You don’t have to go abroad to get gorgeous coastlines; you’ve got plenty of choice all around the country. We’ve done the work and narrowed it down for you, to give you a taste of some of the best seaside towns in the UK.
To be honest, this list could be entirely made up of Cornish towns. However, we’ve limited it to a couple, the first of which is the iconic Newquay. Every year Newquay wins countless awards for being the most popular domestic holiday destination and its easy to see why. Sandy beaches, a pretty waterfront, and countless walks through the nearby walking hills, attracting millions of visitors to Newquay each year, from both the UK and abroad. Newquay is also home to the famous Fistral beach – the UK’s surfing capital, and a haven for surfers worldwide.
Perhaps a little bit of hometown biased went into this choice, but West Bay certainly earns its place on this list. A gateway to Dorset’s Jurassic Coast, West Bay boasts a lovely stretch of beach, overlooked by clifftop footpaths. The quaint town centre consists of a small harbour surrounded by friendly country pubs and old school ice cream shops. Once a year, West Bay hosts the Bridport Folk festival, bringing live music, a fair ground and stalls selling locally brewed ales and hog roasts. To beat the crowds on the beach, head a couple of miles down the coast to Burton Bradstock beach – a more popular spot with the locals and largely undiscovered by tourists.
Although it’s not what you’d usually associate with North Wales, the northern coastline is something to behold. The pinnacle of which is undoubtedly Llandudno, which over the years has attracted visitors from all over the country. Llandudno’s promenade stretches almost 2 miles along a sandy beachfront, lined with shops and café’s making it an idyllic spot for an afternoon stroll. Overlooking Llandudno is the Great Orme headland, which makes a lovely walk for a view of the bay below.
This quaint gem on the Northumberland coastline has a unique charm that attracts visitors from all over the country. The village of Bamburgh itself is a quaint collection of cobbled stone houses, cosy tea shops and friendly country pubs, lining a stunning stretch of beach. The headline act of Bamburgh though, is the castle. This ancient Celtic fortress dates back to as early as the 5th Century, and dominates the skyline over the village and the beach. Surrounded by some areas of beautiful countryside and scenic cliffs over the beach, the castle is an ideal spot for an afternoon walk (or an eye test if you’re a political adviser).
This quaint gem on the Northumberland coastline has a unique charm that attracts visitors from all over the country. The village of Bambrugh itself is a quaint collection of cobbled stone houses, cosy tea shops and friendly country pubs, lining a stunning stretch of beach. The headline act of Bambrugh though, is the castle. This ancient Celtic fortress dates back to as early as the 5th Century, and dominates the skyline over the village and the beach. Surrounded by some areas of beautiful countryside and scenic cliffs over the beach, the castle is an ideal spot for an afternoon walk (or an eye test if you’re a certain political adviser).
Just a few miles up the Yorkshire coast from the metropolis that is Scarborough, sits the friendly harbour town of Whitby. With the crowds flocking to Scarbados in the summer months, Whitby offers a perfect, more peaceful alternative. Once you’ve finished exploring the beautiful beach, head back up to the town and discover the Gothic styled streets and ruins and see first hand why it’s famous for its connections with Dracula.
By Tolly Byrne
