Walton Pier is one of the longest in the country and it has a history stretching back to 1830. At the beach end is a huge hangar-like amusement centre for kids of all sizes, where visitors can play tenpin bowling, bingo, dodgems or have a drink in the bar or a meal in the diner. Take the train ¾ mile to the pier end and you can look back at the Essex coastline or fish the year round.