Burnham Pavilion

A tired looking place on the inside, which makes it a bit sad as it’s a nice looking if not short pier on the outside.
Rather than the amusements, grab a drink on the entrance a sit and watch the sea (or sand!).

Built between 1911 – 14, Burnham’s pier has the slightly dubious distinction of being Britain’s shortest pier, consisting of just a Pavilion.
It is one of the oldest reinforced concrete structures of its type in the world, and is in a remarkably good state of preservation, giving a good impression of a late Edwardian illuminated Pavilion.
It was named by the Daily Express as being one of the top five in Britain, being described thus: «Britain’s shortest pier, a bit stubby perhaps but full of mid-​Edwardian architectural elegance and it won’t wear your shoes out».
It is not known whether an extension was ever contemplated, although this would not have been an easy task with the strong currents and enormous tidal range of this stretch of coast. For most locals, it is known as ‘the Pavilion’, rather than ‘the Pier’.
When it was built, the adjacent half mile stretch of the Esplanade was provided with a wide pavement deck reaching out over the sea wall in a matching style, with large grids in the pavement to relieve pressure from the waves during storms at high tide.
However, this structure was severely damaged in a storm surge in December 1981, after which the present sea wall was constructed. However, the Pier survived. For the past 30 years or so, the interior has been an amusement arcade, with small outlets selling snacks. The tidal range here — the second highest in the world — means that at low tide it is possible to walk safely underneath and in front of the structure.
If you want to take a ‘live’ look at the Pier, the excellent Burnham-​on-​Sea website has a 24-​hour webcam overlooking it, at: