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Best coastal towns in England/Wales?
Addisonian
Posts: 16,377 Forum Member
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We're planning on going away for few days in July with our 2 year old daughter. We'd like to go somewhere with a nice beach and plenty of things to do to keep a (very!) active 2 year old occupied.
We are from Glasgow so would prefer to go somewhere in England or Wales (not the south coast of England though as that's just a bit far for us).
Anyone have any ideas?
Oh and please no-one mention Blackpool as I'd rather chew off my own tongue.
We are from Glasgow so would prefer to go somewhere in England or Wales (not the south coast of England though as that's just a bit far for us).
Anyone have any ideas?
Oh and please no-one mention Blackpool as I'd rather chew off my own tongue.
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http://www.colwyn.org.uk/
http://www.dayoutwiththekids.co.uk/things-to-do/Colwyn_Bay
I would say Dorset as well, Bournemouth in particular, but maybe a little too far for you...:)
Tenby is nice, and Oakwood Park is only a short drive away if you fancied a day out.
I live not far from Scarborough and Bridlington and although the beaches are lovely they are complete dives. Bridlington especially, but Scarborough is just as bad. It depends what you want from a holiday, if you want tacky seaside fun then they might suit you, but I'd be going no where near!
Whitby I can't comment on as I've not been for years but I remember it being in the same vein.
Personally I'd be going for Filey if you are looking East Yorkshire, depending on what you want, Filey is great as its within reach of the big seaside towns but still a little less in your face, plus they have a paddle pool for kiddies when the tide in is in.
I would have agreed with this about 15 years ago, but both have come on in leaps and bounds since then, and are great seaside towns. Scarborough is better, IMO, but both are nice.
However, I have to agree with the vote for Llandudno above. It is exactly like a visit to the seaside should be. My only advice is to get sandwiches before you go up the Great Orme, as the food for sale at the top will take the shine off any trip (from a cost POV, I was too aggrieved to remember the quality)
Whitley Bay might be good, or at least somewhere on the Northumberland coast. It's 3 hours drive from you.
The beaches are lovely, you've got castles in Northumberland, a sea life centre, plenty of softplay nearby, there's a lighthouse you can go rock scrambling around - looking for seals and crabs/fishes. There's an abundance of parks to play in. Morpeth has Carlisle Park which has a giant paddling pool in.
I live in Whitley Bay, I wouldn't holiday here, but for what you're looking for it ticks all the boxes. Plus my friend who has a 6 month old daughter and a 6 year old will always bring the kids here.
Tenby
Llandudno
Barmouth
Abersoch
Portmadog
Criccieth
Avoid, avoid, AVOID Rhyl and Prestatyn. Complete shitholes that make Blackpool look like the French Riviera.
REALLY :eek: Bridlington is grey and tatty, full of worn out amusement arcades, its like an advert for a seaside town after the apocolypse! The only good thing it has going for it is the new spa area, thats lovely but most visitors don't see it as they stay down the other end.
Beach wise you can't beat going onto the same strip futher up at fraisthorpe - but there is NOTHING there, with the execption of an ice-cream van on hot days.
I agree scarborough is better than brid but both are so chavvy it makes my skin crawl, perhaps thats the curse of living so close, I see the inner workings of the towns (Hornsea is another example), not the magic sparkle that visitors see!
But I agree, personally I'd be heading wales way
I concur, fabulous area and lovely beaches.
Agree about Llandudno - it's fabulous for families, you can spend a day on the Orme, there's a small kiddies fair on the pier, nice shops, good beach. It's a good base to access other areas of North Wales, Conwy, Anglesea etc.
I'd suggest one of those two areas if you don't want to stay in Scotland.
Whitby is the best little town in the country. Such a beautiful place.
Scarborough is a pretty decent beach place for kids too.
To avoid being sexist (since it is a bit of a typically boys thing) nearby you've York and the train museum too. Choo-choo!
Add Towyn and Colwyn Bae to that list of places never to stop at!
Saundersfoot and Pendine nearby are good also, though smaller. You have the coastal path for walks and Oakwood, surfing and pony trekking also.
Very nice, use to go camping down Temby every year..
You won't be disappointed.
I think Whitby has far more to offer than Filey personally.
The Northumberland coast is lovely - as are parts of the Cumbrian coast. Alnwick is nice, Bamburgh lovely.
You could also look at Saltburn for an old fashioned Victorian seaside town.
The downside is that the tide goes a very long way out so don't expect to see too much sea!