England's best seaside towns and beaches
Plan your seaside break for the upcoming easter bank holiday with our expertly curated itineraries exploring some of England’s best coastal getaways. England’s coastline is packed with surprises, from dramatic cliffs and remote nature reserves to festivals and heritage sites. Soak up the bright lights of Blackpool, uncover the elegance of Southport, tick off Cornwall’s iconic surf spots and visit iconic seaside towns near London. Discover some of the UK’s best beaches with our guides to the English coast.
Discover the North West Coast
Explore the coast with Greg Rutherford
We’ve teamed up with Olympic Champion Greg Rutherford and Trip Advisor to highlight some of the best places to visit along the North West Coast, from having a ball in Blackpool to creating lasting memories whilst exploring serene beaches.
More coastal break itineraries
Find beaches near London
In the spotlight: Newquay
Experience the thrill of Newquay, Cornwall’s surfing capital. Hit the waves at Fistral Beach, one of England’s most iconic surf spots, or unwind at the town’s relaxed beach bars and cafes.
Useful coastal resources
England’s Coast is an easy-to-use travel website that helps you discover, plan and book memorable trips to England’s beautiful seaside destinations.
Around 2,700 miles long, The King Charles III England Coast Path is a new National Trail that, once complete, will be an almost continuous walking route around the entire English coastline, linking beaches, cliffs, harbours and seaside towns into one of the world’s longest managed coastal walks.
England’s diverse coastline is home to many different habitats. Discover more about them with the Wildlife Trust, along with information on how you can help protect these special places for future generations.
Historic England’s Seaside Stories invites you to share photos, memories and information about cherished historic coastal places as part of the Missing Pieces project, helping to build a richer picture of England’s seaside heritage.
The National Trust cares for more than 890 miles of the UK’s coastline, inviting you to explore sandy beaches, dramatic cliffs and scenic seaside walks with plenty of ideas for days out along the shore.
HM Coastguard is the UK’s national maritime emergency service - offering 24/7 help to those in distress around our coastline or at sea, 365 days a year. Explore their helpful tips on coastal safety.
FAQs
There are hundreds of coastal walks across England, including the 630-mile South West Coast Path, from Poole in Dorset to Minehead in Somerset. One of the most unforgettable coastline walks, however, is the ancient Pilgrim’s Way, a three-mile crossing from mainland Northumberland to the Holy Island of Lindisfarne. What makes this walk so special is that it is only possible during times of low tide, which means it essential to only make the crossing when it is safe to do so. For more beach walk inspiration, check out the National Trust and the King Charles III England Coast Path websites.
Whilst there’s not many better ways to spend a day on England’s coast than walking your dog on the beach, it is important to remember that not all of the beaches in the country are dog-friendly all year-round.
Some of the best beaches for dogs in the country are on the southwest coast. Top dog-friendly beaches in Cornwall include Mexico Towans Beach in Hayle and Harlyn Bay Beach near Padstow. Whilst the best beaches suitable for dogs in Devon include Saunton Sands in Saunton and Ness Cove Beach near Shaldon.
Elsewhere in the country, Holkham Beach in Norfolk is a great place to take your four-legged friends, and Bamburgh Castle Beach in Northumberland is a favourite for dog walkers.
There are so many great beaches in Cornwall. Places like Fistral Beach and Watergate Bay in Newquay are particularly popular but often crowded in peak season, but luckily there are plenty of lesser-known beaches and coastal areas to explore.
The beaches in and around Porthleven on Cornwall’s south west coast are great example. Much of the coastline here is part of Cornwall’s National Landscape, including the fine white sands of Praa Beach.
Elsewhere in Cornwall, Coverack Beach, Kennack Sands Beach, and Mullion and Polurrian Cove in The Lizard Peninsula are all incredible beaches waiting to be explored.
The twin villages of Cawsand and Kingsand are picture-perfect. In the Rame Peninsula, the golden sands of Whitsand Bay and Tregonhawke Beach are breathtaking, and a visit to Rame Head is a must. Make time to discover the historic maritime village of Charlestown, which you might recognise from Poldark, Doctor Who, or Alice in Wonderland.
England is blessed with so many coastal towns and seaside resorts. If you’re wanting a classic English seaside experience, you can’t go wrong with a visit to Blackpool, Skegness in Lincolnshire, or Weymouth in Dorset.
If you’re after a coastal break full of culture and character, then look no further than Whitby in North Yorkshire, Brighton, Hastings in East Sussex, Southport in the Liverpool City Region, Southwold in Suffolk, or Madonna’s personal favourite – Margate.
Some hidden gems on England’s coast include Seahouses in Northumberland, Dungeness in Kent, Formby in the Liverpool City Region, West Mersea in Essex, Salcombe in Devon, Saltburn-by-the-Sea in North Yorkshire and Grange-over-Sands in Cumbria.