Few things beat a sea view. There’s just something about seeing that endless blanket of deep blue and hearing the lapping waves that just calms the senses. It’s no surprise that coastal vistas are one of the top things people look for when they’re booking their next trip away. And, being the tiny island it is, the UK is packed with them.
But where can you find the most beautiful British sea views of them all? Holiday park company Haven joined forces with OnePoll.com to quiz 2,000 Brits on their favourite sea views in the UK. From that data, it concluded that the finest seaside views in the UK belong to St Ives in Cornwall.
You can soak up sea views from almost anywhere in the Cornish town, but you’ll find the it’s best vantage points on its gorgeous surrounding bays. There’s Porthmeor Beach, a favourite among local surfers, Porthminster Beach which offers views towards Godrevy Lighthouse, and Porthgwidden Beach, a smaller cove facing the English Channel. And if you want to stay somewhere in St Ives with postcard worthy panoramas, find it on our lists of Cornwall’s best hotels and best Airbnbs.
There’s far more than just views in St Ives, though. It’s home to the Tate gallery’s western outpost, Barbara Hepworth’s house and sculpture garden and the Porthminster Gallery, plus a host of great watering holes, like the Sloop Inn and The Castle Inn.
Eight out of 10 respondents in Haven’s study said that accommodation with a sea view is important to them and 35 percent said it was essential. More than half of respondents added that the sea gives them an extra source of relaxation and boosts their mental health. Over two thirds of people also agreed that the UK’s coastal views rival those abroad.
Robin Hood’s Bay in North Yorkshire emerged as Britain’s second best place for seaside views and Padstow was the people’s third favourite. Simon Palethorpe, the CEO at Haven, said the study ‘goes to prove you don't need to go far from home to get picture postcard views and scenery’.
The top 30 UK coastal views, according to OnePoll.com
- St Ives, Cornwall
- Robin Hood’s Bay, North Yorkshire
- Padstow, Cornwall
- Portree, Isle of Skye
- Tenby, Pembrokeshire
- Poole, Dorset
- Ilfracombe, North Devon
- Portmeirion, Gwynedd
- Shanklin, Isle of Wight
- South Downs
- Salcombe, Devon
- Weymouth, Dorset
- Brighton, East Sussex
- Llandudno, Conwy
- Bournemouth, Dorset
- Hayle, Cornwall
- Filey, North Yorkshire
- Porthmadog, Gwynedd
- Southwold, Suffolk
- Lydstep, Pembrokeshire
- Stromness, Orkney
- Berwick, North East
- Great Yarmouth beach
- Lochinver, Sutherland
- Tynemouth, Tyne & Wear
- Hastings, East Sussex
- Whitstable, Kent
- Plockton, Ross and Cromarty
- Aberystwyth, Ceredigion
- Pwhelli, North Wales
Another recent study named Britain’s top 10 views overall. See which vistas came out on top here. And St Ives is more than just a pretty view: here are the best things to do in the Cornish town.
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