Bamburgh in Northumberland has once again been named the best seaside town in the United Kingdom, according to the annual Which? survey. This marks the sixth consecutive year the town has secured the top spot.
Survey Methodology and Results
The consumer champion's survey assessed 5,300 participants' opinions on beaches, scenery, food and drink, accommodation, tourist attractions, shopping, and value for money. Bamburgh achieved an overall destination score of 84 percent, impressing visitors with its 'spectacular coastal scenery.' The town also received five-star ratings for its beaches, seafront, and scenery, though it scored only one star for shopping.
Northern towns, in particular, received high praise, with two claiming top spots for the second year in a row. Tynemouth, also in the North East, secured second place with an 82 percent overall score. It was lauded for its 'wonderful fish and chips,' earning five stars for food and drink. The town's seafront and pier, featuring a Grade II-listed lighthouse, also received five-star ratings.
Top 10 Seaside Towns
The top 10 seaside resorts for 2026, according to the Which? survey, include:
- Bamburgh, Northumberland
- Tynemouth, Tyne and Wear
- St Andrews, Fife (Scotland)
- Aldeburgh, Suffolk
- Crail, Fife (Scotland)
- Frinton-on-Sea, Essex
- Portmeirion, Gwynedd (Wales)
- St Davids, Pembrokeshire (Wales)
- Bude, Cornwall
- Southwold, Suffolk
St Andrews in Fife, Scotland, ranked third with 81 percent, receiving five-star ratings for tourist attractions, beaches, scenery, and its seafront/pier. Aldeburgh in Suffolk scored 80 percent, noted for its pebbled beach, independent shops, and a lively music festival.
Crail, also in Fife, placed fifth with 80 percent, praised for its five-star seafront and scenery, and its 16th-century harbour. Frinton-on-Sea in Essex, described as 'Essex's coastal gem,' received 80 percent and five stars for its seafront, beach, and its quiet, no-frills atmosphere.
Wales was represented by Portmeirion, which scored 80 percent and is known for its Italian seaside town design, and St Davids in Pembrokeshire, also with 80 percent, particularly noted for its scenery and nearby beaches.
Cornwall's Bude secured ninth place with 78 percent, earning five stars for scenery, while Southwold in Suffolk rounded off the top 10 with 78 percent and a five-star seafront/pier.
Least Popular Destination
Conversely, Bognor Regis in West Sussex was declared Britain's worst seaside town for the second consecutive year. Average hotel prices ranged from £94 in Frinton-on-Sea to £211 in Portmeirion.