The UK’s ‘best seaside town’ never fails to impress holidaymakers thanks to the beautiful beaches and wide array of shops and restaurants in the area
If you’re looking for a dose of staycation inspiration, then you may want to bookmark a trip to one beautiful seaside town that’s just been named the best in the UK.
We’re talking beautiful beaches with clean golden sands and crystal-clear waters, swathes of independent shops, and of course plenty of quintessential British seaside charm from the ice cream parlours to family-friendly attractions.
Falmouth in Cornwall is hardly a hidden gem as it’s been a firm holiday favourite with Brits for decades, as holidaymakers flock to the town each summer to make the most of its beautiful coast. However it’s an ideal seaside spot year round, including autumn when you don’t have the peak season crowds but you can still enjoy some decent sunshine and temperatures (on the days when the British weather plays along, of course).
READ MORE: Beautiful UK village ‘best seen in autumn’ has amazing pubs and gorgeous walksREAD MORE: Sainsbury’s car park rated UK seaside town’s top tourist attraction on Tripadvisor
The town has plenty of quirky independent shops, restaurants serving up some mouthwatering seafood and local fare, and of course those all-important ice cream parlours and fish and chip shops. Then there’s the picturesque harbour where you can take in views of the boats – it’s definitely worth a trip at sunset!
As for the beaches, Cornwall is of course famed for its Caribbean-worthy shores, and Falmouth doesn’t disappoint. Gyllyngvase Beach tends to be one of the more popular spots with its picture-perfect pebbled shore and turquoise waters, not to mention that it’s been awarded Blue Flag status. Its popularity has even seen it become the top-rated beach in Falmouth on Tripadvisor.
“What a beautiful beach,” one happy holidaymaker wrote on the platform. “Found lots of sea glass! It was quite busy but we managed to find a great spot to sit down and enjoy the view.”
Another added: “This is one of our favourite Cornish beaches. On a good day the water is absolutely beautiful it’s like being abroad. Lovely to swim in. Good lifeguards. Toilets could be better but easily accessible from the beach.”
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It’s not just Gyllyngvase that impresses. Swanpool Beach is another popular spot, tucked away in a small cove that’s popular with Brits looking to try their hand at a variety of watersports. (There’s also a beach café if you need to replenish your energy afterwards!).
Other popular sports include Maenporth Beach which is usually a little quieter, while Castle Beach is right by Pendennis Castle and popular with Brits looking for scenic walks and views.
It’s therefore not surprising that Falmouth was recently named the UK’s best seaside town by researchers at the Co-operative Bank. Coastal destinations were compared across various factors including the number of beaches on offer, walkability, safety, and even hours of sunshine.
The team explained: “Falmouth takes the crown as the best seaside town in the UK with an overall seaside score of 8.38/10. Nestled in the heart of Cornwall, Falmouth has a walkability score of 92, making it easy to get around on foot and soak up the harbour views, independent shops and local seafood spots. With a low crime rate of 36 per 1,000 people, it’s among the safest seaside spots in the country. On top of that, Cornwall sees an average of 4.5 hours of sunshine per day and 142 beaches nearby.”
You can find out more on visitfalmouth.com.
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