Clarence Pier
ENTRY
Free
SETTING
Outdoors
WHERE
Southsea
What it’s like
A seafront fairground of rides, arcades and adventure golf, paid for by the token or the wristband, whichever way you fancy losing money.
The rides are the obvious pull here: Mad Mouse, Tidal Wave, Canyon River and the Waltzer for anyone tall enough and brave enough, plus a gentler run of Tea Party, Bouncing Bugs, Seal Creek, Gallopers and the Runaway Train for smaller ones. Add bumper cars, bungee trampolines and the Upside Down House, which is exactly the kind of oddity kids bring up for weeks afterwards, and you've got a full seafront afternoon before you've even touched the arcades or the indoor adventure golf at the Putt Hutt.
How you pay for it matters more than usual. Tokens are £1 each, a Day Rider wristband is £32 on the day but £27.20 if you book online (and only up to 11am on the day you visit, which is a slightly odd cut off), and a family bag of 60 tokens runs to £30. Worth doing the sums against how many rides your crew will actually go on, because the wristband doesn't cover everything anyway: the Upside Down House and both trampoline attractions are token or separate-pay only. There's also an evening wristband at £16 if you're arriving later in the day.
Rides run 11am to 5pm on weekdays and school holidays, stretching to 7pm at weekends, though outside peak season it drops to weekends only. The arcades keep going until 10pm regardless, so a rained-off afternoon on the rides isn't necessarily a wasted trip, though the site is upfront that weather closures happen and there's no refund if the wind takes a ride out for the day. For food there's Wimpy with £4.95 kids' meals, a doughnut stand, a bakery doing jacket potatoes and paninis, and a couple of coffee-and-cake spots, so you're not stuck eating one thing on repeat.
Parking is paid on-street or in one of two nearby car parks rather than anything on site, and if you're coming from the Isle of Wight the Hovertravel terminal is right next door. No animals besides assistance dogs get past the arcade doors, which is worth knowing if the dog usually comes on seafront trips.
Facilities
Need to know
- Last entry
- Putt Hutt 6pm Sun-Thu/6:30pm Fri-Sat
- Booking
- Book online up to 11am day of visit to save 15%
- Parking
- Paid on-street parking nearby and two large car parks within easy walking distance
- Food
- Multiple food outlets: Wimpy restaurant with burgers, breakfasts and fish and chips from £4.95 kids meals
- Dogs
- Assistance dogs only allowed in arcades, Wimpy and Putt Hutt
- Getting there by bus or train
- Portsmouth Harbour station is 25-minute walk
- Worth knowing
- Save 15% booking Day Rider wristbands online in advance
- The £27.20 online wristband price only holds if you book by 11am on the day, after that it's full price at the kiosk
- Cash machines are inside the arcades if you run out, and the Golden Horseshoe arcade has a card-only change machine
- Rides drop to weekends-only outside the main season, so check which pattern applies before you set off
- The Upside Down House and trampolines need tokens or separate payment even with a wristband on
Plan your visit
How much does it cost to get in?
Getting onto the pier is free. You pay per ride with £1 tokens, or get a Day Rider wristband for £32 on the day, £27.20 if you book online in advance.
Is it cheaper to book online?
Yes, wristbands booked online save 15%, but only if you book by 11am on the day you're visiting. After that it's the on-site kiosk price.
Does the wristband cover every ride?
The Upside Down House and both trampoline attractions aren't included on wristbands, so you'll need tokens or a separate payment for those.
What are the opening hours for the rides?
11am to 5pm on weekdays and school holidays, 11am to 7pm at weekends. Outside the main season the rides only run at weekends.
What happens if it rains?
Rides can close for lightning, rain or high winds with no refunds, so a wet day might mean the arcades and Putt Hutt become the main event instead.
Is there height or age restriction on the rides?
Restrictions are by height and specific to each ride, and they're posted at the ride entrance and at the token kiosk. Some rides need an adult to accompany younger children.
What food is on site?
Wimpy has kids' meals from £4.95, plus a doughnut stand, a bakery doing pizzas and jacket potatoes, and a couple of coffee and cake spots.
Can we bring the dog?
Only assistance dogs are allowed into the arcades, Wimpy and Putt Hutt. Other dogs aren't permitted.
Is there parking nearby?
There's paid on-street parking and two large car parks within walking distance, though nothing directly on site.
Do we need to book in advance?
Booking isn't required, you can turn up and buy tokens or a wristband at the kiosk. Booking online just gets you the cheaper wristband price if done before 11am that day.
Is there anywhere for a baby to be changed?
Baby changing is available in the public toilets opposite the Golden Horseshoe Arcade, and there are toilets inside the Putt Hutt and Wimpy too.
How do we get there without a car?
Buses stop right outside, it's about a 25 minute walk from Portsmouth Harbour station, and the Hovertravel terminal for the Isle of Wight is next door.
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