15^th August 2018 by ingenie

The best beaches in England and Wales

We live on a little island so one thing we have a lot of is beaches. This meant coming up with a shortlist of our best beaches was a beastly task, but for you guys we were more than happy to get our beach research on.

Here’s our list of brilliant beaches in England and Wales.

England

Brighton, East Sussex

My personal fave. I’ve been known to drive the 70 mile trip just for a ham, cheese and mushroom crepe on the pier and head straight back home again. But for a more conventional visit - there’s loads to do.

If you're into weird and wacky boutiques, a walk around The Lanes will get your creative juices flowing or for some classic seaside fun, you can head to the arcades and spend the day trying to win a keyring you never realised you wanted.

The beach may be pebbly but that means you can work on that stone skipping technique of yours. This place will simply BRIGHT-on up your day.
West Wittering, Chichester

I reckon if a beach was going to go to a beach, it would go to this beach. When you leave the town you travel past fields and a few more fields - then you’re there.

Don’t worry there’s a nearby café between the fields and the beach, but during the summer it can get really busy so get there early to grab a good space. Don't forget your frisbee.
Whitby, North Yorkshire

This was a recommendation from Alexandra, one of our driving feedback team and we were sold as soon as she mentioned Dracula was set here.

You can take a tour around Whitby Abbey that stands precariously on a weathered cliff or head to the heritage centre to check out a massive arch made of whale bones. If history isn't your thing you can venture across the town's cobbled streets to buy a Whitby Jet (semi-precious stone) as a souvenir.

And if that wasn’t enough, they do THE BEST fish and chips. Seriously, where’s this place been all my life?

Whitby, that’s where.
Croyde Bay, Devon

I stayed here last year at the Surfer’s Paradise campsite and aside from the 4-hour journey - it's a great place. It’s like a little beach village, with a few pubs, restaurants and a selection of small shops.

Billy Budd’s is a fab spot to eat. The nachos and pizza really go down a treat after an active day at the beach and recovering from a hike to Baggy Point.

If camping isn’t your thing, there’s a holiday park nearby filled with glamorous yurts for the more sophisticated glamper.

Wales

Tenby North, Pembrokeshire

If you want a place that looks like a rainbow and a unicorn threw up all over it (in a good way) then this place won’t let you down. Cuteness overload.
Seaside Award winner in 2016, it’s got a beautiful sandy beach, canoeing, museums, galleries, cafes, pubs and restaurants, quirky shops, caravan parks - you name it. This place had me at unicorn!
Freshwater West, Pembrokeshire

This is Wales’ first-rate surfing destination, so whether you love surfing or love watching the surfing 😉 this could be the place for you. It’s also pretty famous - it was the location of Dobby’s Shell Cottage in Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows. Someone pass me a sock to cry into.
Penbryn, Ceredigion

This little gem is a secluded sandy cove, down leafy lanes lined with flower-covered banks. Wow - I’ve aged 30 years already.

When you’re done swimming and sunbathing why not visit the Plwmp Tart (cafe!) just behind the beach. We've heard their creams teas are out of this world.
Rhossili Bay

Not only did this beach make it onto the world’s top 10 beaches (the only European beach to make the top 10 - just saying), it also comes with a recommendation from our designer, Mike. He also said you can't leave without paying a visit to The Worm’s Head pub that overlooks the entire beach - you heard it here first.