When the weather finally warms up, it’s incredibly tempting to book a holiday down to the rugged cliffs and sandy beaches of Cornwall.
But as anyone who’s tried to secure a holiday cottage there recently knows, a week on the southwestern coast now comes with an absolutely eye-watering price tag. Between the overcrowded beaches and the astronomical cost of a basic dinner out, that relaxing seaside break can quickly turn into a major source of financial stress.
Luckily, you don’t need to spend a fortune to enjoy a brilliant British staycation. Dotted right across the UK coastline are spectacular, under-the-radar seaside towns that offer the exact same dramatic views, fresh seafood, and sandy shores, but at a fraction of the cost. If you’re looking for a proper coastal getaway without the tourist crowds or the premium prices, these hidden spots are the perfect alternative.
Cornwall has become a victim of its own success.
There’s no doubt Cornwall is gorgeous. Miles of golden sand, surfing waves rolling in off the Atlantic, charming little towns like St Ives and Falmouth, and a food scene that’s seriously upped its game over the past few years. The problem is that everyone else has noticed too. Roughly 4 million people stay there overnight every year, and another 14 million pop down for day trips. That’s a lot of people sharing the same coast.
The crunch really hits during the school holidays, when prices for accommodation rocket and the beaches can feel more crowded than a music festival. According to recent figures, there were over 710,000 holiday let nights booked in Cornwall in August alone. Add to that the traffic, the parking nightmares and the cost of eating out in tourist hotspots, and a Cornish holiday can end up being expensive and exhausting at the exact moment you were trying to unwind.
One expert says we’re missing a trick.
The Founder of the travel company Beach Stays, has pointed out that there are stretches of coastline elsewhere in the UK that are every bit as stunning as Cornwall, far less crowded, and meaningfully cheaper to visit. His view is simple. Most people don’t consider these alternatives because they’re less familiar, but anyone willing to look slightly further afield is rewarded with the kind of peaceful seaside escape that Cornwall used to offer before the crowds caught on.
His two top picks for a proper coastal break that doesn’t cost the earth are West Wales and Northumberland. Neither of them is exactly off the map, but both are dramatically less busy than Cornwall, and you can get a lot more for your money in terms of accommodation, food, and parking. They also happen to be home to some genuinely jaw-dropping beaches that hold their own against anything down south.
West Wales is a properly hidden gem.
West Wales is the kind of place that quietly takes your breath away the first time you visit. The coastline runs for miles, lined with dramatic cliffs, pristine sandy beaches and tiny secluded coves you can have all to yourself even in summer. Charming seaside towns like Cardigan and Aberaeron offer proper Welsh hospitality, fresh seafood and the sort of pace of life that genuinely lets you switch off.
Some of the most beautiful beaches in this part of Wales include Barafundle Bay, often voted one of the best beaches in the UK, plus the vast expanse of Pendine Sands and the surf-friendly Whitesands Bay. Visitors regularly describe these spots as miles of beach with hardly anyone around, plenty of parking and proper unspoilt views.
One reviewer of Pendine Sands called it a beautiful beach with miles of sand, gorgeous views and loads of food options nearby. Another Whitesands Bay regular said they’ve been coming back almost every year because it’s still so peaceful.
The national park that runs along the coast will take your breath away.
One of West Wales’s biggest secret weapons is the Pembrokeshire Coast National Park, which happens to be the only coastal national park in the entire UK. It stretches for 186 miles along the shoreline and offers some of the most spectacular walking anywhere in Britain. The famous Pembrokeshire Coast Path runs the length of the park, and you can pick up sections of it for an afternoon stroll or tackle the whole thing if you fancy a proper adventure.
The views along the path are genuinely incredible. Winding estuaries, enormous sandy beaches, rugged sea cliffs, hidden bays and quiet little fishing harbours all line the route. Wildlife lovers also do well here, with seabird colonies, seal-spotting opportunities and the chance to see dolphins playing offshore on a good day. For families, there are plenty of gentler walks that take in beaches, ice cream stops and rock pools without anyone needing to break a sweat.
Northumberland is the other secret hiding in plain sight.
Up in the north east, Northumberland offers a completely different kind of coastal magic. Wide, unspoilt beaches stretch for miles, backed by tall sand dunes, rolling hills and purple heather moorland. The landscape feels properly wild and ancient, which is partly because it actually is. This part of England has been settled for thousands of years, and the coastline is dotted with the dramatic ruins of medieval castles that give it a real sense of history.
The standout beach is Bamburgh, with its three miles of golden sand watched over by the towering Bamburgh Castle. The views across to the Farne Islands and Holy Island are something special, and the whole area has a peaceful, uncrowded feel that’s almost impossible to find on a busy Cornish beach in summer. Dog walkers particularly love Northumberland because most of the beaches here are open to dogs all year round, which isn’t always the case down south.
There are several other Northumberland beaches worth knowing.
Bamburgh isn’t the only beach worth a visit. Budle Bay offers a sweeping coastal landscape that’s perfect for long walks and bird watching. Beadnell Bay has a beautiful horseshoe shape and tends to be a bit livelier with families and water sports lovers. Embleton Bay is overlooked by the ancient ruins of Dunstanburgh Castle, which is one of the most atmospheric spots on the entire English coastline, especially at sunset.
One visitor who went to Bamburgh recently described it as a fantastic beach with breathtaking views of the Farne Islands and Holy Island, perfect for tiring out the dogs and topped off by being able to grab a coffee at a local café afterwards. That’s the sort of relaxed, unhurried experience that’s getting harder to come by in the busier corners of the UK coast.
Northumberland is also castle country.
Northumberland is known as the “castle county” for very good reason. As well as Bamburgh and Dunstanburgh, there’s the magnificent Alnwick Castle, which Harry Potter fans will recognise as the location used for Hogwarts in the early films. It’s also been used as a filming location for Downton Abbey, which gives it serious appeal for anyone who enjoys a bit of grand history.
Combining a beach day with a castle visit makes for the kind of holiday that keeps everyone happy. Kids get to run around on the sand and then poke around an actual ancient fortress. Grown-ups get to enjoy the views, the history and a proper cup of tea in a quiet café. It’s the sort of variety that’s harder to pull off when you’re stuck in traffic trying to find a parking space in St Ives.
Why these spots are kinder to your wallet
The price difference between Cornwall and these alternatives can be genuinely huge, particularly in peak season. Cottages, hotels and B&Bs in West Wales and Northumberland tend to be considerably cheaper than equivalent places in Cornwall, and the difference grows the closer you get to school holidays. Eating out is more reasonably priced too, with proper pubs and cafés rather than the kind of tourist-trap prices you can run into down south.
Parking is another quiet money-saver. Cornwall is famous for charging eye-watering rates at popular beaches, while plenty of beaches in West Wales and Northumberland still have free or low-cost parking. Add in the savings on traffic-related stress, expensive ice creams and overpriced tat in tourist shops, and you can easily knock a fair chunk off the total cost of your holiday.
