- Clevedon Pier is in Somerset, England.
- Grade I
- Check access, weather and local guidance before travelling.
About Clevedon Pier
Clevedon Pier is widely regarded as the most beautiful pier in England, a graceful Grade I listed structure of slender iron arches overlooking the Bristol Channel. It is the only intact Grade I listed pier in the country and retains its Victorian elegance.
The story of Clevedon Pier
The pier was opened in 1869, designed by J. W. Grover and R. W. Marriss with ironwork cast by the Elmore Can Company, who used a then-novel method of depositing iron on a mandrel to form the slender, salt-resistant columns. The pier was built for the wealthy residents of Clevedon as a promenade and steamer landing, and was nearly lost when a pier inspector declared it unsafe in 1970 — but a public campaign saved it, and it reopened in 1989 after extensive reinforcement. The ornate pier head pavilion was added in 1894 and restored in 2016. The pier received Grade I listing in 1986, the only pleasure pier to hold that grade.
Visiting with care
Open year-round with a modest admission charge; the pier head has a charming café and art gallery. Clevedon is on the Bristol Channel so the tide drops dramatically — check tide times for the best views, and arrive for sunset when the pier is at its most photogenic.
Interesting facts
- The only intact Grade I listed pleasure pier in Britain.
- Opened in 1869 with ironwork cast using the Elmore electrodeposition process.
- Declared unsafe in 1970 but saved by a public campaign and reopened in 1989.
- The pier head pavilion was added in 1894 and restored in 2016.
Getting there
Parking and access details — check locally for the latest information.