THINK crystal clear waters, dolphin spotting and independent boutiques – well, the UK’s best seaside destination has all of this.
Less than three miles from its popular and busier neighbour – Tenby – you’ll find Saundersfoot in Pembrokeshire, Wales.
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Named the best seaside spot in the UK by Time Out, it said: “Saundersfoot is one of Pembrokeshire’s most energetic spots” adding that it has a “lively spirit”.
One of the top things to do in the village is of course heading to the beach, which stretches more than half a mile long.
The Blue Flag beach is a popular spot for families as it has shallow water and boasts a lot of fun activities such as canoeing, windsurfing and swimming.
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The beach has also previously been named as one of the cleanest beaches in the world by TripAdvisor.
You might even be lucky enough to catch a glimpse of dolphins or a grey seal from the beach.
At one end of the beach you’ll find the harbour, which dates back to 1829 and was built as an industrial port to export coal from local mines.
Today, the harbour is a tourist hub for Saundersfoot, with a number of places to grab a bite to eat as well as a ship you can play crazy golf on.
If you like history, make sure to walk around the entire harbour, as at the end you’ll see Saundersfoot Lighthouse, which was built in 1848 to mark the entrance to the harbour.
From the harbour you can also hop on a boat trip with Saundersfoot Sealife Adventures to see local wildlife and Caldey Island for an hour and a half.
Each trip costs around £25 per adult and £20 per child.
Just steps away from both the beach and the harbour, you’ll find Hwyl Outdoor Sauna where you can enjoy a sauna session from just £9 per person.
Spread across a couple of roads, again just steps from the beach, there’s also the high street with independent boutiques, cafes and art studios.
Back in 2024, The Telegraph even noted how Saundersfoot is a “little-known hip town” that is the “perfect bolthole for those who want to see West Wales’s sights and lively towns but also enjoy quiet, sunset-watching downtime in the evening”.
From the village, you can head on a number of walks as well along the Pembrokeshire Coast Path, where you will see amazing views of the coastline.
Our favourite UK holiday parks
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Park Holidays UK Sand le Mere, Yorkshire
This holiday park in Yorkshire is a thriving family resort, just steps from Tunstall Beach. Entertainment is what this resort does best, with costume character performances, Link-up Bingo and cabaret shows. Accommodation ranges from fully-equipped Gold Caravans to Platinum Lodges with sun decks and luxury bedding.
St Ives Bay Beach Resort, Cornwall
This beachfront resort in St Ives, Cornwall is a true beach bum’s paradise – whether you want to laze out on the sand, or take to the waves for some surfing. Activities include disc golf, a Nerf challenge and an outdoor cinema, as well as indoor activities for the colder months like karaoke, bingo and DJ sets.
Billing Aquadrome Holiday Park, Northampton
This holiday park has loads of unique activities on offer, including TikTok dance classes, alpaca feeding, a pump track for BMX riding, and taking a ride on the resort’s very own miniature railway. Throw in bug hotel and den building, pond dipping, survival skills workshops and a lake for paddleboard and pedalo hire, and you’ve got yourself an action-packed park.
Parkdean Resorts Camber Sands, Sussex
This beachfront resort is a classic family favourite. If you’re not up to swimming in the sea, there’s four fantastic pools here, as well as water flumes, underwater jets, inflatable jet skis and kayak races. Plus if you’ve got any little fans of Paw Patrol or Milkshake!, you’ll be glad to know there’s Milkshake! Mornings and Paw Patrol Mighty Missions to keep your tots entertained.
And just outside of the village, you can visit Folly Farm Adventure Park and Zoo which is home to a number of animals, rides and a recently updated play area.
The Pirate Adventure has a castle and a number of accessible play areas, including low level options for wheelchair users.
You can also opt to stay at the holiday park onsite, which in November was named one of the best family campsites in South Wales by the Campsites.co.uk awards.
There are other places to stay in and around Saundersfoot though, including Sunnyvale Holiday Park.
The holiday park has 53 caravans ideal for families and is less than a mile from Saundersfoot Beach.
Facilities at the park include a games room, kids play area, hot tubs, pet-friendly options and an indoor pool.
A two-night stay in August costs from £300.
For more ideas on UK staycations, here are some cheap last-minute UK holidays still available for the May bank holiday weekends.
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