UK's best seaside towns mapped as Brits try to cash in on last days of summer
Never have 'staycations' been more popular with Brits - but where is best to head on them begs a question.
A combination of post-pandemic struggles and the cost of living crisis means more families are holidaying in the UK. A staycation eliminates the stress that comes with sorting out your passport, travel insurance, currency and airline baggage allowance.
Britain has some glorious seaside locations that offers amazing family holidays all summer alongside a change of scenery, fresh air and glorious beaches. Some are quirky Victorian resorts brimming with nostalgia whole embracing a modern revival – others are sleepy fishing villages unchanged in a century, Express.co.uk reports.
Some are household names while others are far from the beaten track and an undiscovered gem. Whatever you're after there will be something that is right for you.
The tiny village of Bamburgh (Getty Images)Bamburgh in Northumberland
The tiny village of Bamburgh on the Northumberland coast has been crowned best seaside town in the UK by consumer advice site Which? for the second year in a row.
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It has a population of just 400 but the prized destination boasts a 1,400-year-old castle and beach views so breathtaking, the locals aren’t even bothered about second-home owners.
It's so beautiful, locals say it still gives them "goosebumps" when the views are in full display.
Deal Castle in Kent (Dover Express)Deal in Kent
Deal is a regular if unsuspecting entry on lists of the best places to live in the UK.
Its located on the eastern edge of Kent, facing out onto the North Sea so it benefits from a fresh sea breeze.
Londoners can make the hour-and-a-half commute to the town en masse every time the sun shines.
A thriving commercial port for centuries, Deal is a dreamland for history buffs with three historic fortresses lining the coast. Foodies won't feel put out either, with the Michelin-starred Frog and Scot at hand.
Lyme Regis in Dorset (Getty Images)Lyme Regis in Dorset
Lyme Regis is another familiar English seaside hotspot – and for good reason.
Nestled on the impressive Jurassic Coast, it is a fossil hunters paradise and serves as a base for walks that take you back millenia.
Nicknamed the "Pearl of Dorset", visitors can stroll around the iconic Cobb harbour and indulge in its many seafood restaurants, bars and bistros.
An ice cream on the beach is also not to be missed. You can venture a little further round Lyme Bay and relax with a refreshing beer.
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North Berwick in Scotland (Getty Images/Westend61)North Berwick in East Lothian
North Berwick is another seaside town regularly receiving love from the Which? list of the UK's best.
Just a 30-minute drive from the Scottish capital of Edinburgh, it boasts two sandy bays and two sandy castles with views of the Firth of Forth and the impressive Bass Rock.
It is also home to the Scottish Seabird Centre and is regularly lauded for its gardens and public floral displays.
Runswick Bay in Yorkshire (Getty Images)Runswick Bay in Yorkshire
Runswick Bay’s red-roof cottages would look more at home in the Mediterranean than in Yorkshire.
Just a stone’s throw from the former industrial hub of Middlesbrough, this gorgeous little town has a population of just 2,000.
It really is a hidden gem and too often overshadowed by nearby Whitby despite having its very own beach and enough pubs and tea shops to delight any and all-day trippers.
The town has a wide stretch of unspoiled sandy beach, rock pools and fossil hunting make it a star pick for families looking for a weekend getaway.
St Ives in Cornwall
St Ives is one of the most enduringly popular harbours in the country.
Most Brits will have heard of St Ives or been to the postcard-perfect town near the tip of Cornwall.
A world-class art scene, independent gift shops galore, a maze of cobbled streets and no less than five beaches catering in turn to surfers, bathers and dog lovers, the place has it all in spades.
The only thing lacking, according to the locals, is peace - due to its popularity.
The beach at Southwold (Getty Images/iStockphoto)Southwold in North Suffolk
Southwold, on the north Suffolk coast is nationally renowned for its pretty Georgian architecture, independent shops and cafes.
It also boasts a stacked and diverse events calendar, from the Arts Festival and model-yacht regatta to the considerably louder Latitude Festival.
As if Southwold's cultural standing couldn't get any higher, George Orwell also spent time there as a teenager and lived in the town for five years, leaving for the final time in 1939.
Tenby in Pembrokeshire (Getty Images/iStockphoto)Tenby in Pembrokeshire
Millions of tourists flock to the beautiful harbour town of Tenby in South Wales every year.
In the summer months it is so popular that people have even had to queue to get into the pub.
Instantly recognisable coloured houses, the remains of a hilltop castle, a golf course and stunning views out onto the Bristol Channel are all crammed into this town of 4,000.
To top it all off, there are no less than four beaches and a smattering of microbreweries.
Tobermory on the isle of Mull (scu)Tobermory, Argyll & Bute on the Isle of Mull
Argyll & Bute, Tobermory is a picturesque fishing port turned peaceful retreat tucked away on the Isle of Mull.
Many Brits will recognise the town as the setting of the popular children’s storytime show, Balamory.
A trip to the local distillery, famed for its single malt whiskies and Hebridian gin, is a must, but visitors to the town can also treat themselves to the waterfalls of nearby Aros Park or a dolphin-spotting boat trip.
West Wittering beach (Getty Images/Westend61)West Wittering in West Sussex
West Wittering has an expansive sandy paradise thanks to a glorious beach.
It has consistently been awarded a prestigious Blue Flag and attracts tens of thousands of holidaymakers each year.
Regularly topping the charts of the UK's best, unparalleled views of Chichester Harbour, the Isle of Wight, Sandy Point on Hayling Island and the ships heading into Portsmouth can all be enjoyed while lounging or frolicking in the safe shallow waters.
Even West Wittering's fanbase is world-class, including Kate Winslet and Keith Richards, who has owned a cottage there since the Sixties.
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