UK beach resort with elderly parents

[saddilema]

Has anyone got suggestions for weeks holiday in UK. We will be travelling by car with parents in their mid 80yrs. They are fairly fit and active but not too much walking.
Thinking of Devon or Somerset (Cornwall is too far).
Ideally luxury hotel on coastline in a pretty location with little streets easy to walk around. We will have days out but would like to be based where parents can go out for a walk about if they choose.
Dad likes the sea and mum likes to browse independent shops.
Any suggestions? Thanks.

Sidmouth is perfect, can head into Exeter by bus from there too. Had afternoon tea at one of the bigger hotels and it was old fashioned but nice

Dartmouth is nice but small and very expensive so quite budget dependent. Weekends in Dartmouth can get lively in the evening with the naval college. Can recommend Andria restaurant, absolutely delicious. Also Bar 1620

Lyme Regis would be perfect OP and is about 4 hours from Herts. Lovely little town, shops to browse, restaurants and tea rooms, nice promenade, beach.

Bridlington has lots of guest houses and hotels close to the sea front. Large flat pedestrian promenade. Lots of little gift shops and a market and a pier. Fantastic beach. 5 miles of golden sands also Yorkshire Belle boat trip with food. Fabulous fish and chips. My MiL lives there and it always seems to me to be the OAP capital of England. Even my son has asked in the past, why are there so many old people in Bridlington? They cater for them well.

I take my parents to Sidmouth. Nice quaint town with enough shops for
them to browse and enough tea shops too . They love their tea and cake 🍰

Bournemouth or Poole

The Victoria at sidmouth or another brandt hotel.

Agree with others re Sidmouth (Devon) or Lyme Regis (Dorset).

Dartmouth I agree is expensive as far as hotels are concerned probably because there are not many. We go for Torquay preferably The Belgrave Sands hotel that has excellent ratings are very close to the seafront. Again easy access to Brixham and Dartmouth by bus ferry or steam train. Torquay town centre is not that good anymore but easy to visit others like Totness which is quaint if a little hilly.
Torquay has a pleasant wide seafront with good views over the whole of Torbay.
We mostly leave our car in the hotel car park because public transport is good.

Does it have to be Somerset?
Llandudno town is nice, flat wide promenade and lots of shops to wander in.

Whistable was my first thought (I know not in suggested locations).

have you considered Warner holidays?
warner

Definitely Swanage in Dorset. My elderly parents love it. Try finding holiday accommodation as near to the town centre and beach as possible (with parking, otherwise it can be a bit of a walk from longer stay Car parks into town if there are mobility issues).

Also, chococo is a must visit if you go! delicious hot chocolate, cakes and ice creams in their cafe and gorgeous chocolates in their chocolate shop!

Paignton. You could get the ferry to Brixham and torquay from there

My dad loves Dartmouth, he goes to a lovely hotel on the marina, seems loads of pottering opportunities!

Another vote for Dorest - Lyme Regis, Weymouth, Swanage

I second a pps suggestion of Llandudno, not brash or raucous, seafront is nice and the people are lovely.

Has Paignton changed?

When I lived in Torquay, Paignton was ultra-cheap family bucket and spade and pretty grotty.

Broadstairs on the Kent coast. Lots of indie shops and restaurants, a few nice guest houses or hotels - the yarrow or the Albion.
Easy drive to Canterbury, Deal, whitstable which are all lovely for a day out.

Sidmouth would be good and there’s the donkey sanctuary which is nice for a wander around.

Lyme Regis is nice but the high street is very hilly.

Any of those Devon / Dorset suggestions so far would work except Paignton, which is quite run down. The Sidmouth area is lovely with some nice day trips possible using the town as a base, but I don’t know it so well.

Dartmouth town centre has narrow streets that are fairly on a level, and independent shops, although it is at the mouth of the river Dart so is not right on the sea. The beaches are a shortish car or bus journey away but the closest, Slapton, Blackpool Sands and Torcross are all beautiful and unspoilt.

The Royal Castle Hotel is right by the harbour and serves lovely Sunday roasts. Rockfish do good fish and chips, and cafe Al Fresco is nice for coffee (or breakfast if not included at your hotel). There are a number of good options for cafes and restaurants. There’s an M&S in the centre for picnics and an independent cinema.

It is possible to get a ferry up the river to Totnes which has plenty more independent shops and cafes, although the high street is quite steep. They might enjoy a Round Robin day trip on the river, open topped bus and steam train.

I would also vote for Dartmouth, but I don't think you'd do the drive in 4 hours from Hertfordshire. Lyme Regis is also very nice, but can be a bit hilly in places.

Thanks all, had a look at a few hotels in Sidmouth. Anyone have experience of The Royal Glen hotel?

Woolacombe bay hotel or Saunton Samds Hotel.

Woolacombe is more level and no steep walk to beach. Saunton Sands is an art deco legend- and near Braunton.

Broadstairs in Kent

I was also going to suggest Broadstairs
Deal
Cromer
Southwold
Brighton- lots of quirky shops and the Royal Pavilion to look at, plus the beach isn't a steep walk