As the weather heats up, you might start thinking about your next trip. And no, you don’t have to spend thousands on a trip abroad to enjoy a seaside break when we’ve got some beautiful spots right here in the UK.
Tenby in Pembrokeshire is a picturesque medieval town, with four beautiful beaches on its doorstep. And don’t just take our word for it – Tenby was voted one of the top spots in the Which? annual seaside survey, scoring a full five stars for its beaches.
In October 1953, Welsh poet Dylan Thomas delivered a public reading of one of his famous works, Under Milk Wood, in the seaside town of Tenby. The venue, called The Salad Bowl, is no longer there, but a blue plaque commemorates the occasion, all the more poignant in hindsight, given Thomas died a few weeks later after the reading.
But a slice of history is not the only attraction on offer if a seaside break is on the cards. Today, Tenby is best-described as bustling, with plenty of attractive beaches, charming cafes and a number of outstanding restaurants and pubs to choose from – and it helps that it’s extremely dog-friendly.
The town is definitely worth a visit just to see the distinctively colourful houses along the harbour front, with ample opportunities to get that postcard perfect picture. Just ask American actor Forest Whitaker, who back in 2016 while filming in the UK, delighted fans by posting pictures of himself in Wales, notably in Tenby too.
And who could blame him for taking in the sights of Tenby, particularly with its glorious beaches. The first to visit is Harbour beach – a sandy spot next to the harbour wall. It might be small, but it’s perfectly formed – surrounded by Tenby’s famous pastel-coloured buildings and with plenty of boats bobbing nearby. If you wanted a bit of fun on the water, you could even hire one of these boats and take a trip to the nearby Caldey Island.
If you wanted a bit more space, the biggest of the four beaches is South Beach, with 2km of sand to enjoy. You’ll likely find it a little less busy than North Beach – but the latter is still well worth a visit, as it’s dotted with rock pools and surrounded by imposing cliffs. Finally, the fourth spot to hit up is Castle Beach. It’s a short walk from town, but be warned: this beach can disappear entirely at high tide, so plan accordingly.
It’s clear there’s plenty to enjoy in Tenby – so where might you want to stay around there? Just over seven miles away from the town is the Best Western Lamphey Court Hotel & Spa – a four-star hotel situated in a stunning restored Georgian mansion. This is really how to enjoy a holiday in style, complete with spa facilities, beautiful grounds and the ability to bring furry friends for an extra £10 per night.
Prices will greatly vary depending on when you’re booking for and how far in advance you’re doing so, but in good news, children under 12 stay free when sharing a family room with two paying adults. For reference, the price of a two night stay over a weekend in August for two adults and two children under 12 starts from £349.20.
Reviews on Booking.com gives the hotel an overall score of 7.8, with one calling it the “perfect getaway for a restful break”, while another said it was a “beautiful building and spa”. However, one review did note that “some older fittings could do with updating”.
If you wanted to stay in Tenby itself, Cobra House on Airbnb is a brilliant option, with a 4.88 star rating out of 195 reviews. It takes over the entire loft and is light and breezy, with space for five guests. “We loved our stay. Everything about it was perfection. The apartment was in the most amazing location, right in the centre of Tenby, 60 second walk to the beach,” one review enthused. Although it’s worth knowing another reviewer said “the flat isn’t little kid friendly”, so if you have really little ones you might want to rethink. The guide price for Cobra House is £170 a night.
Alternatively, if you were looking for your own space but didn’t want to be in the heart of town, look to Fig Tree Cottage on Airbnb. With a guide price of £130 a night, this Scandi-style wooden cottage sleeps four guests and has a 4.91 rating out of 55 reviews. It’s just a 10 minute drive from Tenby, but feels a lot more secluded than the hustle and bustle of town – and even has its own hot tub.
“Very nice property, well appointed and set in beautiful surroundings,” one happy review of Fig Tree Cottage reads – and lots of people seem to have loved waking up to the plethora of animals milling around the house the house. However, some did note that the twin beds were “uncomfortable with very flat pillows” – so you might want to bring your own pillows if you book in here.