Swanage Pier is a Victorian pleasure pier from 1895, restored by a charitable trust and one of the most attractive working piers on the south coast. The boards run about 200 metres out into Swanage Bay, with traditional kiosks, a small cafe near the head, and the daily activity of pleasure boats and fishing parties tying up alongside. The pier deck and railings are largely original ironwork, kept in good order by a programme of slow restoration.
A small entry fee is charged on busy days. The end of the pier is one of the best places in town for a long sit and a view back across the curve of the bay to Ballard Down and Old Harry. Boat trips run from the pier through the summer to Old Harry, Lulworth Cove, and along the Jurassic Coast to Weymouth.