In a recent travel survey conducted by Which?, over 5,000 participants rated the best and worst seaside towns in the UK for 2024.
The survey asked respondents to evaluate 126 towns and villages, where the destinations were star-rated according to 10 categories: hotel prices, beaches, value for money, seafront/pier, food and drink, tourist attractions, scenery, shopping, parking and peace and quiet.
The results were compiled to give each destination an overall customer score as a percentage.
For the fourth consecutive year Bamburgh, a quaint village in Northumberland with a population of around 400 people, was crowned the best seaside town in the UK, beating more than 120 other UK towns and villages.
The top five for 2024 also included Portmeirion, St Andrews, Tynemouth and St Davids, all of which scored in the eighties and received four or five stars in most categories.
In comparison, the bottom five towns were Skegness, Bognor Regis, Burnham-on-Sea, Mablethorpe and Bangor in Gwynedd, which languished at the very bottom with an overall score of just 42 per cent.
The UK’s Best Seaside Town or Village
Bamburgh achieved an outstanding overall destination score of 86%, with perfect five-star ratings for its beach, seafront, scenery, tourist attractions, and peace and quiet.
Visitors frequently praised the panoramic views of Bamburgh castle, the village’s “wild, beautiful, beach”, as well as its extensive array of dining options in the tiny village.
Tynemouth, also impressed with an overall score of 81 percent. It received an impressive run of five star ratings for its beaches and scenery, and four stars for food and drink.
Respondents highlighted the “characterful” and “lively” atmosphere, particularly singling out the castle, priory, and weekend market as some of their favourite attractions.
Wales’ Best Seaside Town
Portmeirion, a unique tourist village in North Wales, secured second place. Known for its white, ochre, and pastel-coloured buildings set against a backdrop of trees and hills, this “enchanting Italianate style village” is one of the UK’s most unusual holiday destinations.
Designed by Welsh architect Sir Clough Williams-Ellis, Portmeirion draws inspiration from Italian towns like Portofino.
Capturing the allure of a Mediterranean getaway, visitors gave the town high marks for its architecture, scenery, seafront and tourist attractions.
Another favourite which landed itself in the top five towns was St Davids, the smallest city in Britain. Located in Pembrokeshire, Wales, and named after patron saint, Saint David, this cathedral city is renowned for its magnificent coastal scenery in Pembrokeshire.
Despite lacking a pier or beach, St Davids scored highly for its scenery, tourist attractions, food and drink options, and value of money.
Scotland’s Best Seaside Town
St Andrews in Fife earned an excellent score of 82%. Its two-mile stretch of beach, located 15 minutes from the town centre, received five stars, as did its tourist attractions and scenery.
Some of the key takeaways for visitors were exploring the town’s cobbled streets, discovering ice-cream parlours, bistros and artisanal food shops, knitwear boutiques, and second-hand bookshops. In comparison to the other top seaside towns, it also got four stars for shopping.
Let’s also not forget that this area is also home to one of the UK’s top universities: St Andrews.
Northern Ireland’s Best Seaside Town
Portstewart in Londonderry/Derry was the highest-rated town in Northern Ireland, scoring 76% overall.
It received five stars for its two-mile-long beach and scenic views. Popular with both families and surfers, Portstewart allows cars to park directly on the beach for convenient access.
The town’s half-timbered, pedestrianised streets, lined with small shops, were also a hit with one visitor commenting on its “lovely feel” according to Which?.
In summary, these five UK destinations are highly recommended. But it’s best to check this out for yourself. Be sure to also explore some of the other fantastic locations highlighted in the survey as well!