese, cormorants, ducks and, if you’re lucky a rare visiting tern or two.

The park is another great place to exercise your dog, and keen fishers can obtain a license for the lake from Highbridge Angling Association. There’s a BMX bike trail here too, and you might spot radio-controlled boaters racing their gadgets on the lakes too. The icing on the cake: car parking is free!

Another great place to take a walk is the pointy piece of land between Burnham and nearby Weston. This rocky peninsula stands 318 feet above the waves and is protected by the National Trust, so it’s a beautiful place to walk or picnic on a sunny day. 

Once home to a Roman temple and older still, neolithic remains of a woolly mammoth and rhino, Brean Down has lots of history to discover. A highlight is the Palmerston Fort, a fortification built to protect against Napoleonic invasion. History and natural beauty combine to create a great day trip.

The Princess Theatre and Arts Centre programs a family-friendly selection of musical shows, film screenings and exhibitions by local artists. They also run lots of kids' workshops, science lectures and other entertaining and inspiring events. The theatre was built in 1869 and has previously been a fire station, market house and city council chamber.

The Hellend Café and Bar within the Centre offers great value breakfasts, cream teas and hearty lunches including chicken tikka, cottage pie, and veggie lasagne.

When you’re investigating the beach, make sure you leave time to visit the pier. It has the quirky distinction of being Britain’s shortest pier! Built in 1911-1914, it's one of the first concrete structures of its kind.

Inside you’ll find traditional seaside amusements, fish and chips and a great place to watch the sunset on a nice day.

If you fancy a spot of aquatic adventure, head to Brean Splash, a ten-minute drive north from the Haven Burnham-on-Sea Holiday Park. It’s a fantastic water park with both indoor and outdoor facilities. Inside there’s a 25m heated pool with lanes for serious swimmers, a splash zone with flumes for older kids and a baby pool for the little ones.

The epic flumes and rides are outdoors, including the river ride, where you’ll join friends in rubber rings, the sinuous serpentine tube, and the adrenaline-fuelled turbo drop (which isn’t for the faint-hearted!) The seaside pool has smaller chutes and other splashy surprises. You’ll easily spend the day here and there’s a café to refuel the family too.

Burnham’s neighbour Brean is also host to the UK’s biggest theme park, which features a host of both traditional and high-tech attractions including a go kart track, spinning rides, the Wildwater rollercoaster, dodgems, waltzers, and loads more.

You’ll need a whole day to visit Brean, which has quieter entertainment too, such as crazy golf and ‘terror castle’ (well, quieter save the screaming!). Wristbands come in three colours, based on the age and height of the patrons in question. Rides have a credit allocation, so you can choose which to try during your visit. One visit won’t be enough to do them all.

A little way inland at Berrow you’ll find this petting farm and adventure park which combines cute critters, slides and play areas. There’s plenty to entertain both adults and kids of all ages. From raccoons to llamas, goats to donkeys, you’ll find them all here, alongside miniature Shetland ponies and even guinea pigs and rats in the ‘cuddle club’ section.

Once you’ve managed to prise the little ones away from their furry friends, there’s a converted barn full of slides, ball pits, and climbing frames. You’ll also find a snack kiosk for when you get peckish after all that excitement!

Why not take a round of golf on this excellent links course? It has been ranked the number one course in Somerset, and it’s easy to see why. Aside from its beautiful seaside location, the course offers 18 holes of challenging and varied terrain, a beautiful restaurant and is welcoming to visitors.

Burnham is a pretty seaside town, with plenty to see within a short drive and many attractive coastal walks to enjoy. It’s definitely one of Somerset’s underappreciated beauty spots.

Burnham has a brilliant cinema - the Ritz. Its elegant Art Deco frontage was restored in 2004, and a third screen was added in 2015, giving the Ritz the chance to show a range of family-friendly films every day.

Romantic comedies, musical and animated films are the staples of the Ritz’s schedule. This is a beautiful venue in which to lose yourself in the silver screen.