The good old seaside has been a staple choice of British holidaymakers for generations. While not as popular as they once were, seaside holidays are still a great value, fun option for all the family.
The era of cheap flights to the continent changed our expectation of what makes a great, good value holiday, opening up guaranteed sunshine and new foods and culture to the masses.
Many people alive today won’t remember the time when a week or two at a British seaside resort was the highlight of the year.
Strolling along the promenade, playing games in the penny arcade, catching a punch and judy show, tucking into some fish and ships, and creating a sandcastle of dreams. The British coastline still offers an opportunity to recapture those long lost memories. Here’s our pick of the UK’s top coastal destinations.
Brighton: The grand southern dame
A quick one-hour train ride from London Victoria station and you’ll find yourselves in Brighton, one of Britain’s best-known and best-loved seaside resorts. The town scores well on famous landmarks, from the exuberant Royal Pavilion to the classic Brighton Pier.
Pack up a big picnic, and choose an empty spot on the pebble beach. The kids will love running around in the wide open space and paddling in the sea. Meanwhile, you can take a well-deserved rest. If you go at the weekend, children can join in the football and volleyball games that take place on the beach.
A must-do while in the town is exploring the labyrinthine Lanes, a popular shopping district with locals and tourists alike. Don’t worry about getting lost in the maze of twisting alleyways, that’s how you discover the best secrets of this historic quarter. Antiques, jewellery, and designer fashions sit happily side by side.
Brighton is also Britain’s best loved holiday destination for the LGBT community, with many clubs, bars and other attractions towards the eastern end of the city. Brighton Pride – held in August each year – is the UK’s biggest festival of its kind.
Blackpool: Rollercoasters and shows
There’s no denying a weekend in Blackpool these days is nothing like it used to be. Yet on a sunny summer day, the north-west’s former glories don’t seem so long ago. The town still has a lot to offer the curious traveller.
Open since 1896, the Pleasure Beach remains a big tourist pull thanks to the amount of adrenaline-filled rides such as the Big One and Valhalla crammed into a relatively small space. Seasonal shows are also popular, ranging from adult hypnotists to family-friendly magic shows. Other attractions include a Ripley’s Believe It Or Not! museum and an ice rink.
Elsewhere in the town, the Opera House is a famous venue and one of the country’s largest theatres. The lies of Frank Sinatra, Judy Garland and Bob Hope have all performed here since its opening in 1939.
A recent million pound refurbishment to the Winter Gardens revealed plasterwork designed by renowned film set designer Andrew Mazzei, which now provides the backdrop to the cafe in the former Floral Hall Bar.
Almost as famous as the Pleasure Beach, the iconic Blackpool Tower is a must-visit while you’re in town. Take a lift to the top to see a unique perspective on Blackpool and a terrific view across the Irish Sea. On clear days you can see as far as North Wales, the Lake District and the Isle of Man.
But the tower offers far more entertainment than just the views. Head in the opposite direction to the dungeon, where comedy meets horror in a hilarious 60-minute show. You’ll hear stories of Blackpool’s darker past, and meet torturers, witches and smugglers along the way.
Folkestone: A creative reinvention
A formerly shabby seaside town has transformed itself in a very short space of time into one of south-eastern England’s leading hubs of creativity. A designated Creative Quarter is home to a diverse set of artists’ workshops, independent galleries and boutiques, while the Folkestone Triennial public art project has a growing reputation.
But of course, a good British seaside holiday needs a great beach, and Folkestone also scores well in that regard. The golden stretch known as Sunny Sands does get busy in summer. The town is close to London after all. It’s also the host to the Folkestone Sandcastle Competition, a big deal around these parts!
The shoreline is full of seafood shacks, ice cream parlours, and that old British favourite, arcade games. The beach is also well known for its rock pools where you’ll regularly spot crabs and other sea creatures. At the bottom of the steps that zig-zag through the lush Lower Leas Coastal Park, you’ll find the pebble Mermaid Beach.
The Church of St. Mary and St. Eanswythe, and the elegant residential area known as The Leas are both worth a visit, as is the nearby Samphire Hoe. The 74-acre nature reserve was built using the earth excavated during the building of the Channel Tunnel. There’s no better place from which to admire the famous White Cliffs of Dover.
Shanklin: The Isle of Wight’s best
The Isle of Wight’s best seaside resort, Shanklin is best known for the thatched buildings, cosy pubs, tempting sweet shops and traditional tearooms of its old village, set slightly apart from the more modern, functional town centre.
At the foot of the town’s steep cliffs is a nice beach on which to have fun or simply unwind. Sea kayaks are available for hire for the more adventurous. The esplanade along the beach is occupied by hotels, more intimate guesthouses, and cafes and restaurants aimed at visitors.
The old village is located at the top of the wooded ravine Shanklin Chine, home to waterfalls, trees and lush vegetation, and a fascinating history. During World War II, the Chine was commandeered and used as an assault course by Commandos preparing for the Dieppe Raid in 1942. A fuel pipeline for the secret Operation PLUTO also ran through the Chine.
Of course, a British seaside holiday to Shanklin opens up a whole host of other day trips across the island. Take the literary trail, explore Blackgang Chine, or take a ride on the famous chairlift down to see the rocks and coloured sands of The Needles. While there, catch a show at the immersive 4D cinema.
Bournemouth: Golden beaches galore
To some a relic of the past, the Bournemouth of today has surprisingly more to offer than its traditional, dated reputation suggest. A modern Hilton hotel has led the way in transforming the accommodation available, with other hotels set to follow suit as the resort aims upmarket.
That said, Bournemouth at its heart remains a traditional family destination. The seven miles of beaches are its biggest pull, ensuring you shouldn’t ever feel cramped even at the height of summer. Nestled beneath a pretty line of cliffs, the bay enjoys its own microclimate and some of the warmest sea temperatures anywhere in the country.
Whether it’s chilling on a deckchair, strolling along traditional piers, or enjoying tasty seafood, the beaches of Bournemouth are hard to beat. There are two lifts down to the beach and a land train that runs along the promenade between Bournemouth and Boscombe. The adjacent area has a more relaxed vibe and has interesting beachfront cafes and even a surf school.
The town and surrounding area offers more of interest once you’re done enjoying the beach. Beautiful stately homes and their gardens, market towns, and the New Forest are all great day trip choices. In Bournemouth itself, the waterfront aquarium is a top family attraction.
Southwold: The town that time forgot
Perched on cliffs just to the north of the River Blyth, Southwold is an appealing resort town with more charm and less tack than many of its competitors along the Norfolk and Suffolk coastline of Eastern England.
The birthplace of George Orwell, Southwold offers fine Georgian buildings, a long sandy beach, open heathland, a small yet active fishing harbour and even a local brewery. Families will enjoy strolling along the town’s pier, complete with restaurant, sweet parlour, and stalls selling trinkets and mementos of your visit.
Southwold had no lighthouse until 1888. Erosion and severe storms finally saw the lighthouse come to be. It remains operational today and can be visited by the public at certain times, usually 2-3 days per week in the spring, summer and early autumn.
Fish is on the menu in Southwold, with the traditional “Little Fish & Chip Shop” a popular spot due to its old-fashioned appearance. A relaxed alternative is the Sole Bay Fish Company, a charming family-run fishmongers and restaurant on the harbour.
Gardenstown: Solitude in Scotland
If there’s one place on this list you won’t have heard of, I’d wager it’s this one. Gardenstown isn’t a place for a fun-packed family break, there’s Blackpool and Brighton for that. This Aberdeenshire village offers the best of North East Scotland’s scenic coastline coupled with the opportunity to simply relax.
Situated on the Moray Firth coastline, Gardenstown is small enough to boast amazing sea views from pretty much anywhere. Dolphins are a regular sight not far from the town’s pretty harbour, and they even sometimes come and swim in the bay.
Enjoy the peace and quiet with nature walks, or take some rare distraction-free time to get creative with some writing or photography. But the village isn’t completely devoid of life. There are galleries, workshops, a local shop, restaurant and tearoom, with several golf clubs nearby.
Such is the remoteness of the Scottish village that in early 2018, residents were cut off from the rest of the country because of a sudden landslip.
Do you agree? What’s your favourite seaside holiday destination in the UK?
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