‘The finest family beach in Britain’ – The Sun’s travel experts reveal their favourite UK seaside towns

WHEN the sun finally shines, there's nowhere better than the British seaside for some good old-fashioned fun - and if you're in need of some new staycation inspiration this summer, look no further.

As part of our Best Of British travel series, The Sun's travel team have picked our favourite UK seaside towns, featuring everything from dolphin-spotting beaches to celeb-favourite fish and chip shops.

Win one of 8 incredible holidays to Florida, Spain, the Caribbean and a Kent safari by voting in The Sun's Travel Awards - enter to win here

Tynemouth, North Tyneside - Ryan Gray, Travel Reporter

The North East is a much-overlooked part of the country for seaside towns, with Tynemouth standing out among the best of the ones on offer.

Longsands Beach is, in my opinion, the finest family beach in the UK with its mile-long expanse of shoreline blessed with perfect golden sands, a deep inky-blue sea home to both seals and dolphins, and fantastic child-friendly food and entertainment a stone's throw away.

While some locals will be scattered across the sand, or out surfing in the fresh North Sea water, plenty will also be found in , a wonderful little cafe right on the beach, serving everything from breakfast to booze, making it the perfect stop for seaside refreshments. 

The beach is overlooked by the spectacular , a 2,000-year-old Anglo-Saxon monastery, looked after by English Heritage.

Every summer, the atmospheric ruins of the priory host the Mouth of the Tyne music festival, with previous headliners including Sam Fender, Elbow, Billy Ocean and Martha Reeves & The Vandellas.

Just a stone's throw from the priory is the town centre, where quaint bars and restaurants are found alongside classic fish and chip shops, like , rumoured to have been named after Jimi Hendrix, when the musician is said to have visited the chippy for a fish supper after performing in Newcastle back in the 1967. An unofficial blue plaque in the window of the fast food spot commemorates his visit.

Any visit to Tynemouth should be made at the weekend, in order to take in Tynemouth Market, hosted in the town's Victorian Metro station every Saturday and Sunday. 

Trinkets, street food and collectibles can be found laid out across a number of stalls within the ornate surroundings either side of the platforms. 

Folkestone, Kent - Kara Godfrey, Deputy Travel Editor

Kent isn't short of beautiful seaside towns, with the established Whitstable and up-and-coming Margate.

But my favourite is found further south, with Folkestone being a great mix of them all.

With views of France (on a very clear day), the main attraction is the , sitting at the edge of the converted train tracks.

Full of local sellers offering hand-crafted goods, as well as food shacks selling everything from Korean and Japanese to fish and chips and pizza, the best time to go is in summer when you can catch live sports or films on the big screen.

The multicoloured high street with shops and restaurants can't be missed, my favourites being for some amazing margaritas and for some novels.

Make sure to tack on a trip to , the world's first multi-storey skatepark, as well as the Lower Leas Coastal Path with sea-view playgrounds.

You'll need to pack your beach shoes as it has a stony beach over a sandy beach - but after a few drinks at the much loved pilot bar, you'll hardly care.

Mousehole, Cornwall - Sophie Swietochowski, Assistant Travel Editor

Cornwall is saturated with unspoilt coastlines, but, unlike many of the overcrowded spots, the village of Mousehole, on the far southern tip (just below Penzance), has somehow retained its chocolate box charm.

The small sandy bay is crammed with weathered fishing boats and backed by pokey cafes and airy art galleries where seaside-inspired works hang from the walls.

For impeccable views of a wild sea and homemade grub, head to which sits atop a craggy cliff.

Order a hot chocolate which is somewhat of a DIY experience, delivered to you on a board with a mug of piping hot milk and a tub of shaved chocolate shards in white, milk or dark to melt into the milk.

There are some impressive coastal walks - but be warned it can be hilly.

St Andrews, Scotland - Heather Lowrie, Travel Editor

Scotland is blessed with thousands of miles of glorious coastline and hundreds of picture perfect seaside villages and towns that are great for day trips or staycations.

But my favourite   has to be stunning St Andrews on Scotland’s east coast.

It’s within easy reach of most of the country, just over an hour and a half  drive from both Edinburgh and Glasgow and 30 minutes from Dundee. There’s also great rail connections if you’d rather the train take the strain.

Known as Scotland’s spiritual home, it’s a great all-rounder, with award-winning beaches, fabulous food offerings from  cafes to  fine dining restaurants,   a wide choice of  places to stay, amazing independent shops for browsing, a whole host of history to indulge in and, of course, golf!

After a walk along the world-famous fairway, pop into the Jigger Inn. It boasts golfing memorabilia, crackling open-hearth fires, home-cooked food and selection of the finest Scottish beers.

If beer’s your thing, there’s a choice of breweries nearby you can visit, including the St Andrew’s Brewing Company in the town. But if gin and whisky are more your tipple of choice, then Eden Mill is in the nearby Guard Bridge and well worth a trip.

When it comes to beaches St Andrew’s is blessed with more than one,  including the award-winning West Sands - famous for the opening scenes of the film Chariots of Fire. Disabled visitors can book a free beach wheelchair on certain days.

Extending for two miles of uninterrupted powder-soft sands, backed by dunes and the golf course, this Blue Flag stunner has plenty of room for everyone.

When hunger strikes  there’s an amazing choice of places to eat, including Dune St Andrews, run by Dean Banks, who trained under Rick Stein and uses locally sourced fish and seafood.

For a brilliant brunch try Forgan’s, set in an old golf factory just off Market Street. They also host ceilidh’s in the evening

Barry Island, Wales - Hope Brotherton, Travel Reporter

Years ago, I was lucky enough to live in Cardiff, which meant I spent weekends exploring everything the Welsh capital had to offer, including the neighbouring coastal towns.

One place that I always recommend visiting, despite being something of a cliché, is Barry Island.

Arguably made famous by top BBC show Gavin and Stacey, Barry Island has already garnered the love of the Great British public.

Day-trippers should make a beeline for Whitmore Bay — a huge crescent of golden sand that's backed by a promenade of busy cafés, and fish and chip shops.

Get your pulse racing at the Barry Island Pleasure Park, it has a rollercoaster, log flume, dodgems and a waltzer.