Latest news with #HMSGloucester
Daily Mirror
04-07-2025
- Daily Mirror
UK seaside town gets £1.8million facelift for summer including new arcade
A popular UK holiday hotspot has been given a £1.8million facelift in time for the summer holidays and it's sure to be a hit with families wanting to make the most of the seaside There's nothing quite like a trip to the British seaside; the sandy beaches, the pretty promenades, the fish and chip shops. But this summer there'll be an extra boost for families heading to one popular hotspot. That's because Great Yarmouth, Norfolk, has been given a £1.8million facelift in the form of its Britannia Pier. The seaside icon has received a huge makeover complete with a new amusement arcade and facade, in a move that aims to be "returning it to its former glory". Originally built in 1858, the Victorian timber pier has undergone several transformations (including being rebuilt and destroyed by a fire) and was reconstructed in 1958. Now it's been restored to be "bright, shiny and back to its former heyday" in time for the summer holidays. There is a second phase of work expected to start later this year, including new food stalls and cabins, but this won't be until October when the peak summer season has passed. There's plenty on offer for holidaymakers whether they're planning to tuck into snacks from food stalls, have a go on the family-friendly fairground rides, or relax at one of the bars to be found in the area. You can find out more about exactly what's on offer this summer on Then of course when you've had enough fun at the pier, the town offers miles of golden sands and swim-friendly waters that rival European hotspots, as well as a bustling promenade lined with restaurants, bars and shops. It's not the only exciting development in the popular seaside resort. Just recently, SEA LIFE Great Yarmouth opened its doors to a brand new £1million aquarium display, complete with over 30 marine species including blacktip reef sharks, moray eels, tangs, and angelfish. Still, the biggest highlight though has to be the 250,000-litre Ocean Tank and Tunnel where you can walk right under the fish and sea creatures, or keep an eye out for the impressive shipwreck habitat in the waters! In fact, this was inspired by HMS Gloucester, a royal warship which sank off the Norfolk coast in 1682. The shipwreck itself was discovered by two divers in 2007, but it wasn't until 2021 that the full public reveal was announced. For those who like to get up close to the sea creatures, the new aquarium will also feature specially created immersive viewing windows from which you can look out for the various marine life. Being such a popular destination in the summer months, it's worth noting that Great Yarmouth can get quite busy. Still, for those who are visiting there will be a series of fun events on across the holidays. Highlights include a Wheels Festival across June 21-22, the annual free fireworks on the Golden Mile on Wednesdays from July 23 to August 27, and fireworks displays every Tuesday near Hemsby Beach from July 23. You can find out more at
Daily Mirror
29-05-2025
- Daily Mirror
UK's huge new £1million aquarium opens with shipwreck, sharks and eels
Brits hoping to see the likes of sharks, eels and angelfish may want to check out a huge new £1million aquarium display that's just opened in the UK Brits looking for fun days out with the kids on those gloomy rainy days may want to head down to a huge new aquarium in the UK complete with a shipwreck model and sharks. That's because SEA LIFE Great Yarmouth recently opened the doors to a brand new £1million aquarium display, and it's pretty impressive. For a start, it's home to over 30 marine species including blacktip reef sharks, moray eels, tangs, and angelfish. One major highlight is the 250,000-litre Ocean Tank and Tunnel where you can walk right under the fish and sea creatures, or get up close thanks to the specially created immersive viewing windows. Oh, and keep an eye out for the impressive shipwreck habitat where all sorts of marine life is hiding in the nooks and crannies. The whole shipwreck was inspired by HMS Gloucester, a royal warship which sank off the Norfolk coast in 1682. The shipwreck itself was discovered by two divers in 2007, but it wasn't until 2021 that the full public reveal was announced. Other highlights also include an immersive interactive experience where you can see and hear crashing waves, with the aim of leaving you feeling like you're completely submerged in the ocean's depths. There's plenty more to explore across the attraction too, with SEA LIFE playing host to animals such as penguins, crocodiles, rays and green sea turtles. Ticket prices for SEA LIFE start from £16 per adult when booked online up to two days in advance - you can find out more at Of course on a sunnier day, you may also want to leave time on the itinerary for a trip to Great Yarmouth beach. With miles of golden sands, a bustling promenade lined with restaurants and shops, and swim-friendly waters, it's a firm favourite with sunseekers in the summer, but also makes for a lovely scenic stroll on those days where it's a little too chilly to get into the sea! It's worth noting that it can get quite busy during the peak holiday seasons, so if you're not tied to school holiday dates, it might be worth planning a trip when it's slightly quieter. One happy holidaymaker did just that and shared their experience on Tripadvisor, writing: "What a wonderful walk on the beach in the sunshine. Such a clean beach. Out of season was ideal for us. We parked at the end of the road near the Premier Inn and walked down the beach to the shops. Such a lovely day and beach." This summer, there will be heaps of fun for families too including a Wheels Festival across June 21-22, the annual free fireworks on the Golden Mile from July 24 to August 27, and fireworks displays every Tuesday near Hemsby Beach from July 23. You can find out more at
