_The best seaside towns on the East Coast, UK

Explore the East Coast and discover the best seaside towns. East Anglia has a diverse coastline punctuated by family-friendly seaside towns with huge expanses of sandy beaches, made popular in Victorian times when the new railways brought visitors from the industrial cities.

Here’s the best seaside towns of the East Coast, UK.

Felixstowe

A charming Edwardian seaside resort with extensive sandy beaches and traditional Victorian pier entertainment. The bustling town centre offers excellent shopping and eateries. Its stand-out attractions include the historic Landguard Fort, the fishing and sailing hamlet of Felixstowe Ferry on the River Deben, and Trimley Marshes Nature Reserve.

Southwold

This quintessentially English seaside town charms visitors with its colourful beach huts, Victorian pier and acclaimed Adnams Brewery and Distillery, which offers tours. The sandy beach is perfect for long strolls and sea swimming; the nearby town centre offers boutique shopping and excellent traditional pubs. Don’t miss the lighthouse or the eccentric Under The Pier amusement arcade.

Aldeburgh

A sophisticated coastal retreat popular with culture fans. Home to the iconic scallop sculpture by Maggi Hambling and world-acclaimed Aldeburgh Festival – held at nearby Snape Maltings, as is the renowned Aldeburgh Food & Drink Festival. Visit the Red House, Benjamin Britten and Peter Pears’ home which offers a charming snapshot into the couple’s life. The shingle beach is dotted with fishing boats, brightly painted pastel houses and huts selling freshly caught seafood.

Lowestoft

The most easterly point in the British Isles combines traditional fishing heritage with family-friendly beaches and traditional seaside amusements. The maritime history can be explored at the Lowestoft Maritime Museum in the lovely Sparrow’s Nest Gardens. Recent regeneration has brought new cultural attractions, including the First Light Festival, celebrating the town’s unique sunrise views.

Great Yarmouth

The best traditional seaside resort on the East Coast with golden sandy beaches stretching for 15 miles. Seafront attractions on The Golden Mile include The Pleasure Beach with the UK’s last scenic rollercoaster, Britannia Pier and new Marina Centre. The Time & Tide Museum showcases the town’s unique fishing heritage, while the historic Hippodrome presents spectacular circus and water shows. Unbeatable for classic British seaside nostalgia.

Gorleston-on-Sea

Great Yarmouth's southern neighbour across the River Yare is a more genteel seaside town, but with a huge expanse of sandy beach. The clifftop Promenade has lots of leisure facilities and around the Harbour's Mouth there are lots of eateries, fish and chip shops, ice cream parlours and amusements.

Cromer

Renowned for its sweet brown eponymous crabs and iconic Victorian pier, home of the world’s last end-of-pier theatre which has shows and entertainment throughout the year. The Cromer Museum tells you the story of The Deep History Coast and the RNLI Henry Blogg Museum tells of the town’s lifeboat heroes, including Blogg, the most decorated lifeboatman in history.

The town’s elevated position offers spectacular sea views and sunsets, and the sandy beach is perfect for strolling, swimming and surfing.

Sheringham

A traditional seaside town on the East Coast that perfectly balances heritage with family appeal. The North Norfolk Railway begins here, with steam rides along the coast and through picturesque countryside to Georgian market town Holt. Sheringham Park offers stunning rhododendron displays and unprecedented coastal views from the Gazebo. With Cromer, Sheringham hosts the annual Crab and Lobster Festival.

Wells-next-the-Sea

The quayside town has excellent pubs, restaurants and accommodation and is a great place to try your hand at crabbing. A walk along Beach Road takes you to one of the most picturesque stretches of sand in the British Isles, complete with its row of 200 brightly painted, higgledy-piggledy beach huts backed by a pine forest with walking trails.

Wells-next-the-Sea beach is joined to the Holkham Estate which is a National Nature Reserve.

Hunstanton

The UK’s only west-facing resort offers spectacular sunsets over The Wash, one of the most important estuaries in the British Isles and an important home for wading and migratory birds. The distinctive striped cliffs are a geological wonder and can best be enjoyed at Old Hunstanton. Hunstanton South Beach offers you a taste of ‘Sunny Hunny’ amusements and seaside attractions.