Where are the best seaside towns on the East Coast UK
Great Yarmouth's Golden Mile
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 seafront with the container port in the background
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 Pier beach
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.
Maggi Hambling's Scallop on Aldeburgh beach
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 beach
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 beach
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 beach
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
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 beach
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. Don't miss the Little Theatre and try your hand at stand up paddleboarding.
Wells-next-the-Sea beach
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 cliffs and lighthouse
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.
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Frequently asked questions
- What are the best seaside towns on the East Coast UK
In Suffolk, Southwold and Aldeburgh are trips back in time - unspoilt seaside towns that are laid-back and relaxed. Felixstowe and Lowestoft have traditional amusements and big beaches.
In Norfolk, Great Yarmouth is the top seaside resort on the East Coast of the UK. Cromer has the last end-of-pier theatre in the country and the eponymous tasty crab. Neighbouring Sheringham is always lively, and further along, Hunstanton is the only east coast resort that faces west which gives it amazing sunsets to view from its stripey cliffs.
- Do East Coast UK resorts have piers
There are Victorian piers at Felixstowe, Southwold, which has quirky amusements not to miss, Great Yarmouth on the town's famous Golden Mile of amusements, attractions and rides, and Cromer, which has the world's last end-of-pier theatre.
- Can I get to East Coast UK seaside towns by train
In Suffolk, you can get to Felixstowe and Lowestoft by train. In Norfolk, you can get to Great Yarmouth, Cromer and Sheringham by train.
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