The end of summer is coming fast, so it’s time to start planning your last hurrah for 2023.
21.07.2023 - 07:27 / roughguides.com
The very best seaside towns in the UK offer everything from traditional fun to tongue-in-cheek kitsch. Days out on the beach with bucket and spade in hand continue to be a great British tradition, and best of all, there's always another coastal town in the UK waiting to be discovered! The following information is taken from The Rough Guide to England, Scotland and Wales, your best travel guides for visiting the United Kingdom.
Whether you want nice beaches in England, pebble bays in Wales or coastal artists' retreats in Scotland, the UK certainly doesn't disappoint when it comes to seaside towns. Wondering where you should go? Read our guide to the top 30 best seaside towns in the UK.
A 25-minute drive or Metro hop from central Newcastle, Tynemouth lies exactly where its name suggests – at the mouth of the river Tyne.
Of its beaches, surf-hub Longsands gets most of the accolades. But clamber down the stairs from the clifftop to King Edward's Bay, and you’re in for a real treat. This is where Geordie foodies flock, in fine weather or otherwise, to enjoy superb seafood and real ales at Riley’s Fish Shack, a simple hut-kitchen that is the beach’s lone structure.
Tynemouth also has a ruined priory and castle to enjoy, plus a Sunday flea market. For dog-friendly local beaches head to East Beach, Ryhope South Beach and Whitely Bay year-round. Check the rules for other beaches, where restrictions for dogs are generally in place during the main summer season.
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Beach huts are a feature of the best UK seaside towns © Adrian Rawlinson/Shutterstock
Perched on the east coast of England, the small town of Southwold is one of the best coastal towns in the UK. Southwold offers typical seaside merriment with its sandy beach, traditional pier and candy-coloured beach huts. A working lighthouse (open to visitors) stands sentinel, surveying the bay, while the Adnams Brewery, which still operates on the same site after 670 years, wafts early morning hops into the sea air.
Once a bustling fishing port, today Southwold is a delightful seaside resort that makes up one of the best parts of northern Norfolk. Southwold has managed to retain a genteel feel to it, with numerous nearby walks to enjoy. Still, there's no denying the electric buzz that surrounds the popular Latitude Festival which is held in the area every year.
Plenty of excellent eating and accommodation options range from smart hotels on the picturesque market square to nearby campsites – all a pebble’s throw from the sea. If you're keen to know what else is going on locally, start with our 15 reasons to visit Norfolk.
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Porthmadog © Andrew Davies/Robert Harding Library
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The end of summer is coming fast, so it’s time to start planning your last hurrah for 2023.
A quartet of caravans are in a wildflower meadow and copse in the grounds of an old rectory near Ross-on-Wye, Herefordshire. They are Gertie, a rare 1930s model; Sybil, a handmade 1940s van; Monty, a second world war military wagon; and Elsie, a 1950s van. All have original features and outdoor seating; three have wood burners and Monty has a private deck. There are communal showers, toilets, a summer kitchen and campfire, and an honesty shop selling farm produce, ice-cream and cider. Guests can hire individual vans or the site, and pitch a tent next to their van at no extra cost.From £200 for two nights for four people, vans sleep two to five, maddogsandvintagevans.co.uk
Green fields and hills give Ireland its “Emerald Isle” nickname. But with nearly 2,000 miles of coastline, rivers, and lakes, the island nation is also awash in blue. Rounding out all that unspoiled nature are ancient castles, historic villages, and pubs alive with traditional music. Here’s the best way to experience this colorful corner of Europe.
Its consistently warm-to-mild temperatures and lack of a harsh winter mean there’s never really a bad time to visit St Lucia.
There are so many majestic landscapes to view and things to do in Scotland that it can be hard to narrow down where to visit. So why not choose your hotels as a starting point? Scotland is known for its inclement weather, so choosing a hotel with spa facilities can be an excellent backup for something to do if the weather is terrible. It can also be a great way to soothe weary muscles and feet after all the hiking and sightseeing.
Northern Ireland's second city and Ireland's northern-most county sit rather snug together in the corner of the island of Ireland. But many are yet to discover the two make a fantastic combination for a twin break. Blending thought-provoking history, striking landmarks and an incredible natural world, Derry~Londonderry and County Donegal's Inishowen Peninsula offer everything you could wish for in a short, action-packed getaway.
Munich is a fantastic place to visit with kids. The ample greenery and great public transport system make the city feel relaxed and accessible, despite its size.
On a Saturday morning in the Lake District, perhaps at the base of a popular fell or along the shores of a placid lake, you might think you were at a countryside Crufts. The region’s footpaths are bustling with spaniels, labradors and golden retrievers – and the ubiquitous cockapoo, of course – all in procession, dragging their owners up hills or along forested trails, tongues out, tails wagging, noses poised to sniff the behind of anything they might pass.
Heading for the seafront from Blackpool North station, I passed gleaming new tramlines. Blackpool’s famous trams – confined to the promenade since the early 1960s – will soon be running inland again, and nearby hoardings boasted: “The renaissance of Blackpool is gathering pace.”
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Tucked between Vancouver Island’s pristine waterways, lush forests, and rugged wilderness is some downright delicious coastal cuisine. Chefs, distillers, and purveyors here rely on locally grown ingredients to infuse their creations with the flavors of the destination itself.
Rame peninsula. Tiny beach, endless sea. There’s a seafront pub right there in Kingsand, the Devonport, just up the steps, serving delicious food – or you can just sit outside and look at the sunset. We went to Kingsand for our very first holiday together, my then-lover and I. I booked at short notice – the guesthouse we stayed in has since been put up for sale. We played guitar on the beach and got roped into a sea shanty singalong with the locals. We went back about 10 years later – same beach, same gorgeous yellow house on the beach, same pub. Children were playing on the beach who wouldn’t have been born yet when we had last come. It was special.Ewa Szypula