Can anyone recommend a nice beach with a good funfair on the SE coast

[Lindy2]

We're looking to take our DD16 on a day out to the seaside for sea, arcades and a funfair.

We're near London so looking for SE coast as it's a daytrip.

I know Hayling Island is quite nice but fairly small. Brighton is OK but a bit tatty. What's Southend on Sea like? Or are there any better recommendations?

DD is autistic. We can't really just turn up and see what's there. If she's expecting an arcade and a funfair then there absolutely needs to be an arcade and a funfair. She doesn't cope with variations to the plan.

Thank you for any suggestions.

Southsea, Littlehampton, Bognor?

Do you mean a full on fun fair or more amusements?

Dreamland, Margate although we really disliked Margate so left and went to Herne Bay which has amusements and a couple of small rides.

Seconding Littlehampton

hastings

Littlehampton the beach is a mix of decent sand and pebbles - but it's quite nice.
Margate has a lovely sandy beach but I haven't been to Dreamland so don't know what it's like.
My daughter is autistic too and something I have recently started doing when we go to new places is looking up the place on Google Earth so we can "explore" ahead of time which makes her less anxious.

Southend has a beach, a decent funfair and arcades. And fish and chips. And a pier. Mumsnet would probably consider it downmarket but it fits your bill well.

A day trip to Southend will definitely fit the bill. Would suggest you get there early to avoid the queues at adventure island. Loads of arcades, sealift centre. Better beach in chalkwell than Southend itself and food at the Arches is good

Thanks everyone.

She's looked at photos of all the suggestions and we're going to do a daytrip to Southend.