Bamburgh in Northumberland has been named as the UK’s best seaside location for staycationers in a new survey, beating well-known locations in the south of England.
Consumer advice site Which? polled almost 5,000 of its readers, asking their opinions on factors including beaches, food and drink, quality of tourist attractions, scenery and value for money to determine its ranking, with Bamburgh topping the table with an overall score of 86 per cent.
The location scored the full five out of five stars for its beach, seafront and peace and quiet, with visitors particularly praising its famous castle, the “wild, beautiful beach” and the excellent pubs, restaurants and cafes in the area.
Which? said: “For the fourth year in a row, Bamburgh, a Northumberland village with a population of around 400 people, can call itself the best seaside town in the UK, beating more than 120 other UK towns and villages to top our table.”
Second in the rankings was Portmeirion in north Wales. The holiday village, which was inspired by Italian towns such as Portofino and built in the 1920s by architect Sir Clough Williams-Ellis, was noted for its architecture and picturesque location above a sandy estuary. It received top marks for tourist attractions, scenery and seafront for a total score of 83 per cent.
Which? noted that traditional seaside locations in Cornwall and the south-east of England were largely overlooked in the ratings in favour of quieter, less-crowded spots. Indeed, there were no Cornish towns in the top 15, while famous names such as Bournemouth and Brighton were also mid-table.
Instead, the five top-rated destinations were in north-east England (Bamburgh and Tynemouth), Wales (Portmeirion and St Davids) and Scotland (St Andrews).
However, if you’re looking for the best chance of catching some sunshine when heading off in your caravan or motorhome, Frinton-on-Sea in Essex was the top pick for weather.
Image credit: Unsplash/Benjamin Elliott
