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Recommend me a coastal town in the Uk

160 replies

LittleEsme · 11/10/2024 21:51

...where me and my two besties can sit on a balcony, wrapped up in blankets, sipping wine and over looking the sea.

During the day, we'd love to mooch around a town with lovely little shops, buy some nice things, have a few nice walks, nice food out, stroll on the beach.

Any recommendations around the Uk?!

OP posts:
brislereg · 12/10/2024 00:14

My first thought was North Berwick. Quirky shops. We had great food at Herringbone.

isthatmyage · 12/10/2024 00:24

Brighton...Southsea

HolyPeaches · 12/10/2024 05:39

(I’m from Yorkshire so tend to visit these east coast towns more).

Staithes (although not sure on balconies overlooking the sea)

Scarborough - North Bay

Robin Hood’s Bay

Filey

LittleEsme · 12/10/2024 08:13

Wow!
What an amazing bunch you are! I was expecting about 10 replies!

I should have given more info. It'll be a weekend/long weekend break. I'm a West Wales girl so I've done Swansea, Mumbles and Tenby loads (agree with pp to avoid Mumbles for a long while- it's a complete building site).

Happy to drive hours to get there ( I'm right near the M4).

I'm going to start sifting through your suggestions today. Thanks!

OP posts:
WillowTit · 12/10/2024 08:14

Rottingdean

stickybear · 12/10/2024 08:21

St Ives, Tenby or Lyme Regis are my favourites. St Mawes too, but it's much smaller. Dartmouth is lovely but on an estuary rather than proper sea Smile

CaspersMum24 · 12/10/2024 20:49

LuluBlakey1 · 11/10/2024 22:30

Boulmer has no shops and is about 6 cottages big.

It's not a town, but it has slightly more than 6 cottages. The Fishing Boat Inn has rooms with balconies looking over the sea, and does great food. There are also many self catering cottages with glorious sea views. It has a small art gallery and a fabulous beach. Very near are Alnwick, Alnmouth and Amble which have shops and restaurants.

LuluBlakey1 · 12/10/2024 21:12

CaspersMum24 · 12/10/2024 20:49

It's not a town, but it has slightly more than 6 cottages. The Fishing Boat Inn has rooms with balconies looking over the sea, and does great food. There are also many self catering cottages with glorious sea views. It has a small art gallery and a fabulous beach. Very near are Alnwick, Alnmouth and Amble which have shops and restaurants.

Yes, I know Boulmer very well but it's not what she asked for in her description. It is tiny.

Foopa · 12/10/2024 21:15

Tynemouth.

CaspersMum24 · 12/10/2024 21:20

LuluBlakey1 · 12/10/2024 21:12

Yes, I know Boulmer very well but it's not what she asked for in her description. It is tiny.

I can't see anything about the size of the place in her post.

Anyway OP I hope you've found somewhere lovely to stay for your trip, but if you want to stay somewhere tiny in the future, you know where to go. :)

sunsu · 12/10/2024 21:29

Time40 · 11/10/2024 23:59

Oban, my dream location

Seriously? It's a bit depressing, and there are hardly any nice shops (with the glorious exceptions of The Gem Box, and Rogerson's shoes). There isn't a beach; it's just a harbour.

My votes are for Whitby, St Ives, Lyme Regis and Tenby.

Rogersons and The Gem Box?! Oban has so much to offer but neither of those would make the top ten for shops to visit. Not to mention the wonderful cafes and restaurants. There is a beach too btw, it’s just not in the bay that you’re referring to.

Time40 · 13/10/2024 01:24

Rogersons and The Gem Box?! Oban has so much to offer but neither of those would make the top ten for shops to visit

Are you kidding? They're fabulous shops! I must have about twenty pairs of beautiful shoes from Rogerson's.

Time40 · 13/10/2024 01:27

@sunsu Go on then - which are these great shops? I know Oban very well, and I'd say it's mostly full of shops sellling overpriced scratchy tweeds, tins of shortbread and about 100,000 furry Highland cows.

SinisterBumFacedCat · 13/10/2024 01:28

Saundersfoot in Wales is lovely.

Otherwise Hythe or Deal in Kent.

Usnone · 13/10/2024 03:11

New Quay in SW Wales
Lynton & Lynmouth in N Devon linked by a funicular

Poppy61 · 13/10/2024 07:45

Whitstable or Lyme Regis

cheapskatemum · 13/10/2024 08:00

Another vote for St Ives (the one in Cornwall obvs). If you go soon you might not even need the blankets. It was sunny & mild on Friday.

SummerScarf · 13/10/2024 08:07

Llandudno

mitogoshigg · 13/10/2024 08:11

Sidmouth fits the brief and isn't too far from the motorway network or catch a bus from Exeter (with patience). Best gelato in the U.K. imho and great fish

GiddyUpJingleHorse · 13/10/2024 08:29

Southbourne

Treacletart9 · 13/10/2024 08:35

TroysMammy · 11/10/2024 22:24

Swansea. Some parts of the marina look out into Swansea Bay. Short walk and you're in the city centre. Visit the market whilst you are there.

I’m staying in West Cross soon with husband and the dog - son at uni in Swansea, it’s beautiful. Any recs for good eating in cosy pubs or beaches in the area? Been to a lovely Spanish restaurant on the marina.

TroysMammy · 13/10/2024 10:04

@Treacletart9 Loads of beaches around the Gower, 19 of them. Some are accessible by car but Brandy Cove, Pwll Du and Three Cliffs to name a few are not but the views are outstanding. All beaches from 1st October until Springtime, unsure what date, are dog friendly and a lot of eateries are too, check first.

I hardly go out to eat but there is the West Cross Inn and Mumbles has quite a few restaurants. I've eaten in The Mermaid lunchtime, the fish is massive. Evening meal in the Oyster House which was lovely. There is building work on the sea defences going on in Mumbles and the car parks are expensive. According to Facebook pages they are now manned by private companies and people have been fined just for going there, not finding a space and leaving, but you can walk there on the front easily from West Cross. The prom is lit.

Cosy pubs, there is the Woodman in Blackpill, unsure what the food is like these days but have eaten there years ago. Clyne Gardens are behind and Clyne Country Park to the right, a massive wooded area with a shared cycle route 4. The King Arthur in Reynoldston is named The Times top cosy pub. I've eaten recently in The Gower Inn in Parkmill which was also lovely.

There are other eateries in Uplands and you must have a Joe's, either in Mumbles or St Helen's Road which was their first parlour. No one says Joe's ice cream, we just say going for a Joe's or having a Joe's.

I'm sure your son will have a great time in Swansea, don't be surprised he may not want to leave. There is so much to see and do and I think Swansea doesn't blow it's own trumpet enough.

If you like museums there is The Egyptian Centre on the University campus and in the city centre Swansea Museum, The Waterfront Museum and the Glynn Vivian Art Gallery, all free.

I could write a lot more about Swansea, I could go on all day about it. If you want any more information I'll happily be an unofficial tour guide.

ferntwist · 13/10/2024 10:06

St Ives

TroysMammy · 13/10/2024 10:07

Forgot to say Swansea is very diverse with a lot of ethnicities so there are different cuisines available around the city centre.

HildaHosmede · 13/10/2024 10:17

Treacletart9 · 13/10/2024 08:35

I’m staying in West Cross soon with husband and the dog - son at uni in Swansea, it’s beautiful. Any recs for good eating in cosy pubs or beaches in the area? Been to a lovely Spanish restaurant on the marina.

Pp has given a really good run down. Would definitely recommend the West Cross Inn, very close to you too. They do a lovely Sunday lunch and the desserts are fabulous.

Recommend me a coastal town in the Uk
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