Chalk cliffs topped with grass and white houses and flanked by light blue sea in the Isle of Wight

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.

6 Experience Results

View results as:

 

Explore the bustling harbour at Maryport

Watch brightly-coloured trawlers unload the days’ catch, enjoy a bracing walk or coastal cycle, sample locally caught fish or go to a festival.

Location: Maryport, Cumbria

 

Go rugged and budget in Cornwall

Newly renovated, situated on the rugged cornish coast and cheap as chips.

Location: Boscastle, Cornwall

 

Discover the quirky side of Robin Hood’s Bay

Enjoy a traditional seaside break with a twist at this old smuggling and fishing village on the North York Moors National Park coast.

Location: Robin Hood's Bay, Whitby

 

Discover why artists and chefs alike love Hastings’ fishing fleet

Explore East Sussex’s maritime heritage on Hastings Stade, home to fishermen for over 1000 years, inspiration to J. M. W. Turner and Rick Stein.

Location: Hastings, East Sussex

 

Mix heritage with designer chic by the sea in Portsmouth

Treat yourself to a waterfront break where you can delve into history while still enjoying a spot of designer retail therapy.

Location: Portsmouth, Hampshire

 

Romantic weekend breaks in Robin Hood’s Bay

"How lovely darling, you’ve booked us a romantic summer break by the sea. Hang on, what do you mean, it’s a pigsty?"

Location: Robin Hood's Bay, North Yorkshire

VisitEngland would like to invite you to take part in a short survey about our website, it should take no more than a couple of minutes.

Go to the survey

To add items to favourites …

… you need to be logged in.

If you already have an account, log in.

Or register a

Access your account

Enter your e-mail address or username.
Enter the password that accompanies your e-mail.
Forgot your password? Recover your account
Don't have an account? Register an account