Oh I do like to be beside the seaside…

Sometimes there is nothing better than a classic British seaside holiday and we are so lucky in the UK to have such a beautiful coastline.

Spending a day on the beach, having ice cream in the dunes or surfing in the sea, whatever your interests are there is something to keep the whole family entertained, even the dog too. However, I don’t know about you, but I don’t want a traditional seaside town, I’m looking for cute places to visit, have cocktails overlooking the sea, and treat myself in local boutiques.

At the moment traveling abroad may not be on the cards so why not explore some of the quaint seaside towns that may be just around the corner from you.

Use the map below to see some of my favourite seaside towns in the UK and pick your next adventure.

The best seaside towns for cocktails and dinners out

• Brighton – Rockwater Hove, The Ginger Pig, Food for Friends
• Broadstairs – Botany Bay Hotel, Wyatt & Jones and Stark
• Cowes – The Coast Bar and Dining Room, The Harbour Kitchen and The Little Gloster
• Fowey – Havener’s, Fowey Harbour Hotel and The Old Quay House
• North Berwick – The Puffin, The Rocketeer and Drift Cafe
• Portrush – Koko’s, Babushka Kitchen Cafe and The Mermaid Kitchen and Bar
• Salcombe – Salcombe Harbour Hotel, Salcombe Distillery and Bar and The Ferry Inn
• Sandbanks – Rick Stein, The Sandbanks Hotel and The Pig on the Beach (Studland)
• Southwold – The Swan, The Sail Loft and Enzo’s Pizzeria
• St Ives – Porthmeor beach cafe, Blas Burgerworks and The Hub

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The most picturesque seaside towns

• Bamburgh
• Blakeney
• Boscastle
• Brighton
• Clovelly
• Deal
• Mousehole
• Pittenweem
• Portmeirion
• Portree
• Robin Hoods Bay
• Staithes
• Tobermory
• Whitby

The best all year round dog friendly beaches

• Aberdyfi
• Abersoch
• Ballycastle
• Bamburgh
• Broadstairs
• New Quay
• North Berwick
• Padstow
• Portrush
• Sandbanks
• Shaldon
• Southwold
• Wells-next-the-sea

The best seaside towns for a weekend away

• Brighton
• Cowes
• Fowey
• Ilfracombe
• Lyme Regis
• Padstow
• Portmeirion
• Portree
• Robin Hoods Bay
• Salcombe
• Southwold
• St Ives
• Tenby
• Whitstable

The best child friendly seaside towns

• Bamburgh
• Cromer
• Ilfracombe
• Newcastle, Northern Ireland
• North Berwick
• Padstow
• St ives
• Shaldon
• Southwold
• St ives
• Tenby
• Wells-next-the-sea

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The best seaside towns for wildlife boat trips

• Aberaeron
• Anstruther
• Ballycastle
• Blakeney
• Boscastle
• Ilfracombe
• New quay
• Plockton
• Portstewart
• Tenby

The best seaside towns for water sports

• Abersoch
• Ballycastle
• Broadstairs
• Cromer
• Polzeath and Rock
• St Ives

For more information on some of the seasides featured, check out the blogs: A weekend by the sea, A mini guide to Devon, A mini guide to Dorset, A mini guide to Cornwall, Exploring the Seaside town of Southwold, A coastal staycation in Kent.