Help finding U.K. seaside location

[Snailsetssail]

We love Cornwall but it’s a very long drive from us. Does anyone know of anywhere else in the U.K. that has nice beaches and seaside towns please? Ideally sandy beaches with a bit of a wave to the sea, not too busy, and not full of arcades and fairgrounds.

St Andrews or somewhere around Boulmer

Midlands is huge, which bit? Northumberland is fantastic.

Dorset. Swanage or if you like bigger and more busy try Bournemouth or Poole.

Pembrokeshire, Llyn Peninsula, North Norfolk, Northumbria but it’s chilly, Dorset but the beaches aren’t quite as sandy as I’d like, Isle of Wight.

Norfolk - lovely round North Norfolk if you want not too garish seaside . Wells , Blakeney for the seals , Brancaster likewise , and Holt where you can spend a fortune on an artisanal hand thrown scotch egg or two. Or Aldeburgh/Southwold - similar but a bit further away , although I have been told Southwold is struggling a bit at the moment . Possibly even more of a reason to spend your money there .

We are central and Dorset is a 3 to 4hrs drive.

Warkworth
Bamburgh
Amble
Tynemouth

For Northumberland we love Bamburgh, Beadnell, Alnmouth and Seahouses. Yes it's a very big area with sandy beaches. All very close to Alnwick Castle and Gardens as well which is a lovely day out

Have a look at the Tenby/Saundersfoot area in South Pembrokeshire. Amazing beaches, wide variety of accommodation and activities.

And Barter Books in Alnwick is amazing 😍
I meant Ambleside below in my post.

If you like history there are so many castles up the coast line and not too far from Holy Island. Beautiful quiet beaches

South Pembrokeshire.

Freshwater West for waves and isolation.
Tenby for a bit more life depending on what time of year you go.

Sorry I'm having a ridiculous time here. Alnmouth is what I meant to write!

Our beautiful North Norfolk coast. Vast beaches, great big skies...Sea Palling, Brancaster, Sheringham, which has pebbles as well as sand, Hemsby...

Also midlands. North Yorkshire for us. About 2.5 hours. We love whitby, it has a couple of arcades but still has a really lovely feel to it. We usually stay on the North Yorkshire moors then drive to Whitby, Staithes, Robin Hoods bay etc

TBH Cromer and north Norfolk is really worth looking at
as the beaches are HUGE
the roads are MUCH much less crowded than the south west
and the water is less cold than the Atlantic coast

Barmouth or around that area , not a long drive for you from the midlands.
Whitby or Robin hoods bay up in North Yorkshire.

Talacre Beach in North Wales is beautiful

Isle of wight

Dorset

North Yorkshire - Filey, whitby, Scarborough.
North Norfolk from Hunstanton round to Cromer (my favourite Wells-next-to-the-sea).
Northumberland.
North Wales - Abersoch, Porthmadog, Criccieth.

Whitby
Saltburn
Tynemouth
Northumberland

Bamburgh is stunning

Tynemouth is what you want. Lovely little town with good restaurants, (including the best seafood restaurant in the UK in a shipping container right on the sand), pubs, and shops, huge sandy beaches with rocky tide pools to explore on either edge, a castle, a lighthouse a couple of miles up the beach, a huge, delightful open-air market every weekend, and 30 minutes into the centre of Newcastle by Metro (local overground) if you fancy some shopping or museums for the afternoon.

Caister

Despite having a house in Yorkshire we think Northumberland has the best coast holidays.