Seaside town named the best in the UK for the fourth year in a row – with unspoiled beaches and ‘dramatic’ castle
THE UK’s best seaside town has been revealed – and it’s the same place that won the last three years in a row.
The annual Which? ranking of seaside towns is created every year, with thousands of people surveyed about their experiences of UK beach holidays over the last year.
Those people are asked to provide their opinions on a range of criteria, ranging from the quality of the beaches, the food and drink options, tourist attractions and value for money.
Once again, Bamburgh in Northumberland came top of the pile, making it four years in a row that the north east town has claimed the title.
The survey covered all four nations, with Portmeirion, Gwynedd in second place, St Andrews, Fife in third place and Portstewart, Derry/Londonderry, the favourite Northern Irish resort, also making the top 20.
This year’s survey also saw many lesser-known destinations celebrated and beating better-regarded destinations in the rankings.
However, none were able to knock Bamburgh off its perch, with the Northumbrian town claiming top spot yet again.
The small town is loved by visitors for its sandy beach that’s described as both “wild” and “beautiful” and backed by its imposing castle.
It received an impressive overall destination score of 86 per cent, once all the criteria were considered.
Visitors were particularly impressed by the “magnificent” and “totally unspoiled” beach, as well as by the “dramatic” views of the castle, which one visitor enthused “is probably the most impressive in the British Isles”.
It’s no surprise that Bamburgh received the full five stars for its beach, seafront, scenery, tourist attractions and peace and quiet.
Visitors also enjoyed exploring the village, which though small, boasts a handful of well-regarded pubs, restaurants and cafes.
Taking second place with a score of 83 per cent was the Italian-inspired Welsh village of Portmeirion.
It too claimed top marks for its “idyllic” scenery, seafront, tourist attractions, and parking and four stars for its beaches.
Those looking to extend their trip to the “beautiful” town can choose from a range of accommodation options including self-catering cottages and even a castle-style hotel.
In third place was St Andrews, which picked up an overall destination score of 82 per cent.
Full table of the best UK seaside towns
The full table created by Which? of the UK's best seaside towns and their overall customer scores.
- Bamburgh, Northumberland – 86%
- Portmeirion, Gwynedd, Wales – 83%
- St Andrews, Fife, Scotland – 82%
- Tynemouth, Tyne and Wear – 81%
- St Davids, Pembrokeshire, Wales – 80%
- Dartmouth, Devon – 79%
- Rye, East Sussex – 79%
- Southwold, Suffolk – 79%
- Llandudno, Conwy, Wales – 78%
- Swanage, Dorset – 78%
- Aldeburgh, Suffolk – 77%
- Crail, Fife, Scotland – 77%
- Lyme Regis, Dorset – 77%
- Whitby, North Yorkshire – 77%
- Blakeney, Norfolk – 76%
- Criccieth, Gwynedd, Wales – 76%
- Portstewart, Co. Londonderry/Derry, NI – 76%
- Sidmouth, Devon – 76%
- Bally Castle, County Antrim, NI – 75%
- Frinton-on-Sea, Essex – 75%
- Nairn, Highlands, Scotland – 75%
- Sheringham, Norfolk – 75%
- St Mawes, Cornwall – 75%
- Aberaeron, Ceredigion, Wales – 74%
- Beaumaris, Anglesey, Wales – 74%
- Bude, Cornwall – 74%
- Conwy, Conwy, Wales – 74%
- Deal, Kent – 74%
- Lytham St Annes, Lancashire – 74%
- North Berwick, East Lothian, Scotland – 74%
- Robin Hood’s Bay, North Yorkshire – 74%
- Amble, Northumberland – 73%
- Beer, Devon – 73%
- Cromer, Norfolk – 73%
- Dungeness, Kent – 73%
- Falmouth, Cornwall – 73%
- Lymington, Hampshire – 73%
- Lynmouth, Devon – 73%
- Tenby, Pembrokeshire, Wales – 73%
- Whitley Bay, Tyne and Wear – 73%
- Fowey, Cornwall – 72%
- Pittenweem, Fife, Scotland – 72%
- Saltburn-by-the-Sea, North Yorkshire – 72%
- Weymouth, Dorset – 72%
- Aberdovey, Gwynedd, Wales – 71%
- Broadstairs, Kent – 71%
- Oban, Argyll and Bute, Scotland – 71%
- Portpatrick, Dumfries and Galloway, Scotland – 71%
- Seahouses, Northumberland – 71%
- Stonehaven, Aberdeenshire, Scotland – 71%
- Tobermory, Isle of Mull, Scotland – 71%
- Wells-next-the-Sea, Norfolk – 71%
- Exmouth, Devon – 70%
- Filey, North Yorkshire – 70%
- Mevagissey, Cornwall – 70%
- Looe, Cornwall – 69%
- Penarth, Vale of Glamorgan, Wales – 69%
- Saundersfoot, Pembrokeshire, Wales – 69%
- Ullapool, Ross and Cromarty, Scotland – 69%
- Ventnor, Isle of Wight – 69%
- Berwick-upon-Tweed, Northumberland – 68%
- Budleigh Salterton, Devon – 68%
- Clevedon, Somerset – 68%
- Whitstable, Kent – 68%
- Easbourne, East Sussex – 67%
- Grand-over-Sands, Cumbria – 67%
- Shanklin, Isle of Wight – 67%
- Southsea, Hampshire – 67%
- St ives, Cornwall – 67%
- Teignmouth, Devon – 67%
- Barmouth, Gwynedd, Wales – 66%
- Brixham, Devon – 66%
- Portrush, County Antrim, NI – 66%
- West Bay, Devon – 66%
- Dunbar, East Lothian – 65%
- Felixstowe, Suffolk – 65%
- Largs, Ayrshire, Scotland – 65%
- Appledore, Devon – 64%
- Bournemouth, Dorset – 64%
- Padstow, Cornwall – 64%
- Plymouth, Devon – 64%
- Salcombe, Devon – 64%
- Abersoch, Gwynedd, Wales – 63%
- Brighton, East Sussex – 63%
- Hunstanton, Norfolk – 63%
- Porthmadog, Gwynedd, Wales – 63%
- Torquay, Devon – 63%
- Poole, Dorset – 62%
- Scarborough, North Yorkshire – 62%
- Worthing, West Sussex – 62%
- Aberystwyth, Ceredigion, Wales – 61%
- Folkestone, Kent – 61%
- Porthcawl, Bridgend, Wales – 61%
- Swansea, Swansea, Wales – 61%
- Bridlington, East Riding of Yorkshire – 60%
- Minehead, Somerset – 60%
- Penzance, Cornwall – 60%
- Barry Island, Glamorgan, Wales – 59%
- Barton-on-Sea, Hampshire – 59%
- Colwyn Bay, Conwy, Wales – 58%
- Weston-Super-Mare, Somerset – 58%
- Ayr, Ayrshire, Scotland – 57%
- Dawlish, Devon – 57%
- Morecambe, Lancashire – 57%
- New Brighton, Merseyside – 57%
- Newquay, Cornwall – 57%
- Seaton, Devon – 57%
- Fishguard, Pembrokeshire, Wales – 56%
- Herne Bay, Kent – 56%
- Ramsgate, Kent – 56%
- Ilfracombe, Devon – 55%
- Littlehampton, West Sussex – 55%
- Southport, Merseyside – 55%
- Cleethorpes, Lincolnshire – 54%
- Lowestoft, Suffolk – 54%
- Margate, Kent – 53%
- Southend-on-Sea, Essex – 53%
- Fleetwood, Lancashire – 51%
- Great Yarmouth, Norfolk – 51%
- Blackpool, Lancashire – 49%
- Clacton-on-Sea, Essex – 48%
- Skegness, Lincolnshire – 48%
- Bognor Regis, West Sussex – 47%
- Burnham-on-Sea, Somerset – 47%
- Mablethorpe, Lincolnshire – 46%
- Bangor, Gwynedd, Wales – 42%
The Scottish town was described by respondents as “wonderfully scenic” and received five star ratings in a range of categories including tourist attractions, seafront, beaches and scenery, as well as four stars for shopping and food and drink.
Not far from Bamburgh in fourth place was Tynemouth in Tyne and Wear, with a destination score of 81 per cent.
It achieved an impressive run of five star ratings for its beaches and scenery, as well as four stars for food and drink.
Tourists loved their visits to the “characterful” and “lively” town, singling out the castle, priory and weekend market among their recommendations.
St Davids in Pembrokeshire completed the top five, with a total score of 80 per cent.
The Welsh town received a full five stars for its “beautiful ”scenery, and for its tourist attractions, which include its “magnificent” ancient cathedral and the gothic ruins of the Bishop’s Palace.
Close behind, Dartmouth in Devon, Rye in East Sussex, and Southwold in Suffolk all picked up a destination score of 79 per cent.
At the other end of the table, Bangor in Gwynedd took last place with a destination score of 42 per cent, followed by Mablethorpe, Lincolnshire with a score of 46 per cent.
Though they received lower scores than their competitors, travellers nonetheless found plenty to recommend in these seaside resorts.
Multiple visitors remarked on Bangor’s “wonderful pier” and noted that while the town has suffered from shop closures in the town centre, it has some “really good restaurants” and “excellent amenities”.
They also recommended it as a base for exploring the local area, including Snowdonia National Park.
Though some respondents noted that Mablethorpe felt run down in places, it nonetheless drew praise for its “lovely, enormous, clean beach”, with multiple visitors enjoying the traditional atmosphere of the town.
Rory Boland, Editor of Which? Travel, said: “From wild, unspoiled stretches of remote coastline to charming traditional bucket and spade resorts, the UK’s seaside towns offer something for everyone.
“While you may have your own favourite coastal spot, this year’s survey shows that it’s worth looking beyond the most famous resorts this summer, to the lesser-visited hidden gems in every corner of the UK.”
