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Things To Do In Cleethorpes

Updated on September 18, 2014

Bank Holiday Trip To Cleethorpes In Bloom

Have you ever been to Cleethorpes? Would you like to spend a summer day in Cleethorpes? Is Cleethorpes worth a visit? Do trains run to Cleethorpes? Of course they do - I once lived there so I should know!

Cleethorpes, fondly remembered from my youth, is much more than a Northern town with a funny name. Cleethorpes is one of my special places! People come from all over England - and even wider afield - to visit Cleethorpes. They enjoy the golden sands and traditional English seaside hospitality of this friendly resort in North East Lincolnshire. This weekend will be Autumn Bank Holiday, perfect time for an end of season visit, and as we settle into the run up to Christmas and its usual dark shivery nights, I will share some sunshine with you. In this lens you will see some of the scenes that can be enjoyed in sunny Cleethorpes.

All Cleethorpes photos used here are my own work and are not available to copy!

Day Trip To Cleethorpes - Cleethorpes Station

Arriving at the Station

For generations of trippers, the train was the main way of travelling to Cleethorpes. These days cars are more likely to be used, but it is easy to find your way to the seafront either way.
Cleethorpes station, complete with Victorian clock and wrought iron cafe, is within yards of the beach itself!

Cleethorpes in Posters and Print - Take a day trip

Cleethorpes: The Creation of a Seaside Resort
Cleethorpes: The Creation of a Seaside Resort
History of the town and how it came to be a seaside destination.
 Buy Now
 

Day Trip To Cleethorpes - A Walk Along the Prom - I do like to stroll along the Prom, Prom, Prom at Cleethorpes....

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View of the Victorian clock tower from the top of the ramp by the station. You can see just how close the line is to the seafront. This line is a terminal and trains come in from Grimsby, just down the line.Leaving the station, you pass the first of many gift stalls where brightly coloured toys and souvenirs are available for children of all ages!After you cross the road, you can look back at the station's wrought iron architecture and the first of many cafes selling - what else but Fish and Chips!There are many amusement arcades where you can while away the hours if it rains, or if you want to take shelter from the sun even. Fantasy World is just next door to the station!A nostalgic look back at the railway line....And on the beach itself there are the amusements for little children. (More later!) I loved the way the Jolly Roger appeared to fly dramatically over this fast food stall. Really it belonged to the pirate ship ride the other side!What day at the seaside could be complete without its candy floss and lettered rock. Cleethorpes in every bite of course!Pier 39 used to charge admission when I was little. It is now free, but nothing much happens in the day time. I think it comes to life as a nightclub. Gone are the days when you paid to go on and saw shows or played with the amusements there.Under the pier we see the seaside donkeys. Some things never change. Little children queue up to ride the patient little animals and we can but hope they are well treated these days.And of course children's welfare is important too. There is a special place for children to wait until their parents are found safe and well....
View of the Victorian clock tower from the top of the ramp by the station. You can see just how close the line is to the seafront. This line is a terminal and trains come in from Grimsby, just down the line.
View of the Victorian clock tower from the top of the ramp by the station. You can see just how close the line is to the seafront. This line is a terminal and trains come in from Grimsby, just down the line.
Leaving the station, you pass the first of many gift stalls where brightly coloured toys and souvenirs are available for children of all ages!
Leaving the station, you pass the first of many gift stalls where brightly coloured toys and souvenirs are available for children of all ages!
After you cross the road, you can look back at the station's wrought iron architecture and the first of many cafes selling - what else but Fish and Chips!
After you cross the road, you can look back at the station's wrought iron architecture and the first of many cafes selling - what else but Fish and Chips!
There are many amusement arcades where you can while away the hours if it rains, or if you want to take shelter from the sun even. Fantasy World is just next door to the station!
There are many amusement arcades where you can while away the hours if it rains, or if you want to take shelter from the sun even. Fantasy World is just next door to the station!
A nostalgic look back at the railway line....
A nostalgic look back at the railway line....
And on the beach itself there are the amusements for little children. (More later!) I loved the way the Jolly Roger appeared to fly dramatically over this fast food stall. Really it belonged to the pirate ship ride the other side!
And on the beach itself there are the amusements for little children. (More later!) I loved the way the Jolly Roger appeared to fly dramatically over this fast food stall. Really it belonged to the pirate ship ride the other side!
What day at the seaside could be complete without its candy floss and lettered rock. Cleethorpes in every bite of course!
What day at the seaside could be complete without its candy floss and lettered rock. Cleethorpes in every bite of course!
Pier 39 used to charge admission when I was little. It is now free, but nothing much happens in the day time. I think it comes to life as a nightclub. Gone are the days when you paid to go on and saw shows or played with the amusements there.
Pier 39 used to charge admission when I was little. It is now free, but nothing much happens in the day time. I think it comes to life as a nightclub. Gone are the days when you paid to go on and saw shows or played with the amusements there.
Under the pier we see the seaside donkeys. Some things never change. Little children queue up to ride the patient little animals and we can but hope they are well treated these days.
Under the pier we see the seaside donkeys. Some things never change. Little children queue up to ride the patient little animals and we can but hope they are well treated these days.
And of course children's welfare is important too. There is a special place for children to wait until their parents are found safe and well....
And of course children's welfare is important too. There is a special place for children to wait until their parents are found safe and well....
Local Red Book: Grimsby & Cleethorpes (Local Red Book)
Local Red Book: Grimsby & Cleethorpes (Local Red Book)
Maps and info for your trip to Cleethorpes
 Buy Now
 

Shiver Me Timbers..... so much to do at Cleethorpes!

Avast ye lubbers, Cleethorpes Ahoy!

So much to see! The seafront stretches for a mile, the golden sand stretches even further. The tide is out so far we can't swim yet, but there is donkey riding, sandcastle making and, yes, those fairground rides.... Off we go to explore beyond the pirate flag!

Cleethorpes Has Miles of Sand.... - And the Lincolnshire Coast has galloping tides

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A crab's eye view of a sandcastle. Oh the happy hours spent making these! Not for us Brits the manicured and set sand sculptures over the Pond. Eternally the amateurs, we prefer our small scale work with bucket and spade.The fort is complete - for just an hour or two we can admire the work!Or, if small enough, we can ride along the sands astride a lovely donkey. There have always been many donkeys on the beach at Cleethorpes.Remember that Cleethorpes is in fact at the mouth of a huge tidal estuary, the Humber. With a good telescope we could see all the way across to Yorkshire! Ships in the distance are sailing to and from Great Grimsby, Immingham and Hull. They look as tThere are very few pebbles here, and those are small, although there are rocks further along towards Grimsby, marshes in the opposite direction towards Humberston - and plenty of tiny sea shells!The notice here warns against bait digging and faster tides. Bait digging is a problem because the holes interfere with the integrity of beach sand. They tend to silt up and produce sinking sand. For this reason digging is confined to speific areas.These "alligators" are really petrified timbers. Where once was forest, now there is sand and mud - the forest is petrified. Here you can sink inches down with each step even at low tide.The sand here reveals wave patterns showing how strong the currents are and also a worm cast. At this end there are many lug worms in the sand - and fishermen love them.Back to the more sociable end of the beach, looking along toward the childrens' amusements. There is a snake helter skelter, and a dragon ride, big wheel, bouncy castle and swing carousel.There is also a four wheel drive beach buggy to round up those foolhardy enough to walk right out to sea when the red flag is flying. Once the tide turns it will cover the whole beach in less than an hour!
A crab's eye view of a sandcastle. Oh the happy hours spent making these! Not for us Brits the manicured and set sand sculptures over the Pond. Eternally the amateurs, we prefer our small scale work with bucket and spade.
A crab's eye view of a sandcastle. Oh the happy hours spent making these! Not for us Brits the manicured and set sand sculptures over the Pond. Eternally the amateurs, we prefer our small scale work with bucket and spade.
The fort is complete - for just an hour or two we can admire the work!
The fort is complete - for just an hour or two we can admire the work!
Or, if small enough, we can ride along the sands astride a lovely donkey. There have always been many donkeys on the beach at Cleethorpes.
Or, if small enough, we can ride along the sands astride a lovely donkey. There have always been many donkeys on the beach at Cleethorpes.
Remember that Cleethorpes is in fact at the mouth of a huge tidal estuary, the Humber. With a good telescope we could see all the way across to Yorkshire! Ships in the distance are sailing to and from Great Grimsby, Immingham and Hull. They look as t
Remember that Cleethorpes is in fact at the mouth of a huge tidal estuary, the Humber. With a good telescope we could see all the way across to Yorkshire! Ships in the distance are sailing to and from Great Grimsby, Immingham and Hull. They look as t
There are very few pebbles here, and those are small, although there are rocks further along towards Grimsby, marshes in the opposite direction towards Humberston - and plenty of tiny sea shells!
There are very few pebbles here, and those are small, although there are rocks further along towards Grimsby, marshes in the opposite direction towards Humberston - and plenty of tiny sea shells!
The notice here warns against bait digging and faster tides. Bait digging is a problem because the holes interfere with the integrity of beach sand. They tend to silt up and produce sinking sand. For this reason digging is confined to speific areas.
The notice here warns against bait digging and faster tides. Bait digging is a problem because the holes interfere with the integrity of beach sand. They tend to silt up and produce sinking sand. For this reason digging is confined to speific areas.
These "alligators" are really petrified timbers. Where once was forest, now there is sand and mud - the forest is petrified. Here you can sink inches down with each step even at low tide.
These "alligators" are really petrified timbers. Where once was forest, now there is sand and mud - the forest is petrified. Here you can sink inches down with each step even at low tide.
The sand here reveals wave patterns showing how strong the currents are and also a worm cast. At this end there are many lug worms in the sand - and fishermen love them.
The sand here reveals wave patterns showing how strong the currents are and also a worm cast. At this end there are many lug worms in the sand - and fishermen love them.
Back to the more sociable end of the beach, looking along toward the childrens' amusements. There is a snake helter skelter, and a dragon ride, big wheel, bouncy castle and swing carousel.
Back to the more sociable end of the beach, looking along toward the childrens' amusements. There is a snake helter skelter, and a dragon ride, big wheel, bouncy castle and swing carousel.
There is also a four wheel drive beach buggy to round up those foolhardy enough to walk right out to sea when the red flag is flying. Once the tide turns it will cover the whole beach in less than an hour!
There is also a four wheel drive beach buggy to round up those foolhardy enough to walk right out to sea when the red flag is flying. Once the tide turns it will cover the whole beach in less than an hour!

Games and Indoor Amusements at Cleethorpes

Cleethorpes has plenty of amusements

Moving over the road from the children's rides, we can find plenty of other amusements for young and old alike. Noisy arcades full of shove halfpenny machines, video games and cranes, bingo, putting, cafes, fast food, sweets and rock to tempt sweet toothed grandmothers and grandchildren alike.


Here you can two pence pieces into the shove halfpenny machines (inflation? decimalization? who knows?) Never have so many lost 5 trying to win a toy woth 25p and still walked away smiling. Meanwhile the professionals with bags full of change look for machines just ready to tumble down an avalanche of copper. One play - two plays - and another bag is full! Such is the glory of the British summer!

Indoor Games and Fast Food Fun - Dining out on the Cleethorpes Seafront

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Thomas and Sponge Bob lure unsuspecting adults and eager children to the amusements...Inside the arcade....Oh, the goodies in this store. It is just as well I don't have a sweet tooth or I might be doing myself some real sugar damage!Oh my! A bowling alley! Just what we need if it rains!And even more Cleethorpes Rock on show!Even a Cafe Rock....I think we really need to walk it all off, don't you?Meanwhile a quick trip to Brown's Cafe for egg and chips and orange squash...Or in my case fish and mushy peas, minus the chips, and diet coke - got to watch the waistline!Here we see someone who is old enough to know better and young enough not to care!
Thomas and Sponge Bob lure unsuspecting adults and eager children to the amusements...
Thomas and Sponge Bob lure unsuspecting adults and eager children to the amusements...
Inside the arcade....
Inside the arcade....
Oh, the goodies in this store. It is just as well I don't have a sweet tooth or I might be doing myself some real sugar damage!
Oh, the goodies in this store. It is just as well I don't have a sweet tooth or I might be doing myself some real sugar damage!
Oh my! A bowling alley! Just what we need if it rains!
Oh my! A bowling alley! Just what we need if it rains!
And even more Cleethorpes Rock on show!
And even more Cleethorpes Rock on show!
Even a Cafe Rock....
Even a Cafe Rock....
I think we really need to walk it all off, don't you?
I think we really need to walk it all off, don't you?
Meanwhile a quick trip to Brown's Cafe for egg and chips and orange squash...
Meanwhile a quick trip to Brown's Cafe for egg and chips and orange squash...
Or in my case fish and mushy peas, minus the chips, and diet coke - got to watch the waistline!
Or in my case fish and mushy peas, minus the chips, and diet coke - got to watch the waistline!
Here we see someone who is old enough to know better and young enough not to care!
Here we see someone who is old enough to know better and young enough not to care!

Back to Nature for a While

After all the noisy machines in the arcade, the big meal in Brown's Cafe and the bustling crowds, we envied the gulls their lightness!


What we really wanted was a nap too - but you can't snooze on a day trip, so off we went to take a walk on the wild side....

Places to Stay In Cleethorpes - Places to stay and things to do in Cleethorpes

If you are planning a visit, you might like to check out some of the accommodation on offer.

The Sea Defenses

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We followed the gulls to their roosting place over the breakwater.I climbed the rocks to take this desolate shot of the groyne leading out to sea. Here the sand is muddy and sticky. You sink into it.These are Cleethorpes answer to rock pools. I searched in vain for crabs and anenomes but found only dead crabs. My guess is they had burrowed into the soft sand to escape the baking sun and the gathering gulls.Here you can see where the beach ends and the sea defenses begin. The wall carries on from where I was standing to protect the terraced houses near the Blundell Park stadium from another great flood.The pools may have dwindled in the low tide, but the sun made some interesting reflections.This one is like the surface of some strange planet. When I was small I found a large crab near here, took it home for a week, then released it again because it blew foamy bubbles at me!A few periwinkles, less than I remember. Pollution?Another crab's eye view of one of the few pools.On our return the Heaven's opened very briefly, then just as quickly the sun shone brighter than ever, Here is the result. Look very closely and you will see a double rainbow!And back to where we started, with Cleethorpes In Bloom.
We followed the gulls to their roosting place over the breakwater.
We followed the gulls to their roosting place over the breakwater.
I climbed the rocks to take this desolate shot of the groyne leading out to sea. Here the sand is muddy and sticky. You sink into it.
I climbed the rocks to take this desolate shot of the groyne leading out to sea. Here the sand is muddy and sticky. You sink into it.
These are Cleethorpes answer to rock pools. I searched in vain for crabs and anenomes but found only dead crabs. My guess is they had burrowed into the soft sand to escape the baking sun and the gathering gulls.
These are Cleethorpes answer to rock pools. I searched in vain for crabs and anenomes but found only dead crabs. My guess is they had burrowed into the soft sand to escape the baking sun and the gathering gulls.
Here you can see where the beach ends and the sea defenses begin. The wall carries on from where I was standing to protect the terraced houses near the Blundell Park stadium from another great flood.
Here you can see where the beach ends and the sea defenses begin. The wall carries on from where I was standing to protect the terraced houses near the Blundell Park stadium from another great flood.
The pools may have dwindled in the low tide, but the sun made some interesting reflections.
The pools may have dwindled in the low tide, but the sun made some interesting reflections.
This one is like the surface of some strange planet. When I was small I found a large crab near here, took it home for a week, then released it again because it blew foamy bubbles at me!
This one is like the surface of some strange planet. When I was small I found a large crab near here, took it home for a week, then released it again because it blew foamy bubbles at me!
A few periwinkles, less than I remember. Pollution?
A few periwinkles, less than I remember. Pollution?
Another crab's eye view of one of the few pools.
Another crab's eye view of one of the few pools.
On our return the Heaven's opened very briefly, then just as quickly the sun shone brighter than ever, Here is the result. Look very closely and you will see a double rainbow!
On our return the Heaven's opened very briefly, then just as quickly the sun shone brighter than ever, Here is the result. Look very closely and you will see a double rainbow!
And back to where we started, with Cleethorpes In Bloom.
And back to where we started, with Cleethorpes In Bloom.

Too Soon It Was Time To Go

The tide was high, the sun was sinking, amusement arcades were winding down after their long day. Soon revellers would fill pubs while families returned to seaside boarding houses to dream of what they would do next day!


I drove home - train connections not being what they used to be and home being only an hour away. It had been a glorious day!

Cleethorpes Clifftop castle

Having lived for many years in Cleethorpes, and having cycled vigorously up its small hill when much younger and fitter, I find the whole idea of any sort of clifftop a little funny. To me, this rise of maybe thirty feet is a little bit like calling a Crown Green Bowling area a hill! However, any search on the net will find that Cleethorpes does indeed have a clifftop castle, albeit a very small castle on a very tiny cliff!

This castle, Ross Castle, reputedly a medieval tower was, we are told, in fact built by the Manchester, Sheffield and Lincolnshire Railway Company between 1883 and 1885. The name comes from company secretary Edward Ross.

Little as it is, Cleethorpes Clifftop Castle has been the scene of accidents, the last being the tragic death of a 64 year old Cleethorpes woman, Jacqueline Borum, who fell from the castle on January 9th this year.

The photo here is from wikipedia, under Creative Commons license and kindly submitted by John P A Carter. (www.johnpacarter.co.uk)

Where is Cleethorpes - Views of Cleethorpes from the air

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Cleethorpes from the air:
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© 2009 Lisa Marie Gabriel

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