Summer is almost here and that means it’s time to start planning your summer holiday. And if you’re looking to avoid the bustle of busy airports, you might be opting for a staycation.
The UK has some beautiful stretches of coastline and some incredible seaside towns and villages, great whether you’re holidaying as a couple or taking the kids and grandkids.
Here’s your rundown of seven seaside towns perfect for a sunny getaway this year.
- Padstow, Cornwall
Cornwall is awash with beautiful beaches, quaint fishing villages, and jagged clifftop walks, just right for a summer staycation.
This makes picking just one Cornish seaside town all but impossible. Padstow, though, has a huge amount to offer and earns its place at the top of our list.
You’ll be spoilt for choice when it comes to dining out, with TV chefs Rick Stein and Paul Ainsworth both having restaurants in the town. Stein also has cafes and a fish and chip shop among local businesses.
There are plenty of pubs, too, with many selling ales from the local Sharps and St Austell breweries.
You might take to the water for a fishing trip or a sea safari, with the chance to see dolphins, puffins, and even minke whales.
Padstow is also a great base for further exploration of this beautiful part of the UK.
- Lyme Regis, Dorset
Situated along Dorset’s Jurassic Coast – a Unesco world heritage site – Lyme Regis has millions of years of history and plenty to keep you occupied in the present.
Often referred to as the “Pearl of Dorset”, you’ll find jagged clifftops, sweeping views, and history aplenty. It was in Lyme Regis that Mary Anning discovered the fossilised remains of the ichthyosaur, a Mesozoic-era dinosaur that once dominated the seas, growing up to 20 metres in length and weighing in at 80 tonnes.
In the town itself, you can walk the harbour wall, known as “The Cobb”. This distinctive curved wall was once featured in The French Lieutenant’s Woman.
Be sure to explore the rest of the Jurassic Coast, possibly along the 630-mile South West Coast Path. The trail takes in Lulworth Cove and Durdle Door, just over an hour away.
- Tenby, Pembrokeshire
Pembrokeshire in south-west Wales is another beautiful spot with plenty to keep holidaying families or solo grownups happy.
From the vibrant town with its medieval, 13th-century walls, head down to the wide expanse of beach. From here you can catch a boat to Caldey Island. Home to 40 residents and a monastery with a history dating back around 1,500 years, there’s also a vast array of wildlife to spot.
- Aldeburgh, Suffolk
If you’re heading south and to England’s east coast, you might make it as far as Aldeburgh in Suffolk.
As well as its beautiful beach, you’ll find plenty of places to eat and drink, as well as culture in the form of the town’s museum. Aldeburgh is famous as the home of composer Benjamin Britten, who was born in nearby Lowestoft.
More recently, it’s become famous as the home of some of the nation’s best fish and chips, as well as its blue flag beach, and annual food and arts festivals.
- Sandhaven Beach, South Shields
Back in 2022, Sandhaven came out top on a Sunday Times list of the best British beaches. It’s not hard to see why.
The mile-long sweep of sand is capped to the north by the Ocean Park Pleasure Beach, perfect for a day of family fun. To the south, meanwhile, is a gun position dating back to the Crimean War, complete with a replica gun.
Close by, you’ll find Long Sands Beach and Whitley Bay, so you’ll never be far from great fish and chips in the perfect spot.
- Morecambe, Lancashire
Less than five miles from the historic city of Lancaster is the seaside town of Morecambe.
Famous as the birthplace of comedian Eric Morecambe (who took his stage name from the town), you’ll find a beautiful beach looking out into Morecambe Bay. There’s also the Grade II*-listed Morecombe Winter Gardens, which opened as the Victoria Pavilion Theatre in 1897.
Less than an hour down the coast you’ll find Blackpool, perfect for a fun day out, exploring its tower, three piers, and pleasure beach.
Lancaster, meanwhile, offers history and culture when you’re ready to tear yourself away from the beautiful sea views.
- Oban, Argyll
Often referred to as the “Gateway to the Isles”, the area is also thought of as the seafood capital of Scotland.
Its history, stunning views, and breathtaking scenery have helped to make it Scotland’s most popular west coast holiday destination.
Visit the ruins of Dunollie Castle and take in the views of the bay from a site that has been fortified since the Bronze Age. Or take a walk up to McCaig’s Tower – a Grade B-listed historic monument – on Battery Hill for a view down into the town.
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