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As we gear up for the early May bank holiday, it finally feels like warm weather is here to stay. Parts of the UK will see temperatures of up to 25C on Friday May and 20C on Saturday. And you know what that calls for? A trip to the seaside, that’s what.
Last week, we published a brand new list of the best seaside towns in the UK to visit this year. The chosen spots range from old-school resorts full of arcades and flashing lights to tiny villages with unspoiled sands and flourishing wildlife.
We’ve tried to cover as much of the UK coastline as we could and Wales, Scotland, England and Northern Ireland are all accounted for. To make it easier for you to see exactly which of our top-rated coastal towns are within easy reach of wherever you live, we’ve put them all in a handy map. Take a look.
Read more about Time Out’s best seaside towns in the UK here.
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The best seaside towns in the UK, mapped
The number one spot went to the village of Saundersfoot on the southwest coast of Wales. A total of three Welsh towns made it onto the list. Less than an hour’s drive up from Saundersfoot you’ll find Cardigan, with landed in fifth place thanks to its ‘brilliant cultural and culinary scene’. Then further north, on the edge of Eryri (Snowdonia) National Park, is Porthmadog which we put in 13th place for its ‘rugged drama and alternative spirit’.
As you can see, the only town on England’s northwest coast that made the ranking was Blackpool. We included it in our roundup for its endless amount of seaside entertainment, from Blackpool Tower to the Pleasure Beach to the UK’s only circus museum.
A significant chunk of our favourite seaside towns can be found in the southeast. Artsy sister towns Hastings and St Leonards claimed second place, retro resort Southsea came in third place and cool and colourful Folkestone claimed fourth place.
In at number eight was Cowes on the Isle of Wight for its collection of indie shops, grand promenade, sandy beach and warmer than average temperatures. Brighton, with its glossy seafront and standout pubs took 11th place while ‘quainter-than-quaint’ Whitstable ranked 14th. We put Lymington in Hampshire in 15th for its proximity to the idyllic New Forest, its vibey portside pubs and annual award-winning seafood festival.
Now, we head northeast. Two Norfolk towns got their flowers on our roundup. Family friendly and ‘mellow’ Wells-next-to-the-Sea ranked 10th while Great Yarmouth landed in 16th place thanks to its ‘old-school greatness’, huge arsenal of attractions and its newly refurbished pier.
Further north, still, Alnmouth in Northumberland was our sixth best seaside town in the UK. The tiny chocolate box village is fronted by a sprawling golden beach and is a thriving spot for wildlife such as grey seals and seabirds. Up in Scotland, Oban came in 9th place with its surprisingly bustling atmosphere, off-the-charts seafood and fine cluster of pubs. And, over in Northern Ireland, the famous golf town of Portrush ranked seventh. We included it for its three spectacular beaches, its dramatic views over the Atlantic and its array of indie stores, lively bars and artsy venues.
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