Britain’s best and worst beaches ranked as St Mawes in Cornwall tops list but it’s bad news for Skegness
ICONIC British resorts lost out to lesser-known destinations in a list of the best and worst seaside destinations.
Tiny St Mawes in Cornwall – with a population of just 1,000 – came top of ratings by consumer group Which?.
It topped more recognised holiday destinations with with an 85 per cent customer approval rating.
But it was bad news for Skegness, home of the iconic original Butlin’s, which was bottom of the rankings with just 44 per cent.
Some even said the Lincolnshire town was “to be avoided”.
Popular hotspots Great Yarmouth, on 48 per cent, and Blackpool, 53 per cent, were also near the bottom of the list.
Clacton-on-Sea in Essex, Bognor Regis, West Sussex, and Morecambe, Lancs, made the bottom 10.
Meanwhile Dartmouth, Devon, one of the better known destinations in the Which? top 10, was second in the top 10 with 84 per cent.
Southwold and Aldeburgh in Suffolk and Bamburgh in Northumberland rounded out the top five.
As the holiday season begins with lockdown restrictions easing, many families are looking to stay in the UK but keen to steer clear of bustling resorts.
St Mawes, in Cornwall earned a full five stars for its scenery, seafront and peace and quiet – and a glowing overall customer score of 85 per cent.
Those who visited St Mawes recommended eating crab baguettes at Mr Scorse’s deli and spotting dolphins on the ferry to Falmouth, but admitted that avoiding peak season was the best way to dodge the crowds.
The survey – carried out before the coronavirus lockdown – shows British holidaymakers favour peace and quiet over crowds, crazy golf and roller coasters.
BRITAIN'S TOP 10 BEACHES
- St Mawes, Cornwall
- Dartmouth, Devon
- Southwold, Suffolk
- Aldeburgh, Suffolk
- Bamburgh, Northumberland
- Blakeney, Norfolk
- St Andrews, Fife
- Saint Davids, Pembrokeshire
- Tynemouth, Tyne and Wear
- Beer, Devon
It also highlights quieter beaches, bars and restaurants that travellers can visit this summer.
Which? assessed a range of factors including food and drink, seafront, beach, value for money and peace and quiet.
Coastal Suffolk had two entries in the top five, with both Southwold (84%) and Aldeburgh (83%) scoring top marks for scenery and peace and quiet.
BRITAIN'S WORST 10 BEACHES
- Skegness, Lincolnshire
- Great Yarmouth, Norfolk
- Clacton-on-Sea, Essex
- Bognor Regis, West Sussex
- Marblethorpe, Lincolnshire
- Blackpool, Lancashire
- Littlehampton, West Sussex
- Cleethorpes, Lincolnshire
- Burnham-on-Sea, Somerset
- Morecambe, Lancashire
Visitors highlighted the great food and drink on offer in Southwold – earning a whopping five stars in this category.
Bamburgh in Northumberland (83%), which topped last year’s rankings, is still a favourite with visitors this year. It was rated a full five stars in almost every category.
St Andrews (81%), home of Scotland’s oldest university, also made it into the top 10, with a full five stars for food and drink, beautiful views and its attractions, including the world-renowned golf course
On the Welsh coast, St Davids (81%), Llandudno (80%), Tenby (79%) and Conwy (78%) all scored highly, with great ratings for scenery and value for money.
Rory Boland, Which? Travel Editor said: “Whether that’s hitting the waves in Tynemouth or camping in Criccieth, there are good options for those of us keen to keep our distance from the crowds this year but still want to combine stunning scenery with sumptuous seafood.
“Don’t forget, if you book your hotel or accommodation direct and over the phone, you may even get a discount or free bottle of bubbly thrown in.”
The results are based on an online survey of 4,146 members of the Which? Connect panel, who told Which? about their recent seaside town experiences.
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