A Grand Tour of Fish, Chips, and Mild Peril

There is something uniquely British about the seaside. Nowhere else in the world do people flock towards the coastline en masse, determined to “make the most of it”, even as the rain lashes sideways, the wind rips chips from their hands, and the sea temperature could technically be classified as a mild form of hypothermia. This is the time of year when many start to venture out and look at where to spend their two weeks in the sun, so thought it an appropriate time to give our twist to it.

But the UK’s seaside towns are sacred. Each one has its own personality, a distinct charm that can range anywhere from wholesome family fun to full-throttle fever dream. Some offer nostalgic simplicity, others neon chaos, and a few exist in a strange, existential limbo, unsure whether they’re a charming Victorian resort or an abandoned set from a low-budget crime drama.

But regardless of whether you’re after arcade thrills, stunning coastal views, or just a truly excellent portion of fish and chips, there’s a seaside town for everyone. So let’s take a grand tour of Britain’s finest (and most baffling) coastal destinations.

Scarborough – The Grand Old Dame of the Yorkshire Coast

Scarborough is what every British seaside town aspires to be. It has history, charm, two beaches for the price of one, and the kind of stunning coastal scenery that makes you forgive the fact that you’re eating an ice cream in a thick winter coat.

Divided into North Bay and South Bay, Scarborough lets you choose between classic seaside entertainment and peaceful coastal walks. South Bay is where the action is—fish and chip shops, amusements, and the Grand Hotel standing proudly like a monarch overlooking the chaos below. But head to North Bay, and you’ll find a quieter, more scenic escape, complete with a stunning coastal castle ruin that looks impressive in all weather conditions, but especially when viewed dramatically from a cliff edge.

Throw in a miniature railway, an actual theatre, and some of the finest seafood in Yorkshire, and you’ve got a town that proves the British seaside doesn’t always have to be a bit tragic.

Bridlington – The Friendliest Seaside Town You’ll Ever Visit

Bridlington is the underrated gem of the Yorkshire coast, quietly offering up one of the best traditional seaside experiences in Britain, while Scarborough and Whitby fight over who’s more famous.

Bridlington doesn’t need neon lights or over-the-top attractions—it has a proper sandy beach, a beautiful harbour, and an atmosphere so genuinely friendly that you wonder if you’ve accidentally wandered into a different decade. It’s wholesome, in the best possible way.

Of course, it still delivers on all the necessary seaside essentials—there are plenty of fish and chip shops, a charming fairground, and a beach where you can properly paddle without stepping on a jagged rock and questioning your life choices. Plus, it has one of the best old-school promenades in the country, perfect for a classic stroll with a 99 Flake and a mild sunburn.

Bridlington doesn’t try too hard, because it doesn’t need to. It just gets it right. Just remember, when it says to not feed the seagulls, really don’t feed them or you may live to regret it!

Skegness – The Slot Machine Capital of the East Coast

Skegness—or Skegvegas, as it’s affectionately known—is a place where the bright lights of amusement arcades compete with the blinding glare of pasty British legs in July. It is a town that fully embraces the classic seaside chaos, offering everything from fish and chips consumed in gale-force winds to 2p machines that somehow swallow entire paychecks. The beach is vast and actually quite decent, but good luck keeping your chips for longer than three seconds before a seagull executes a precision airstrike.

No mention of Skegness would be complete without acknowledging its mighty neighbour, Butlins in Ingoldmells, the original home of forced family fun and Redcoat-led singalongs. Whether you’re a lifelong Butlins devotee or still haunted by childhood memories of the entertainment team dragging you into a conga line, it remains an iconic part of the Skeggy experience. Love it or fear it, Skegness wouldn’t be the same without it.

Whitby – For People Who Like Their Seaside With a Side of Gothic Drama

Whitby is what happens when a seaside town fully embraces its spooky side. Sure, it has all the classic British coastal essentials—a beautiful harbour, excellent fish and chips, and a beach that actually looks inviting—but it also leans hard into its Dracula connections, which makes it at least 70% cooler than anywhere else on the coast.

Climb the 199 steps to the ruins of Whitby Abbey, and you’ll be treated to one of the most dramatic coastal views in Britain, best enjoyed while pretending to be in a gothic novel. Wander through the old streets, and you’ll find quaint independent shops selling handcrafted jewellery, local fudge, and an alarming number of capes.

And the fish and chips here? Unrivalled. Forget the tourist traps—find a quiet bench, listen to the sound of the waves, and enjoy a portion so good it might just bring a tear to your eye.

Filey – Scarborough’s Quieter, More Sensible Sibling

If Scarborough is the big, bustling older sibling, then Filey is the calmer, more refined one, sitting on the Yorkshire coast and minding its own business. It doesn’t shout for attention, doesn’t need to impress anyone—it just quietly offers one of the best beaches in the UK and assumes you’ll figure it out eventually.

This is where you go when you love the seaside but don’t want to fight for a parking space. There are no neon lights or rollercoasters—just golden sands, stunning cliffs, and a promenade that feels like it was designed purely for peaceful afternoon strolls with an ice cream in hand. The waves roll in gently, the air smells faintly of salt, and the biggest drama you’ll face is whether to have cod or haddock.

If Scarborough is the life of the party, Filey is the sensible one who turns up for an hour, has a cup of tea, and then heads home before things get rowdy. And frankly, sometimes that’s exactly what you need.

Great Yarmouth – The Seaside That Never Sleeps (Mostly Because of the Noise)

Great Yarmouth is where you go when you want your seaside experience to be turned up to full volume. It doesn’t do things by halves. If Blackpool is the king of excess, Great Yarmouth is its enthusiastic cousin, delivering arcades, amusements, and seafront entertainment in industrial quantities.

There’s a proper seaside atmosphere here, the kind where you can still find endless sticks of rock, postcards with questionable humour, and a full English breakfast being served at 4 pm because why not?. There’s also a dedicated circus, a racecourse, and a proper old-school pier, meaning you could quite easily spend an entire weekend here without ever running out of things to do.

The beach is vast, the chips are hot and crispy, and the general vibe is “British holiday fun” meets “a slight fear you might lose your wallet in an arcade.”

A true classic.

Southwold – The Seaside for People Who Say “Weekend” as a Verb

Southwold is what happens when a seaside town is aggressively curated for people who own at least one expensive cardigan. It is charming, it is picturesque, and it is where Londoners escape to when Brighton is too crowded, but they still need to feel superior to the rest of us.

It is beautiful, with its colourful beach huts, pretty streets, and a pier that is somehow both retro and modern. But unlike some of the more chaotic seaside resorts, Southwold is calm, composed, and the kind of place where it somehow feels inappropriate to eat chips straight from the paper.

Expect artisan coffee, independent bookshops, and a distinct lack of 2p slot machines. Also expect to leave thinking, “I should probably buy a property here, but I suspect I’d need to sell a kidney first.”

Llandudno – Wales’ Most Elegant Seaside Resort (With Bonus Goats)

If seaside towns had class rankings, Llandudno would be sitting somewhere at the top, quietly sipping a well-made cup of tea and watching the rest of us battle seagulls for chips.

Llandudno is graceful, filled with wide boulevards, Victorian architecture, and a stunning seafront that somehow always looks like it’s been plucked straight from a postcard. The town is surrounded by dramatic scenery, including the Great Orme, a limestone headland that offers panoramic views and is also home to a rogue herd of wild Kashmiri goats.

Yes. Goats.

These unexpected local celebrities have been known to wander into the town itself, staring at tourists with the deadpan confidence of creatures who know they own the place. Llandudno is worth visiting for the scenery alone, but the possibility of a casual goat encounter makes it even better.

Tenby – Wales’ Answer to the Amalfi Coast (Sort Of, If You Squint)

If someone took a picture of Tenby and told you it was a quaint little fishing village in Italy, you might believe them—until you notice the Union Jack napkins at the nearest chippy and realise the sea is about 10 degrees too cold for the Mediterranean.

But honestly? It doesn’t matter.

Tenby is stunning, with pastel-coloured houses, crystal-clear waters, and a proper medieval wall thrown in for good measure. The harbour looks like something from a painting, the beaches are pristine, and the town has an almost storybook quality, like somewhere you’d end up in a dream about the perfect seaside holiday.

It is, in every way, a reminder that Wales doesn’t get nearly enough credit for its beaches.

Margate – Seaside Nostalgia With a Side of Hipster

Margate has undergone something of a transformation. It used to be a classic old-school seaside town, complete with donkey rides, candyfloss, and the slightly desperate energy of a place that peaked in the 1960s.

Then, at some point, the hipsters arrived.

Now, Margate is a fascinating mix of past and present, where you can play vintage arcade games at Dreamland, buy an ironic postcard from an independent shop that also sells vegan candles, and still find a solid chippy that doesn’t charge £15 for a portion of chips “reimagined” with artisanal sea salt flakes.

It’s weird, but in a good way.

If Brighton is the seaside town for Londoners who want to let loose, Margate is for those who want to feel like they’ve discovered something obscure, even though everyone else has already been there.

The British Seaside: A Strange, Wonderful Tradition

There is nothing quite like a British seaside town. They range from elegant to chaotic, from peaceful retreats to neon-lit circuses, and from historical landmarks to places where it feels like time has stopped entirely.

But they all share something in common: a sense of nostalgia, the ever-present smell of vinegar, and the understanding that, no matter the weather, you will buy an ice cream and pretend not to be cold.

Whether it’s the stunning views of Whitby, the old-school charm of Bridlington, the full-throttle chaos of Blackpool, or the windswept mystery of Llandudno’s goats, the UK’s seaside towns offer something for everyone.

So grab your bucket and spade. Brace yourself for the wind. And prepare for another perfectly imperfect British seaside adventure.