Best Coastal Areas in England

Top 3 Choices

West Country













Along with many others, we just love the South West of England, particularly by the seaside. The scenery here can be so inspiring and with the Jurassic Coastline adding fascination to what is already a fantastic area, the South West has so very much to recommend it. Add to this cream teas and a huge choice of activities to enjoy from surfing for adrenaline junkies to beach combing for the more sedate, and it's easy to see just what makes the West Country so very appealing.

And we're not the only ones that feel this way. Of the Top 10 Choices for Best Beaches featured in a recent Trip Advisor Traveller's Choice award, half were in the West Country. Those making the top 10 included Woolacombe Beach in Devon, Sandbanks at Poole, Weymouth Beach in Devon, Fistral Beach in Newquay, Cornwall and Porthminster Beach in St Ives, Cornwall. The presence of wonderful golden sandy beaches, quaint fishing villages and seaside destinations, together all help to make the West Country the destination of choice for family holidays and even romantic breaks away.

And if you need any more confirmation, we'd just like to mention the recent blue flag beaches award. In 2013, there were a total of 23 award winning blue flag winning beaches in the South West which means that this part of England strongly outperforms other areas of England when it comes to the number of clean safe beaches available.


Northumberland

In the very north of England lies Northumberland and it is a little known fact that Northumbria is home to a fantastic coastline. What makes this area of England so very special are the golden sandy beaches but also the wonderful historical attractions found along the Northumbria coast. This stretch of the English coastline is adorned with a number of historical castles which add a degree of fascination and mystery to any holiday to this part of Northern England.

Some of the best places along the Northumbrian coastline not to be missed include:
Holy Island and Lindisfarne Castle – the National Trust's Lindisfarne Castle can be reached either by boat or by a tidal causeway (check the times and plan ahead if you are planning on driving). There is something quite soulful about this area of Northumberland and on a visit you will understand just why this place is called

Holy Island and why it was the site of an abbey.

Iconic Bamburgh Castle is also not to be missed. In photos this castle appears almost to float on an island surrounded by sea but this is not the case, instead this castle enjoys an elevated position on a hillside right next to the golden sandy beach at Bamburgh. This is an excellent place to visit for those with a fascination for history and also for families, as children will have endless hours of fun paddling in the sea or building sandcastles by the shore.

South Coast and the Isle of Wight

England's South Coast is where a number of traditional English favourite seaside resorts such as Brighton and Bournemouth are found which also happen to be favourites of ours and also where a number of blue flag award winning beaches are found, particularly on the Isle of Wight.

For seaside fun in a convenient location for those in London and the South East, it is hard to beat the all time favourite coastal resorts of Brighton and Bournemouth. Whether for family fun times or romantic getaways, these vibrant coastal resorts offer beaches and plenty of buzz with lots going on.

Cafes, restaurants and shops aplenty can be found in these seaside towns and we aren't the only ones who love to spend time by the seaside on England's South Coast as these places are no well kept secret. Bournemouth came 2nd in a recent Trip Advisor Travellers Choice Award for Britain's Best Beaches and of the total 55 blue flag award winning beaches recognised in 2013, 6 are found along the South Coast and four of these are found on the Isle of Wight.

The Isle of Wight deserves a special mention as being an island which lies close to the South Coast of England, this place offers the benefit of an island holiday feel and the experience of really getting away from it all. There is so much to fall in love with on the isle of Wight from the quaint cosastal villages to the wonderful sandy beaches, this is an area of England to savour and adore.