Get us in your inbox

Search
St Ives seaside
Photograph: Pajor Pawel / Shutterstock.com

These are the best seaside towns in the UK, according to the Times

A Cornish resort popular with ‘bohemian types’ came out on top

Amy Houghton
Written by
Amy Houghton
Advertising

It might be hard to tell from the dismal weather right now, but it’s currently summer in the UK, which is usually the time everyone flocks to the country’s seaside resorts. But why let the grey clouds stop you from enjoying fish and chips on the promenade and ice cream on the sand? 

Beyond the beaches, our best seaside resorts have lively indoor amusement parks, award-winning restaurants and world famous art galleries to enjoy while the sun stays hidden. And now the Times has revealed its ranking of the 20 best seaside towns in Britain to help you plan a coastal day out, come rain or shine. 

Famous for attracting ‘artists, surfers and bohemian types’, St Ives was crowned number one on the list. The Cornish town can get incredibly busy, but the Times says that it is ‘nonetheless beautiful and virtually impossible to bypass for anyone journeying this far west.’ Besides its dreamy turquoise waters, St Ives is home to the Tate St Ives gallery and the Barbara Hepworth Museum and Sculpture Garden. 

Following at number two was Troon in South Ayrshire, Scotland, which is best known for its affluent golfing scene. Overlooking the Isle of Arran, it has two long golden beaches – Troon beach stretching south and Barassie beach towards the north. In third place was Brighton thanks to its ‘colourful Georgian houses, excellent pier and long shingle beach.’

Next up was Ilfracombe in Devon, favoured by tourists for its gorgeous coastal views, pastel-coloured houses, culinary prowess and the huge (and controversial) Damien Hirst statue of a pregnant woman overlooking the town. Completing the top five was Margate in Kent. With a recent starring role in Sam Mendes’s ‘Empire of Light’ and home to Time Out’s official coolest neighbourhood in the UK, Cliftonville, Margate and its seaside amusement park Dreamland is a true up-and-comer. 

Here is the full list of Britain’s best coastal towns, according to the Times

  1. St Ives, Cornwall
  2. Troon, South Ayrshire
  3. Brighton, East Sussex
  4. Ilfracombe, Devon
  5. Margate, Kent
  6. Lyme Regis, Dorset
  7. Tynemouth, Tyne and Wear
  8. Tobermory, Isle of Mull
  9. Llandudno, Conwy
  10. Portrush, County Antrim
  11. St Andrews, Fife
  12. Berwick-upon-Tweed, Northumberland
  13. Tenby, Pembrokeshire
  14. Lymington, Hampshire
  15. Dungeness, Kent
  16. Whitby, Yorkshire
  17. Portpartrick, Dumfries and Galloway
  18. Whitstable, Kent
  19. Exmouth, Devon
  20. Fishguard, Pembrokeshire

ICYMI: these are the best fish and chips shops in the UK, according to the Times.

Stay in the loop: sign up to our free Time Out UK newsletter for the latest UK news and the best stuff happening across the country. 

You may also like
You may also like
Advertising