England’s coasts trim the country with gorgeous ocean views and sparkling sandy beaches. Take a traditional family seaside holiday or coastal break to Woolacombe in North Devon or St Ives in Cornwall, and let the kids build a sandcastle and lick ice cream as you relax in the sun. Wander coastline trails and stay in retro beach huts on a seaside break. Enjoy a festival weekend on the Isle of Wight, go fossil hunting on the beaches of Dorset or take a sailing course along Suffolk’s coastline. Once you’ve had your fill of fun, fill your stomach with locally caught fish dishes prepared in regional styles. There’s the old English favourite; fish and chips, which can always be found on a coastal holiday. With piers like Brighton and Bournemouth offering rides and amusements, your seaside fun can last well into the evening too.
Coastal and seaside breaks
Coastal and seaside breaks
England’s coasts trim the country with gorgeous ocean views and sparkling sandy beaches. Take a traditional family seaside holiday or coastal break to Woolacombe in North Devon or St Ives in Cornwall, and let the kids build a sandcastle and lick ice cream as you relax in the sun. Wander coastline trails and stay in retro beach huts on a seaside break. Enjoy a festival weekend on the Isle of Wight, go fossil hunting on the beaches of Dorset or take a sailing course along Suffolk’s coastline. Once you’ve had your fill of fun, fill your stomach with locally caught fish dishes prepared in regional styles. There’s the old English favourite; fish and chips, which can always be found on a coastal holiday. With piers like Brighton and Bournemouth offering rides and amusements, your seaside fun can last well into the evening too.
These five beaches really are in England!
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Whisk yourself away to a warmer, sunnier climate without leaving the country at one of these stunning English beaches.
Explore Brighton and Hove’s wartime heritage
Commemorate the First World War with a cultural holiday in Brighton and Hove, roaming around the city’s lively cultural quarter.
Location: Brighton & Hove, East Sussex
Head to Salcombe for butterscotch beaches and electric blue water
A haven for yachties and those who prefer to keep their deck shoes firmly on dry land.
Location: Salcombe, Devon
Enjoy shopping and culture on a city break by the sea
Whether you’re looking for top notch restaurants or bohemian independent shopping, Brighton offers urban glamour by the bucket load.
Location: Brighton & Hove, East Sussex
Get your vintage chic on at Dreamland Margate
Indulge in an 'old fashioned yet oh so fashionable' break in the UK's trendiest seaside resort
Location: Margate, Kent
Take a bargain break with all the trimmings at Totland
On the west coast of the Isle of Wight, YHA Totland has the beach, heaps of countryside walks and great local attractions on its doorstep.
Location: Totland, Isle of Wight
Take a seaside break 50s style
Discover this iconic English seaside resort that people have been holidaying at since 1871 when the barrel organs on the pier first whirred into action.
Location: Clacton on Sea, Essex
Blow away the cobwebs along the Northumberland coast
Get your walking boots on, pack a picnic and enjoy fresh air, stunning views and beautiful wildlife along the Northumberland Coast Path.
Location: Creswell, Northumberland
Try Plymouth's Historic Barbican and Sutton Harbour
An essential first port of call, a bustling community of specialist shops, restaurants, and world-class attractions, all in a picturesque harbourside.
Location: Plymouth, Devon
Catch some sun on a royal beach
Queen Victoria chose the Isle of Wight as her favourite holiday destination, and now you can see why with a trip to her private beach.
Location: East Cowes, Isle of Wight
Take a modern day pilgrimage to the Holy Island of Lindisfarne
Skim over the sands and causeway to the Holy Island of Lindisfarne and prepare to enter a world where a wealth of history and stunning views await.
Location: Lindisfarne, Northumberland
Get active on the Isles of Scilly
Don't let Scilly's tranquility fool you – there is a huge range of outdoor activities to keep every member of the family occupied.
Location: Isles of Scilly, Cornwall
Peel away the layers of Dorset’s Jurassic Coast
Trace a history that goes back millions of years as you meander Dorset’s famous Jurassic Coast, England’s first UNESCO Natural World Heritage site.
Location: Dorset
Treat yourself to a stay at boutique bolthole The Cary Arms
Enjoy chic seaside life at ‘the Inn on the beach’ and a warm welcome at boutique hotel The Cary Arms in Babbacombe.
Location: Babbacombe, Devon
Discover the Witterings on a coastal break
Enjoy multi-coloured sailing boats, fudge shops and cosy pubs on a visit to The Witterings.
Location: Witterings, West Sussex
Sharks, seals and summer fun in Great Yarmouth
From terrifying monsters of the deep to sandcastles and donkey rides, Great Yarmouth’s Golden Mile has it all.
Location: Great Yarmouth, Norfolk
Comb Sussex’s thriving coastline for fossils and marine life
A Marine Conservation Area, this unspoilt coastline at the foot of the South Downs National Park offers thriving marine life and fossils galore.
Location: Eastbourne, East Sussex
Discover spectacular Lundy Island
A rare experience is to be found on the beautiful and wild Lundy Island just 12 miles off the North Devon Coast in the Atlantic Ocean.
Location: Lundy, Devon
Building sandcastles and rock-pooling at Seaburn beach
Experience the natural beauty, dramatic sky and bracing sea air, and indulge in fish and chips and ice-creams from the cafes along the seafront.
Location: Sunderland, Tyne and Wear
Go glamping in a gypsy cabin this summer
Experience a summer holiday with a difference this year by staying in a quirky Gypsy Cabin style pod just 15 minutes away from Whitby.
Location: Robin Hood's Bay, North Yorkshire
Have a retro holiday at Butlins
At Butlins in Skegness you can have a good ol’ fashioned seaside holiday with a Blue Flag sandy beach on your doorstep.
Location: Skegness, Lincolnshire
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