Britain’s best and worst seaside towns

[editor]

So who's been to these places? Southwold and Aldeburgh are nice enough.

The tiny Cornish village of St Mawes, has been voted the best seaside town in the UK this year. It also ranked as one of the least crowded destinations, with a five-star rating for peace and quiet in our survey of more than 4,000 Which? readers. With a population of less than 1,000, St Mawes on the Roseland Heritage Coast received a customer score of 85%, beating off competition from well-known resorts such as Newquay (58%) and Brighton (66%), both of which received just one star out of five in the peace and quiet category. But St Mawes is by no means the only highly praised crowd-free destination in our survey. Lesser-known seaside towns all over the country have scored highly, from well-kept secrets in Devon and Dorset, through to hidden corners of Northumberland and Scotland.

Also in the top five were Southwold (84%), praised for its excellent food and drink options, and arty Aldeburgh (83%) which is also on the Suffolk coast. Last year’s winner, Bamburgh (83%) in Northumberland also triumphed, receiving the full five stars for its beautiful beach.

Skegness took the less coveted title for worst-rated seaside town in our survey with a customer score of 44%. It scored one star out of five in all categories but one. The town is known for its neon lights, lively Butlin’s resort and 118-metre-long pier offering everything from candy floss to classic 2p slot machines and a Ferris wheel. Not too dissimilar in scores were childhood seaside favourites Great Yarmouth and Clacton-on-Sea, both earning a 48% score, with just one star for peace and quiet.

Read more: The UK’s best seaside towns revealed – Which? News - Which?

 

[planetgeli]

The UK you say? Everything there is in England.

No actual lists. Trotting out the usual middle class havens of St Ives, Southwold, Aldeburgh.

That was a crap article.

OK I missed the link. But the precis was still rubbish.

 

[editor]

The UK you say? Everything there is in England.

No actual lists. Trotting out the usual middle class havens of St Ives, Southwold, Aldeburgh.

That was a crap article.

Yeah it's nonsense. There's no Barry Island for starters!

But Tenby is as good as anything on that list and that's just one of many wonderful Welsh beaches.

 

[kebabking]

Despite being a huge fan of Bamborough, I'd struggle to call it a town....

 

[platinumsage]

Despite being a huge fan of Bamborough, I'd struggle to call it a town....

Likewise "the tiny Cornish village of St Mawes".

 

[gentlegreen]

Severn Beach.

Severn Beach | Severn beach, Severn, Abandoned amusement park

Feb 7, 2015 - See 25 photos from 241 visitors to Severn Beach.

www.pinterest.co.uk

 

[kebabking]

There used to be a nice little café in Severn Beach. I quite liked it actually - not that I'd want to spend a week there....

 

[Sprocket.]

Sadly, I always expect Cleethorpes to be the last resort.

 

[Steel Icarus]

Sadly, I always expect Cleethorpes to be the last resort.

Obviously never been to Skegvegas, then

 

[Ax^]

Hasting if you don't mind the pretty rampant homeless issue in the town

might just be a little worse after the covid situation

 

[Sprocket.]

Obviously never been to Skegvegas, then

I have spent weeks in Skegvegas, I worked for a year in Wainfleet.

 

[Streathamite]

I spent part of my childhood in Southend.
Yes, it's a shithole

 

[gentlegreen]

There used to be a nice little café in Severn Beach. I quite liked it actually - not that I'd want to spend a week there....

Shirley's Café ? popular with local cyclists ... I stopped there at least once on group rides ...

Shirley's Café. Severn Beach - Google Search

 

[seeformiles]

I grew up in a seaside town - no desire to visit one since everything smells of sugar, fried food and desperation. However as far as they go, Whitby is pretty good with Bridlington coming a close second.

 

[Sprocket.]

Despite being a huge fan of Bamborough, I'd struggle to call it a town....

More of a hamlet I think. Only just over four hundred residents.

 

[oryx]

I grew up in a seaside town - no desire to visit one since everything smells of sugar, fried food and desperation. However as far as they go, Whitby is pretty good with Bridlington coming a close second.

I love Whitby, also Robin Hood's Bay.

Worst I can remember going to is Dymchurch in Kent.

 

[platinumsage]

I spent part of my childhood in Southend.
Yes, it's a shithole

Nice beach, awesome tidal range, pier, view of Kent and London, decent mini cliffs with cherry trees, two train lines and an airport, theatres, cafes, palm trees...what’s not to like?

 

[LDC]

Rhyl, when I was there years ago it was the grimmest seaside town I could have imagined. Horrendously depressing and run down.

 

[Sprocket.]

Bridlington is great for dog walks too, North Bay to Sewerby especially, fab little chippy in Sewerby village.

 

[ska invita]

anyone ever been to littlehampton? i was thinking of exploring/walking that stretch between there and bognor

 

[The39thStep]

Southwold overpriced middle class infested cliche

 

[Spymaster]

Pretty much all the seaside towns on the Kent and Essex coasts are shit holes. I used to go to visit a mate in nick at HMP Standford Hill on the Isle of Sheppey. Afterwards, I once took a drive around the island and ended up in a kip called Leysdown-On-Sea. A horrible, run-down dump, complete with manky chippies, half derelict amusement arcades, and St George's flags in the windows of most of the scabby residential properties.

The prison was less depressing.

 

[planetgeli]

The worst seaside town is Burry Port. It is by the sea, but it's 400 yards from the sea so you can be there and not even know you are in a seaside town. It has barely any amenities and an air of menace.

Having said that, the beach is amazing, a wide expanse of golden sand inhabited by absolutely nobody.

But the town is dire. Don't go.

 

[kebabking]

Whitby is a big hit at chez kebab, as is Berwick-upon-Tweed...

 

[ska invita]

went to southwold last year - dont see the fuss - nor the middle classness - overpriced it may well be to move there - just looked like retirement sprawl to me

would recommend going a mile or two north up to Covehithe Beach area - it was sandy and pretty empty

Southwold

www.google.com

not a town there, just a long stretch of beach

 

[planetgeli]

Nearly a page and no mention of Jaywick Sands? Google it. The first page of google hits are pretty much like this.

'It's a filthy place' - lifting the lid on England's poorest town

Jaywick Sands in Essex has been named England's most deprived area - but other residents call it 'fantastic'

www.mirror.co.uk

It isn't fantastic.

 

[ska invita]

last time we were at jaywick (two years back) some bloke was kite surfing and some scallies knicked off with all his gear he'd left on the beach... by the time he got back on land they were half way up to clacton

 

[ska invita]

re Bamburgh , that whole lindisfarne to seahouses area is pretty magical tbf...

 

[cupid_stunt]

anyone ever been to littlehampton? i was thinking of exploring/walking that stretch between there and bognor

Littlehampton is a bit of a dump TBH, but a good point to start, with the intention of getting the fuck out of there ASAP.

 

[ska invita]

Littlehampton is a bit of a dump TBH, but a good point to start, with the intention of getting the fuck out of there ASAP.

as opposed to Worthing?