Brits flock to ‘clean and beautiful’ seaside town that has ‘quiet’ beaches
The UK’s best seaside towns have been ranked, with the top coastal spot a hit as it's "never crowded" with "spectacular" views – and it’s dog friendly. Its stunning beach even has five stars on TripAdvisor and has been called "best beach in UK" by visitors.
In a Which? survey, over 3,000 visitors ranked Britain’s seaside towns on the quality of the beaches, food and drink, tourist attractions and value for money. It found that Bamburgh, in Northumberland, was the best of the bunch – but Skegness came in bottom, reports the Express.
It’s easy to see why Bamburgh took the crown as it’s known for having a charming village with several pubs, an ancient castle, miles of golden sand as well as being quiet and peaceful as opposed to overrun like some UK beaches.
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In the survey, it scored five stars for scenery, quality of the beach and seafront and peace and quiet. The shoreline is overlooked buy the castle’s ruins adding a majestic element for history and photography lovers.
A review on TripAdvisor said: "Seriously the best beach in the UK. Eight miles of flat white sand. Dunes to run into. Rock pools. Crystal clear water. Dog friendly and clean as a whistle. Beautiful views of the castle. Free parking. A great kids' play area near the castle. Cricket being played on the pitch behind the beach. Pavilion selling teas and cream cakes. Bamburgh butchers sells the best sausage rolls and scotch eggs and a fabulous ice cream shop. Clean toilets nearby too."
Another person, Amy B said: "A beautiful beach. Clean. Not overly crowded even in August. Stunning views of the castle. Easy to get down to. I walked down to the water for a paddle and it was clean and beautiful."
Others noted the "stunning views" as well as the reasonable parking at around £5 a day – which is great value compared to other spots like Brighton where you could end up paying £23. Liam Batey said: "Simply the best beach in the uk."
Other beach towns that made the top five included the gorgeous Dartmouth in Devon which took a five star rating for scenery and accommodation. Visitors have praised the town’s vibrant atmosphere and the clear water.
Derry’s Portstewart, in Northern Ireland, took third place thanks to its attractive strange and promenade. The town also has plenty of restaurants, great bakers and a golf club.
However, on the other end of the scale some British towns fared less well. The worst seaside town in the UK according to the survey is Skegness in Lincolnshire tied with Clacton-on-Sea, Essex.
Skegness is often known as Skeg-Vegas due to its lively nightlife, but it seems people aren’t as thrilled with the town as they once were. Skegness's pier was ranked one star – and locals say it now has a "dark side".
Anna Morrish, who lived close by to Skegness and its beaches, spoke to Daily Star about where the town has gone wrong. Anna said: "I used to live 30 mins away and visited often. The downfalls would be that it's a little outdated and the nightlife isn't great. It's a tad rough around the edges.
"Locals call it Skeg-Vegas. I’ve only been out there a few times and I would avoid it now. It doesn't feel as safe as some areas or inclusive. I would say safety and the food isn't great. Even on the beach… I once was walking along the beach and got stuck in quicksand. There's plenty of attractions, but they're looking a tad run down and dated. They do well to keep the area clean, but it's like stepping back in time."
Meanwhile, Clacton-on-Sea received one star for its scenery – the town still has a pier and amusement arcade as well as the beach and a lively Wetherspoons, but reviews aren’t thrilled with the amenities.
Jude, on TripAdvisor said: "From the moment we left the car park we were dismayed to see a town so empty of people the first week of school holidays and so many derelict empty shops. The streets were very dirty too. The beach was worse. Instead of collecting shells, you can collect bottle tops, plastic bottles, shards of glass, and cigarette ends."
Eddie J added: "40 years ago we had family in Clacton and enjoyed many visits there, recently we came for a day and couldn't believe what a dump the town had turned into. Everywhere looked deprived."
Best seaside towns in the UK
- Bamburgh, Northumberland
- Dartmouth, Devon
- Portstewart, Londonderry
- Portmeirion, Gwynedd/ St Andrews, Fife/ Tynemouth, Tyne and Wear
- Southwold, Suffolk
Worst seaside towns in the UK
- Skegness, Lincolnshire/ Clacton-on-Sea, Essex
- Burnham-on-Sea, Somerset
- Bangor, County Down
- Mablethorpe, Lincolnshire
- Bognor Regis, West Sussex
Do you disagree with any of these ratings? Tell us why at [email protected]
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