The best seaside holiday destinations in the UK

Ditch the airport queues and forget expensive flights! The UK coastline comes alive during these next few glorious months, transforming into your very own sunny paradise. 

No need to break the bank – pack your swimsuit, grab your favourite travel buddies and get ready to explore some of the UK’s top seaside gems! Here’s a peek at a few must-visit seaside holiday destinations in the UK to get your summer holiday planning started.


Barafundle Bay, Pembrokeshire

Best for an escape

Tenby near Pembroke Dock, Wales

Wales sometimes gets overlooked as a coastal destination, but there are some really beautiful beaches and cliffs along the Welsh coast. Head to Barafundle Bay in Pembrokeshire, which has been voted the top place to have a picnic in the whole of the UK, for an amazing beach and a real escape feel.

Stay in our Pembroke Dock hotel to be a short drive from the bay, as well as Pembroke Castle and the popular seaside town of Tenby.

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Blackpool, Lancashire

Best for social life

iStock_000039870064_Double_blackpool-min

You can’t talk about Britain’s top seaside destinations without somebody mentioning Blackpool. The classic seaside town is full of Mr Whippy’s, fish ‘n’ chips, donkey rides and deck chairs. If you’re looking for all the social life that comes with a British beach, you can’t do better than here.

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Watergate Bay, Cornwall

Best for activities

A surfer enters the water in Newquay, Cornwall

You really can’t top the beaches on the North Coast of Cornwall, and Watergate Bay is probably the best of them. This vast stretch of sand is more beautiful and less crowded than nearby Fistral Beach. But what really makes it special is the Extreme Academy that operates here.

The surf school teaches a whole lot more than conventional surfing with kitesurfing, traction kiting, wave skiing and the latest craze, hand-planing. You can guarantee even the most energetic of kids will be ready for bed after a day at this beach.

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If you are planning a seaside holiday, take a look at our selection of the best UK beaches.


St Andrews, Scotland

Best for natural beauty

Sunset over a pier in Scotland

Generally, we think of going south to the beach. But a trip up to Scotland will teach you otherwise, as some of the coastline around there is simply staggering. West Sands in St Andrews is a beautiful quiet beach and offers you great views of the famous golf course and town.

Don’t forget to pack your running kit to jog along the sand like the Chariots of Fire boys, as this is the beach where the opening scene was shot.

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Studland Bay, Dorset

Best for beaches

bournemouth pier and beach

Few beaches feel as British as Studland Bay in Dorset. With 4 miles of golden sand, and a whole world of nature in the heathland behind it, this coastline is the perfect place to take kids with a love of exploring. Sandcastle building is a must, but so is sand dune running.

Also, suppose you want to indulge your inner explorer. Why not investigate the surrounding nature reserve with a butterfly net and a magnifying glass, where all six types of British reptiles can be found.

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