8 unmissable experiences on England's Coast

The historic seafront town of Lyme Regis is the ideal base for exploring all that Dorset has to offer over the festive period. Stay in the Old Lyme Guest House in the heart of Lyme Regis, a glorious 17th century property made of Blue Lias stone, just a three-minute walk from the seafront and and yards from the recently-restored Town Mill Artisan Quarter with its working water wheel, Lyme Regis Micro Brewery, art galleries, pottery and restaurants. An overnight stay costs from £95 per room per night. Axminster is the closest train station, with bus links to Lyme Regis.

From traditionally smoked kippers to oyster beds dating back to 1381, Northumberland’s seafood specialties are a must-try. At the north of the county lies Ross, part of the Lindisfarne Nature Reserve, and where the Sutherland family today farm their ‘Lindisfarne’ Pacific Oysters. This secluded part of the coast has been home to oyster beds since the late 1300s. The world-famous Craster kipper is smoked in Northumberland at L Robson and Sons smokehouse in Craster and, further up the coast in Seahouses, is Swallowfish – another excellent smokehouse which has been in business since 1843. They use the same methods of smoking their cod, haddock, kippers and salmon as they did back then, and the shop itself is a real delight to visit, with old photos and a smorgasbord of fish and shellfish. 

Proudly made in Durham, the UK’s largest light festival, Lumiere, is set to illuminate the city once again for four nights from 18 - 21 November 2021. Each Lumiere festival invites local and international artists to design illuminations which will transform the city’s urban spaces and familiar public buildings. This year, anyone over 18 in the UK can apply and suggest their dazzling idea for a light-based piece of artwork to be displayed at this magical exhibition.

Book with England’s Coast: Stay at nearby five-star Seaham Hall on the Durham Heritage Coast and rest your head in one of the spacious suites, relax in the award-winning spa and dine on the finest local ingredients in The Dining Room. B&B from £175 per night for two, with use of the spa.

The glorious 5-mile stretch of golden sand stretches from the rocky peninsula of Filey Brigg to the north down to Bempton, home to an RSPB reserve.  At low tide, a quarter-mile width of sand is exposed. Younger visitors will find plenty of good rock pools to explore along this stretch. It’s great for families, with kite-flying, horse-riding, playing in the sand and plenty of rock pools to explore. The traditional seaside resort of Filey is less commercial than some of its East-Coast neighbours and is an ideal seaside location for young families or anyone looking for a fine stretch of good sand for walks.

Stay at Scarborough’s newest hotel, Bike & Boot, an award-winning design hotel built for adventurers, with 65 uniquely designed rooms, a hybrid bar-restaurant-café, and facilities for walkers, dogs and bikes on site as well as a surf board store; it even has a dog grooming area. From £75 per night.

The Cumbrian Coast Line is one of the most scenic and underrated routes in Britain, and the perfect way to explore the great outdoors and the spectacular Cumbrian coastline without a car. This journey – which is three-hours non-stop but can be easily broken up – offers fine walks, stirring views and great pubs.

Highlights include the Senhouse Roman museum in Maryport; a bracing walk up to the headland in St Bees for incredible views across to the Lake District; the tiny seaside medieval village of Ravenglass; the 13th century Muncaster Castle with its secret doors and ghost stories; and Victorian seaside town Grange-over-Sands with a mile-long promenade and excellent food offerings – try The Estuary bistro serving tapas such as Bury black pudding and langoustines, and the award-winning Higginsons Butchers where choice picks include lamb reared on the adjacent salt marshes.

STAY: Rest your head at the Pennington Hotel in Ravenglass, a lovely, cosy hotel that is part of the historic Muncaster Castle Estate and overlooks the beautiful estuary. From £119 per night, room only. 

Taking its name from Dover’s iconic chalk coastline, a walk through White Cliffs Country will be an absolute tonic to enjoy post-lockdown. With a huge variety of coastal and countryside routes, all with stunning panoramic views, Dover is the ideal spot for adventurous ramblers. From 26-31 August 2021, it will host the White Cliffs Walking Festival, with a programme of organised walks and events (restrictions permitting). Find out more and plan your Dover visit with England’s Coast.

Escape to the vibrant East Sussex coastal town of Hastings for a revitalising break. There’s lots to discover – such as its bohemian old town filled with antique shops and independent boutiques, the Norman ruins of Hastings Castle – once home to William the Conqueror – plus the fantastic Hastings Contemporary Art Gallery, Hastings Fisherman’s Museum (with free entry), the steepest funicular railway in England (which opened in 1902), a wonderful shingle beach with a renovated pier and Europe’s largest beach-launched fishing fleet – an impressive spectacle, not forgetting a superb food and drink offering including the excellent Rock a Nore Kitchen serving ‘boat to plate’ dishes.

STAY: Boreham House is a luxurious five-star bed & breakfast as well as a separate self-catering cottage, set within a Grade II listed Georgian house. Overlooking magnificent views of the Sussex countryside in an AONB, the cottage is a 25-minute drive from Hastings. A two-night stay at Boreham House costs from £240 per room (two sharing).

Tear up this beautiful coastline in an exhilarating ride on a RIB leaving from the historic fishing port of Teignmouth. The impressive geological formations and history will be brought to life by your Safari guide. Look out for dolphins, seals and even sharks!