After visiting 43 seaside towns across the UK, travel writer Toby Codd has named Llandudno in Wales as having the best pier, while Lyme Regis in Dorset is his favourite destination overall.
Llandudno's award-winning pier
Llandudno's pier, named Pier of the Year in 2025, stretches 700 metres into the Irish Sea, making it Wales's longest and the UK's fifth longest. It features shops, stalls, cafes and arcades, all accompanied by the sound of the sea and the rejuvenating sea air.
The town's famous promenade is also worth a walk, and the Great Orme rises up from beside the town. Visitors may soon be able to explore an abandoned "sunken palace" hidden under the town for decades.
Lyme Regis: the overall favourite
Codd, who is from the south coast of Devon, set criteria for his selection, including beach and seafront, peace and quiet, scenery and character, food and drink, and tourist attractions. While Weymouth is famed for its sweeping beach, St Ives for its scenery, Blackpool for attractions, and Padstow for fish and chips, Lyme Regis stood out.
Known as the "Pearl of Dorset", the town has a stunning seafront, a charming and relaxed atmosphere, quirky shops, good pubs and places to eat, and friendly locals. Located on the Jurassic Coast, it was named the third best seaside resort in the UK last year. With a population of around 4,000, it boasts a quiet atmosphere and is perfect for a weekend away all year round.
Beaches and attractions
Lyme Regis has four beaches, each offering something different. Town Beach is ideal for swimming and sandcastles, Church Cliff Beach is known for rockpools, East Cliff Beach is famed for its quiet atmosphere, and Monmouth Beach is known for fossils.
In terms of food and drink, Tom's Lyme Regis offers award-winning seafood, Eat at Millside serves local produce, and the historic Bell Cliff Restaurant, a 16th-century building, sells modern British cuisine. Cafes and ice cream parlours include the Town Mill Bakery and Baboo Gelato. The "artisan quarter" at Combe Street and the Town Mill complex has gift shops and galleries.
While it may not have famous attractions like Blackpool Pleasure Beach or the Seven Sisters, Lyme Regis offers plenty to do, including the Marine Aquarium and Dinosaurland Fossil Museum, plus a Jazz and Blues Festival in summer. Codd says it is comfortably among the friendliest places he has visited, and he can't wait to go back.
