Bamburgh in Northumberland has come top in a survey of British seaside resorts with 84%, beating every major UK resort, while Bognor Regis finished last on 41%. The tiny Northumberland village, best known for its castle and sweeping beach, finished clear of larger and better-known resorts in a Which? survey of Britain’s seaside towns and villages.
North East dominates top spots
Tynemouth in Tyne and Wear took second place on 82%, giving the North East the top two spots. Travel specialists at Ski Vertigo said the results offered a useful guide for families, couples and groups, but stressed that different travellers value different things. The ranking is not a universal verdict.
The survey was based on an online poll of 5,320 Which? Connect panel members, who reported 11,999 leisure visits across 135 seaside towns and villages in the previous 12 months.
Scoring and top 10
Destinations were scored out of five stars for average hotel price, the beach, seafront or pier, food and drink, tourist attractions, scenery, shopping, peace and quiet, parking and value for money. The overall score combined satisfaction with likelihood to recommend.
Top 10 seaside towns and villages for 2026:
- Bamburgh, Northumberland — 84%
- Tynemouth, Tyne and Wear — 82%
- St Andrews, Fife — 81%
- Aldeburgh, Suffolk — 80%
- Crail, Fife — 80%
- Frinton-on-Sea, Essex — 80%
- Portmeirion, Gwynedd — 80%
- St Davids, Pembrokeshire — 79%
- Bude, Cornwall — 78%
- Southwold, Suffolk — 78%
Bamburgh’s strengths and Bognor’s struggles
Scotland, Wales, Suffolk, Essex and Cornwall also featured strongly in the leading group. Visitors appeared to favour beaches, scenery and quieter settings over the country’s biggest or most famous resorts. Bamburgh earned five-star marks for its beach, seafront and scenery, plus four stars for value for money, peace and quiet and tourist attractions. It scored three stars for food and drink, two for parking and one for shopping.
At the other end of the table, Bognor Regis was last for the second year running. It received one star in most categories and two stars for parking and peace and quiet. Other destinations in the lower group included Blackpool, Southend-on-Sea, Great Yarmouth, Lowestoft, Bangor, Fleetwood and Burnham-on-Sea. New Brighton and Southport in Merseyside also ranked among the bottom 30, with scores of 51% and 53% respectively. Blackpool, Great Yarmouth, Lowestoft and Fleetwood each scored 46%.
Alex Dyer, managing director at Ski Vertigo, said: “The North East’s strong showing is a reminder that a familiar resort is not automatically the right fit for every trip. Bamburgh and Tynemouth stand out for beaches, scenery and seafront appeal, while quieter places can work better for couples and destinations with more attractions or food choices may suit families and groups. The overall percentage is a useful starting point, but visitors should check the individual categories that matter most to them before booking.”
