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Original poster

What's your favourite UK seaside town?

276 replies

Whathappenedtothelego · 03/08/2019 09:58

Looking for somewhere for a traditional seaside holiday.

I'd like a nice, safe, sandy beach.
Water warm enough to swim (or at least wade) in.
A few shops, cafes, fish and chips and ice cream within walking distance.
Don't really want nightlife, arcades etc.
What's your favourite?

OP posts:
Ronsters · 04/08/2019 07:30

I liked Amble a lot, on a recent visit. Small, but a nice little place and good parking (used the free car park and walked in). The beach in front of the village green/grassy area looked a bit small but the water was extremely clear.
Beautiful coastline all along that area.
I also like Scarborough and Whitby. Whitby gets too busy for me, in summer, but I like the beach and you can walk across to Sandsend.

skimask · 04/08/2019 07:37

I can confidently say any seaside town in north wales that isn't Presatyn on Rhyl. There's abersoch, aberdovey, llandudno, barmouth, they're all lovely

AuntieMarys · 04/08/2019 07:43

Love the Aberdyfi love! My favourite place. Been going all my life.
But dont tell every one!

OrangeJustice · 04/08/2019 07:46

I’ve tried to go to St Ives twice and both times given up after not being able to find anywhere to park after numerous circuits of all the available car parks. I suppose if you were staying in the town in a cottage with parking you’d be ok but it’d still be rammed with people.

sweetheartyparty · 04/08/2019 07:47

I love Dorset. Bournemouth or Weymouth had fantastic, sandy beaches and very clear blue sea. Its gorgeous

Bubblysqueak · 04/08/2019 07:52

Tenby or Bridlington/Scarborough can't decide.

MollyHuaCha · 04/08/2019 08:06

Fowey, it's just lovely.

Benjispruce · 04/08/2019 08:55

Fowey is lovely but tricky to park from what I remember. All those narrow streets. Is there a beach? Been a long time since I went.

MistyMinge2 · 04/08/2019 09:00

Swanage, Weymouth, Lyme regis, West bay

The Dorset coastline has plenty of traditional seaside towns all within driving distance. There's also beaches with no town, such as Studland, Lulworth cove, Kimmeridge Bay, Ringstead Bay and lots more.

It's a lovely part of the country.

Benjispruce · 04/08/2019 09:04

From Blackpool you could get over to Ireland simply enough. If you like Cornish/Welsh beaches but with very few people on them or on the roads, try Mayo. We were lucky enough to be there for hot sunny days. Mountains, seals and white sands.

What's your favourite UK seaside town?
reefedsail · 04/08/2019 09:18

Those saying West Bay.. it’s far from ideal with small children.

The beach is stony and very steep. There are rips and the beach shelves close to the shore so swimming is not recommended. They have also had a big cliff fall this year- it’s not safe to ever go directly under the cliffs and small children would have to be watched very closely to make sure they didn’t stray under there.

Likewise Charmouth. We are avid fossil hunters, but you have to be careful around the cliffs. We’ve been on the beach when there was a small cliff fall and even that was terrifying. When DS was small I drilled him about what to do if he heard ‘the rumble’ and I was very vigilant about where we stopped to play.

They are both beautiful beaches, but perhaps not the relaxed outing Lyme, Weymouth or Swanage offer.

CasparMum · 04/08/2019 09:29

We went to Filey a couple of years ago and it reminded me of being a kid in the 70s. The North Sea is freezing though.
Just come back from Newquay which was lovely, DS (10), loved it, there was so much to do.

Katinski · 04/08/2019 09:37

*Lowbeach on Sea!GrinGrinGrin

tabbycat985 · 04/08/2019 10:45

Like @Benjispruce said, Ireland would be easily got to, to avoid the faff of currency exchange, I'd recommend Portrush/ Portstewart on the north coast.
Side by side seaside towns with the most beautiful beaches & excellent restaurant choices!
The water isn't terribly warm but without a doubt some of the cleanest beachesSmile
Portrush also has an amusements called Barry's but it has rides as well as penny machines, ghost train, dodgems etc. It's good entertainment for LO's through to teens!

Stillstrawberrywater · 04/08/2019 10:48

St Ives is lovely but it gets stupidly busy in the summer.

eyesbiggerthanstomach · 04/08/2019 10:58

Whitstable

AmIChangingagain · 04/08/2019 11:17

Lovely small towns with beaches in the north.

Dornoch is a real favourite

Snowoctopus · 04/08/2019 11:18

Oban is lovely

Lolyora17 · 05/08/2019 03:14

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Isatis · 05/08/2019 07:19

Even though St Ives gets ridiculously busy in good weather in the summer, the day trippers go home. I'm had many a glorious walk across near-deserted beaches there in the evenings watching the sunset.

Redglitter · 05/08/2019 07:21

St Annes without question. Absolutely love it

yearinyearout · 05/08/2019 07:24

Appledore in North Devon. Not huge, just a few pubs/tea shops/a few shops for provisions. A tiny ferry to get to the sandy beach over the estuary at Instow.

Nothingcomesforfree · 05/08/2019 07:25

Bognor is pretty bad, whoever asked.

My vote goes to Ryde on the Isle of Wight. Just tip off the Cat or a Hovercraft and you are on a fantastic long sandy beach. And more importantly it doesn’t rain as much here as other places.

SmellMySmellbow · 05/08/2019 07:30

Lyme Regis

Chocolatedaim · 05/08/2019 07:31

Cullercoats in Newcastle.
Absolutely beautiful, St Mary’s lighthouse is fantastic to visit. To be honest tynemouth is just fab