Seaside towns in England for a family-friendly holiday – with deals from £20 a night
SEASIDE breaks are hard to beat when it comes to a family holiday, as with their classic British seaside charm, they're sure to impress (so long as the weather plays ball).
Pick well and adults and kids will have more than enough to entertain them for the whole week.
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With many of us hopeful of a summer staycation this year due to Covid travel restrictions, beach destinations are set to be even more popular than usual.
Luckily, there are some fantastic seaside towns across the country that not only have great beaches, but also have attractions the whole family will enjoy.
We've rounded up Britain's best family-friendly seaside towns and found some cheap deals for accommodation nearby.
Currently, hotels are set to reopen from May 17, this is after self-catered accommodation which includes holiday parks and caravan parks, which can open from April 12.
It is worth noting that some of the friendly activities mentioned below might not be open on your visit due to Covid - please call ahead before visiting any of the attractions.
Bournemouth, Dorset
This seaside resort in Dorset has seven miles of safe, sandy beaches that are ideal for bucket and spade sandcastle building, beach games, sunbathing and paddling in the sea.
It has everything you want in a classic British seaside break, including funfair rides and pier amusements - plus, the town centre is just a short walk from the seafront.
If rain stops play, families can head to the Oceanarium to see marine life like clownfish, sea turtles and sharks up close, go 500 feet up in the air on the Bournemouth Eye to enjoy panoramic views of the English Channel, or take part in adventure activities like zip-lining at Rock Reef.
A fifteen minute drive from the centre, Splashdown water park has an indoor pool, lazy river, three splash zones for under-fives and no fewer than thirteen indoor and outdoor flume rides.
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Bognor Regis, West Sussex
Bognor Regis beach has a huge sandpit for kids to play in, as well as a train that takes you up and down the promenade.
On the seafront you'll find fish & chip shops and crazy golf and there's plenty to do indoors as well, from soft play areas for toddlers, as well as mirror mazes and racing slides at the Flying Fortress theme park, to the Picturedrome cinema.
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Weymouth, Dorset
Set on the Jurassic coastline, Weymouth has a lovely sandy beach where you can search for fossils. Aside from relaxing on the beach, there are water pedalos for hire in the summer months, as well as a mini golf course.
Those in need of sandcastle building inspiration should head to the Sandworld Sand Sculpture Park.
It has giant sculptures showing scenes from Pixar films, Harry Potter films, Star Wars and more, as well as an undercover sand pit for kids and a coffee shop for adults.
For other indoor activities, there's The Sea Life Adventure Park and Tower - home to sharks, turtles and stingrays - and a tower that takes you 53 metres above sea level with 360-degree views.
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Blackpool, Lancashire
Blackpool has long been a hit with families - and it's not hard to see why.
Aside from the beach, the pier, Blackpool Tower and Blackpool Pleasure Beach theme park, there's the largest indoor water park in the UK - Sandcastle Waterpark - as well as a Madame Tussauds, Blackpool Zoo and a SEALIFE centre.
If you do get rain, there's also the Grand Theatre, with a packed programme of heart-warming shows to keep the family occupied in the evenings.
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Newquay, Cornwall
Famous for being a surfer’s paradise, Newquay is also a great spot for families, who can spend days at the sandy Fistral Beach and then head into the town (just ten minutes walk away) to relax at bars and restaurants with coastal views.
Children and adults can have a go at surf lessons, or visit the nearby Newquay Zoo - home to over 130 different animal species. There's also the Blue Reef Aquarium.
Jungle Jacks is a large indoor play area for younger children, while Holywell Bay Fun Park a little further out of town offers older children the chance to try go-karting, getting lost in a maze and having a game of crazy golf.
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Paignton, Devon
The Devon seaside resort of Paignton is a hit with families for its great beaches, including Goodrington Sands, Broadsands Beach and Paignton Sands - the town’s main beach which has a pier, a Geoplay Park, cinema and crazy golf.
There's lots to do in the surrounding area too, including the indoor water park Splashdown Quaywest at Goodrington and Paignton Zoo, as well as taking a ride on the Dartmouth Steam Railway and exploring the National Trust Compton Castle.
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Southend-on-Sea, Essex
Southend-on-Sea has the longest pier in the world and packs in a host of activities, including crazy golf and the Southend Cliff Lift, which takes visitors 57 feet up in the air to enjoy views over the pier and estuary.
The Adventure Island theme park is bound to be a hit with the whole family with 40 rides and attractions, including a rollercoaster with a vertical drop.
There's also a Sealife Adventure and a Marine Activities Centre that has watersports like sailing, canoeing, windsurfing and jet skiing on offer.
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Brighton, East Sussex
Brighton's famous Palace Pier is filled with arcades, stalls and fairground rides, and that's before you even hit the beach. Little ones will love the King's Road paddling pool close to West Pier, with its mushroom spouts, water pads and lots of toys.
Another firm seafront favourite for children is the historic Volks Electric Railway train, which has open-air carriages and takes you about a mile along the coast, starting just east of the Palace Pier at the end of Madeira Drive.
Away from the beach, there's SEA Life Brighton, where kids can walk through a tunnel as sea creatures swim above their heads, and Brighton's centre has lots of shops and family-friendly places to eat.
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