Visitors to the UK often think of London as their number one place to visit, but there’s a vast range of other locations that are well worth checking out.
A trip to the seaside forms part of many people’s cherished childhood memories, with the likes of Blackpool, Margate and Southend-On-Sea amongst the most popular destinations.
We take a look at five of our favourite seaside places to visit around the UK.
Blackpool
Blackpool sometimes gets a bad press for being rough and ready, although the town has undergone significant improvements in recent years.
Old favourites like the Blackpool Tower, Pleasure Beach and the piers remain as popular as ever, but there’s plenty of modern attractions designed to appeal to a much wider audience.
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Weymouth
The town hosted sailing events during the 2012 Olympics and with the main beach boasting Blue Flag status it’s easy to see why.
The Portland Bill Lighthouse, Portland Castle and the Pavilion Theatre are popular visitor attractions, and there’s a fantastic selection of restaurants and pubs to choose from.
Weymouth sits on the Jurassic Coast, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, which features wildlife and views that will live long in your memory.
Stonehaven
The more energetic traveller will revel in the jaw-dropping beauty of one of Scotland’s most picturesque destinations.
Sitting between the countryside and the sea, Stonehaven’s coastal trail runs for 150 miles and is undoubtedly a hiker’s heaven.
Stonehaven has a working harbour busy with sailing yachts and it is famous for its Hogmanay fireballs ceremony.
The RSPB Fowlsheugh reserve is also in the area, where the stunning cliffs attract over 100,000 breeding seabirds in the spring and summer.
Southend-On-Sea
Like Blackpool in the north, Southend-On-Sea built its reputation on family seaside holidays.
It features the world’s longest pleasure pier at 1.34 miles long that even has its own railway service for those who don’t fancy walking.
Adventure Island and the Sealife Adventure Centre ensure there’s plenty for the kids to do, while a planetarium,art galleries and museums will appeal to the more discerning visitor.
Margate
The Kent resort has been welcoming visitors for hundreds of years and still features many of its historic attractions.
The seafront and harbour have undergone alterations over the years, but still retain much of their original charm.
The Shell Grotto, Turner Contemporary and Dreamland are other noteworthy destinations, making Margate one of the most diverse seaside towns to visit in the UK.