Eating ice cream while strolling along the boardwalk, making sandcastles on the beach and tucking into lashings of fresh fish and chips… A day out by the British seaside is a highlight of the summer not to be missed. And there are plenty of spots to choose from on our coastlines, from a pier with a Grade II-listed lighthouse in Tynemouth to charming fishermen’s huts and pebbled beaches in Aldeburgh.Not all seaside towns are created equal however, and Which? can now officially reveal this year’s favourites.As part of its annual survey of 5,300 participants, the consumer champion assessed the quality of the beaches, scenery, food and drink, accommodation, tourist attractions, shopping and value for money.The north of England, in particular, has been enjoying high praise from beachgoers, claiming two of the top spots, for the second year in a row.Things are not, however, as rosy down south. Indeed, Bognor Regis, in West Sussex, has been declared Britain’s worst seaside town by the consumer champion for the second year in a row.Fortunately, though, there are plenty of highly-rated destinations to enjoy across the country. Here we take a look at the nation’s top 10 seaside resorts for 2026.
1. Bamburgh, Northumberland Bamburgh was named the best seaside town by Which?, impressing with its ‘spectacular coastal scenery’For six years in a row, Bamburgh in Northumberland has held the top spot in the annual Which? survey – outshining all of the other seaside towns with its ‘spectacular coastal scenery’, as described by one visitor.The Northumberland resort achieved an overall destination score of 84 per cent, impressing holidaymakers with its beautiful beaches, seafront and scenery – securing five-star ratings for each category. ‘Lovely beach overlooking Bamburgh Castle,’ another visitor praised, referring to the Grade I-listed site, with over 3,000 years of history. However, it did fall short in the shopping category – only scoring one star. Perhaps its visitors were enjoying the town’s natural offerings instead. Average hotel price: £140 2. Tynemouth, Tyne and Wear Tynemouth is praised for its ‘wonderful fish and chips’ – earning it second placeAnother North East spot, Tynemouth earned second place on the Which? podium, scoring a whopping 82 per cent overall. Particular mention was made of the town’s ‘wonderful’ fish and chips. Indeed, local spots Longsands Fish Kitchen and Riley’s Fish Shack are particularly renowned for their crispy batter and perfectly salted chips. No wonder, then, that the Tyne and Wear favourite managed to bag five stars for its food and drink offerings. The town’s seafront and pier also impressed in the survey, scoring five stars. Tynemouth Pier is 900 metres long and has a charming, Grade II-listed lighthouse at the very end. Others celebrated the area’s ‘magnificent’ golden sand beaches. Average hotel price: £129 3. St Andrews, Fife St Andrews, in Fife, has five-star-rated tourist attractions, beaches, scenery and seafront/pierBringing Scotland into the top 10, St Andrews scored 81 per cent overall for its dreamy, sandy beaches, where visitors can take a refreshing (or perhaps, bracing) dip in the North Sea, or try their hand at water sports such as yachting and surfing.Located in Fife, St Andrews secured five-star ratings for its tourist attractions, beaches, scenery and seafront/pier. Average hotel price: £145 4. Aldeburgh, Suffolk Aldeburgh in Suffolk has a charming pebbled beach and scores 80 per cent overallAldeburgh is a charming coastal town in Suffolk, with pretty independent shops to explore and a lively independent music festival each year in late June.Earning a score of 80 per cent, its top-rated features include food and drink, scenery, shopping as well as peace and quiet – all achieving four stars. The beach itself, with its pebbles and fishermen’s huts, makes it a picture-perfect UK coastal spot.Average hotel price: £182 5. Crail, Fife Crail, in Fife, has a 16th-century harbour and places fifth overallAnother Scottish contender, Crail impressed visitors with its five-star seafront and scenery, scoring 80 per cent overall.Also found in the county of Fife, Crail offers ample opportunities for rockpooling and wildlife spotting. When the tide is out at the popular spot Roome Bay, for example, beachgoers can catch crabs and spot anemones, too.Home to a 16th-century harbour, the coastal town is incredibly picturesque, with lots of charm and history to enjoy. Average hotel price: £144 6. Frinton-on-Sea, Essex Frinton-on-Sea, in Essex, is described as the ‘perfect place for those who just want a day at the seaside with no frills and no noise’If you’re looking for a seaside town with a great seafront, a beautiful beach and peace and quiet, look no further than Frinton-on-Sea, which scored five stars for all three of those important categories. Achieving 80 per cent overall, it is described as ‘Essex’s coastal gem’ by Visit Essex.According to the Which? report, one visitor described the sandy enclave as the ‘perfect place for those who just want a day at the seaside with no frills and no noise’. Average hotel price: £94 7. Portmeirion, Gwynedd The enchanting town of Portmeirion ranks seventh overall with a score of 80 per centAlso bagging an overall score of 80 per cent, Portmeirion is a colourful spot designed in the style of an Italian seaside town.Located in Gwynedd, Wales, the enchanting village has everything from domed towers to lush gardens. Visitors can explore nearby woodland trails, as well as sea views and palm trees, all contributing to the delightful, Riviera-like charm.Average hotel price: £211 8. St Davids, Pembrokeshire St Davids, in Pembrokeshire, has beautiful beaches nearby such as Porthmelgan Beach, picturedAnother Welsh pick, St Davids, in Pembrokeshire, wowed beachgoers with an overall score of 80 per cent. The area’s scenery was particularly praised – securing a five-star rating – likely on account of the town’s beautiful beaches, including Whitesands Bay and Porthmelgan Beach.Average hotel price: £1079. Bude, Cornwall The Cornish town of Bude scores 78 per cent, placing ninthKnown for its rugged coastline, award-winning pies and historic castle, Bude ranks ninth in this year’s report. The Cornish spot scores 78 per cent overall and bags five stars for its scenery. But, surprisingly, none of the charming town’s beaches are Bude’s top attraction on Tripadvisor. Instead, Bude Tunnel is number one on the review site for the area: a covered walkway that provides shelter for shoppers heading to Sainsbury’s car park.Average hotel price: £95 10. Southwold, Suffolk Southwold rounds off the top 10 seaside towns in Which?’s surveyBoasting a five-star seafront/pier, Southwold rounds off the top 10 seaside towns in the Which? survey, scoring 78 per cent overall.With a world-class pier and lots of pretty houses, streets and shops to explore, it has everything you might want from a British beach town. The town is also home to Adnams Brewery, which visitors can tour, as well as the iconic Southwold Lighthouse.Average hotel price: £159