Five of the best… British Coastal Towns

There’s nothing better than a British summer, from ice creams and deck chairs and seafood to scenic walks, British coastal towns have so much to offer at this time of year. 

St Ives, Cornwall 

One of Britain’s most scenic seaside spots - it’s easy to see why St Ives just grows in popularity with visitors and artists alike. Known for its thriving art scene, St Ives has continually inspired artists since JMW Turner and marine artist Henry Moore first arrived in the mid-1800s. However, what really sets St Ives apart from other artists' havens is that it’s home to one of only four Tate museums in the world - Tate St Ives opened in 1993, and is home to hundreds of works so is a must visit for tourists. However, those with less than a passing interest in art can enjoy the town’s thriving foodie scene, which as you’d expect relies heavily on local seafood followed by a stroll through its cobbled streets or a dip in its blue flag beaches. 

For more information on what to do and where to stay in St Ives, visit stives-cornwall.co.uk 

Margate, Kent 

Proudly known as Britain’s original seaside town, Margate comes with everything you associated with the British seaside. From buckets and spades to fish n chips, Margate mixes the old with the new to create a unique seaside kitsch all its own. Must sees include the UK’s oldest wooden roller coaster which can be found at Dreamland, an amusement park dedicated to vintage rides which are also home to bars and restaurants that host pop up entertainment and live music acts throughout the summer. Those with an interest in art should visit Turner Contemporary, which opened in 2011 and is dedicated to bringing contemporary art to the masses, collections and exhibitions vary from edge to accessible with Beatriz Milhazes’ Maresia on show for the summer months. Elsewhere, the Shell Grotto continues to baffle and amaze visitors in equal measure. The Shell Grotto is made up of 70ft of winding passages decorated with 4.6 million shells which needs to be seen to be believed, but the real mystery is its purpose. Was it built as a pagan grotto or was it the result of a passing fancy from a Tudor lord that’s withstood time? Nobody knows for sure which makes the Shell Grotto endlessly fascinating. 

For more information on what to do and where to stay in Margate, visit visitkent.co.uk 

Southwold, Suffolk 

A traditional British seaside town, Southwold is as easily recognisable for its colorful beachside huts and working lighthouse as it is for its most famous resident - George Orwell. The man behind Animal Farm visited Southwold in 1921 and made the Suffolk town his home for over 20 years. While technically not an island - Southwold gives the impression of being surrounded by water due to its boundaries with the North Sea to the east, the River Blyth to the south, and Buss Creek to the north. Sea swims and pier walks aside, Southwold offers much to the foodie visitor who can work up an appetite by walking along its 190-metre pier before popping into any of the nearby pubs for a traditional English lunch. If you do go for a walk along the pier, make sure to pop into the neighbouring arcade, which is home to a collection of weird and wonderful automata designed by Tim Hunkin - the cartoonist behind the hit Channel 4 show The Secret Lie of Machines. 

A word of warning to those looking to visit for the first time, there is only one road in and out of Southwold meaning that at peak visiting times traffic can be chaotic. Approach with caution and know that at the end of the snaking line of cars is worth the time. 

For more information on what to do and where to stay in Southwold, visit visitsuffolk.com

Portmeirion, North Wales

A seaside town with a difference, Portmeirion is a Welsh tourist village that was designed and built by Sir Clough Williams-Ellis in the 50 years between 1925 and 1975 as a replica of an Italian village and is now owned by a charitable trust. The village itself, which is situated in Gwynedd, North Wales, opens daily with a fee to enter and is located on the Welsh shoreline. Once in the village - and yes you can stay overnight, we suggest visiting The Piazza to take in the view and let kids of all ages enjoy the life size chess board before heading to Battery Square for lunch. All along the quayside, which boasts stunning waterside views, kids can play pirates in the Amis Reunis, a stone sculpture of an old ketch, or, in summer, take a dip in the heated pool. Slightly outside the village, sits The Gwyllt, a 10-hectare woodland modelled after an Edwardian wild garden as well as Castell Deudraeth, which was once home to a Victorian MP and is now a boutique hotel well worth a visit. 

Truly unlike anywhere else in the UK, Portmeirion needs to be seen to be believed and has often been described as a “pocket of madness” which seems pretty apt to us!

For more information on what to do and where to stay in Portmeirion, visit portmeirion.wales

Blackpool, Lancashire 

Iconic for so many reasons, Blackpool remains the original and some might argue the best British seaside town. With its pier, ballroom, illuminations and endless charm - there’s something so quintessentially British about Blackpool that one visit is all it takes to understand why it’s a generational favourite. While wandering along the pier and soaking up the charm is one way to explore the town, another is to hop on a tram and let is do the hard work for you while you take it all in. The Pleasure Beach is a constant hit with younger visitors while the town leans into its ballroom history with the eclectic roster of shows playing at the Winter Gardens. However, for BHT, fish’n’chips enjoyed on the seafront is the real magic of Blackpool!

For more information on what to do and where to stay in Blackpool, check out visitblackpool.com