Great Yarmouth has taken centre stage in Britain’s amusement park history — now home to the only remaining scenic roller coaster in the UK after the permanent closure of another iconic ride.
A New Thrill on the Norfolk Coast
At Great Yarmouth Pleasure Beach, thrill-seekers and nostalgia lovers alike can experience a rare piece of amusement heritage: the grade-II listed wooden roller coaster known simply as Roller Coaster or The Scenic. Originally constructed in France in 1928 and re-erected in Great Yarmouth in 1932, this classic ride remains in operation to this day — and holds the unique distinction of being the last scenic railway roller coaster still running in the UK.
Unlike modern steel coasters, a scenic railway relies on gravity and skill: a brakeman rides with each train, manually controlling its speed as it twists and turns along the wooden track — a feature that makes it one of the most distinctive roller coasters in the world.
Visitors from across the UK and beyond are flocking to Great Yarmouth to capture that old-school coaster experience, where the ride’s historic charm blends with seaside thrills.
An End of an Era in Kent
The thrilling news for Great Yarmouth comes as bittersweet news for roller coaster fans elsewhere in Britain. At Dreamland Margate, the park’s historic Scenic Railway — long celebrated as the UK’s oldest operating roller coaster, having first opened in 1920 — has closed permanently.
Despite efforts to repair and preserve the ride after years of service and several restoration projects, the decision was made in early 2026 to retire the Margate attraction for good. While the structure will remain as a listed heritage feature, it will no longer take riders along its famous wooden track.
With only a handful of scenic railways still operating worldwide, Great Yarmouth’s Scenic stands as a treasured reminder of the early days of roller coaster design — and now, the last of its kind in the UK.
Why It Matters
Scenic railway coasters were once a staple of early 20th-century seaside entertainment, with dozens of them built across Britain in the 1900s. Today, the Great Yarmouth ride not only offers a nostalgic journey back in time but also serves as a living piece of amusement history — bridging generations of visitors who remember similar rides from their childhoods.
Whether you’re a coaster enthusiast, history buff, or family seeking a unique day out, Great Yarmouth’s scenic wooden coaster is not just a ride — it’s a heritage experience that embodies the golden age of British seaside fun
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