The idea of a cheap British seaside break probably sounds impossible these days.
That’s especially true once hotel prices, parking, food, and school holiday costs start piling up. However, a new roundup from Which? says there are still a few coastal towns across England and Wales where you can get a proper seaside escape without spending a fortune.
What makes these places so interesting is that most of them aren’t trying to compete with flashy resort towns packed with overpriced bars and tourist traps. A lot of them still feel like old-school seaside holidays, where the beach is the main attraction, and you don’t need to spend hundreds of pounds a day just to enjoy yourself.
Whitley Bay still feels like one of Britain’s biggest bargains.
According to Which?, Whitley Bay came out as one of the cheapest seaside spots for overnight stays, with some hotel prices averaging around £82 a night. What people like about it is that it still gives you that classic British seaside atmosphere without feeling completely stuck in the past.
There’s the long sandy beach, the lighthouse at St Mary’s Island, arcades, fish and chip shops, and plenty of little cafés that aren’t charging London prices for everything. Because it’s close to Newcastle as well, it’s one of the easier coastal trips for people travelling from other parts of the country by train.
Tenby continues to be one of Wales’ most reliable coastal escapes.
Tenby regularly appears on lists of the UK’s best seaside towns, but it also scored well for value in the Which? roundup. Part of the appeal is that it looks almost too perfect to be real. The colourful houses around the harbour, the old town walls, and the beaches all make it feel much more expensive than it actually can be outside peak summer weekends.
There’s enough going on to fill a full weekend, too, from boat trips and coastal walks to little independent bakeries and seafood restaurants that still feel relaxed rather than overly touristy.
Llandudno still delivers the traditional seaside holiday experience.
Llandudno made the cheap seaside rankings partly because accommodation prices remain lower than a lot of southern England resorts. It’s one of those places that still leans fully into the old-fashioned seaside atmosphere in the best possible way.
There’s the Victorian pier, tramway rides up the Great Orme, long promenade walks, and proper independent sweet shops that somehow still survive. For families especially, it tends to work well because you can spend hours just wandering around without needing to constantly pay for attractions.
Whitby still pulls crowds without feeling completely overpriced.
Whitby continues to attract visitors because it offers a bit more character than the average seaside resort. A lot of people go for the gothic atmosphere, the abbey ruins, and the Dracula connections, but the town also has some of the best fish and chips in the country and plenty of coastal scenery nearby. It manages to feel touristy and atmospheric at the same time, which is probably why people keep returning even as more UK beach towns become expensive.
Filey is becoming the quiet alternative to Scarborough.
While bigger seaside towns become busier and pricier, Filey is attracting people who want something slower and calmer. The beach is enormous, the town is easy to walk around, and it still has that slightly old-fashioned feel where families spend entire afternoons building sandcastles instead of queueing for expensive attractions.
A lot of visitors now describe it as the kind of seaside place Britain used to have everywhere before many resorts became heavily commercialised.
Frinton-on-Sea remains one of England’s more low-key coastal spots.
Frinton-on-Sea is often overshadowed by louder Essex beach towns, which is partly why many people like it. There are fewer arcades, fewer party crowds, and much more of a slower seaside atmosphere. For people wanting a quieter beach break without travelling too far from London, it has become one of those places that feels almost strangely peaceful compared to some of the UK’s busier coastal hotspots.
Stonehaven gives you a completely different type of seaside break.
Stonehaven appearing on the value list surprised some people because it’s not the stereotypical British beach holiday destination. However, that’s exactly why it appeals to people. Instead of arcades and donkey rides, you get dramatic coastal scenery, harbour walks, sea air, and nearby landmarks like Dunnottar Castle. It feels more rugged and outdoorsy than the typical seaside resort, which is becoming more popular with people wanting quieter UK breaks.
Lytham St Annes offers a more relaxed alternative to Blackpool.
A lot of travellers now choose Lytham St Annes because it offers the seaside without the chaos people sometimes associate with nearby Blackpool. The beaches are quieter, the pace is slower, and the town has more of a traditional coastal feel. There are still enough cafés, shops, and promenades to keep people busy, but without the sensory overload that some larger resorts can bring during peak season.
Cheap seaside towns are becoming more appealing as UK holiday costs rise.
One reason these lists are getting so much attention now is because more people are trying to cut the cost of summer holidays without giving them up completely. For a lot of families, foreign travel, airport costs, and hotel prices are starting to feel harder to justify every year. That’s pushing more people back towards traditional UK seaside breaks again, especially if they can find somewhere that still feels affordable once accommodation, food, and activities are added together.
The biggest appeal is probably simplicity.
A lot of these cheaper seaside towns are popular for the exact same reason people liked British coastal holidays decades ago. They are simple. You go for the beach, the sea air, the fish and chips, the walks, the ice cream, and the feeling of slowing down for a couple of days. With hotel prices climbing in many tourist hotspots, more people seem happy to swap flashy resorts for quieter places that still feel genuinely enjoyable without draining the bank account.
