Coastal and seaside breaks
England’s coasts trim the country with gorgeous ocean views and sparkling sandy beaches. Take a traditional family seaside holiday or coastal break to Woolacombe in North Devon or St Ives in Cornwall, and let the kids build a sandcastle and lick ice cream as you relax in the sun. Wander coastline trails and stay in retro beach huts on a seaside break. Enjoy a festival weekend on the Isle of Wight, go fossil hunting on the beaches of Dorset or take a sailing course along Suffolk’s coastline.
Once you’ve had your fill of fun, fill your stomach with locally caught fish dishes prepared in regional styles. There’s the old English favourite; fish and chips, which can always be found on a coastal holiday. With piers like Brighton and Bournemouth offering rides and amusements, your seaside fun can last well into the evening too.
11 of the best seafood restaurants
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Explore the bustling harbour at Maryport
Watch brightly-coloured trawlers unload the days’ catch, enjoy a bracing walk or coastal cycle, sample locally caught fish or go to a festival.
Location: Maryport, Cumbria
Go rugged and budget in Cornwall
Newly renovated, situated on the rugged cornish coast and cheap as chips.
Location: Boscastle, Cornwall
Discover the quirky side of Robin Hood’s Bay
Enjoy a traditional seaside break with a twist at this old smuggling and fishing village on the North York Moors National Park coast.
Location: Robin Hood's Bay, Whitby
Discover why artists and chefs alike love Hastings’ fishing fleet
Explore East Sussex’s maritime heritage on Hastings Stade, home to fishermen for over 1000 years, inspiration to J. M. W. Turner and Rick Stein.
Location: Hastings, East Sussex
Mix heritage with designer chic by the sea in Portsmouth
Treat yourself to a waterfront break where you can delve into history while still enjoying a spot of designer retail therapy.
Location: Portsmouth, Hampshire
Romantic weekend breaks in Robin Hood’s Bay
"How lovely darling, you’ve booked us a romantic summer break by the sea. Hang on, what do you mean, it’s a pigsty?"
Location: Robin Hood's Bay, North Yorkshire