Seaside Towns

JUST minutes from a faux ‘seaside’ town filled with ice cream parlours and arcades is one of the most rural train stations in the UK.

Cromford Station in the Derbyshire Dales welcomes just one train an hour and it is one of the most quaint in the country – there’s even a holiday cottage right on the platform.

Cromford Station opened to passengers in 1849 and is often considered one of the prettiest in the UK.

In 2024, it was highlighted by the BBC as one of the “plenty of picturesque stations closer to home.

The rural station was also named one of the ‘best’ British railway stations by The Telegraph by a writer who has visited more than 500 across the country.

The small station has two platforms, but since 1968, only platform one has been in use.

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Trains are operated by East Midlands Railway and head to Matlock – a journey that takes 6 minutes – Lincoln Central and Cleethorpes.

There’s usually just one train to each destination per hour.

The building that sits on platform two is what was once the old waiting are, now used as a holiday cottage aptly called ‘The Waiting Room Holiday Cottage‘.

The quaint cottage has been completely transformed with a bedroom, new kitchen, cosy living area with an open fireplace and even underfloor heating.

It has one bedroom but can sleep up to four people thanks to its pull out sofa and can be booked from £325.

This disused platform might also look familiar to Oasis fans as it was used for the Some Might Say single cover in 1995,leading to fans rushing to stay there.

Cromford itself is a small village with some of the prettiest spots being around Cromford Mill Pond.

Just minutes up the road is the larger town of Matlock Bath which has long been considered a ‘seaside town’ despite it being 70 miles from the coastline.

However, when you’re strolling along the River Derwent during the summertime, it will feel like you’re by the seaside as there are fish and chip shops, ice cream parlours and arcades.

You can get beautiful cliff-top views over the water, and there are boat parades too – also known as the Matlock Bath Illuminations.

Discovering the town’s seaside charm is exactly what travel writer Catherine Lofthouse did when she visited a few years ago.

She said: “You will find this lively town at the bottom of a limestone gorge in deepest Derbyshire — not a county ordinarily known as a must-visit for a bucket and spade holiday.

“But Matlock Bath has been ignoring its inconvenient geography for centuries. Once famed as a spa resort, the town saw a decline in the fashion for mineral bath treatments.

“Instead there was the rise of railway travel in Victorian times, which encouraged locals to turn this village into an eccentric destination, caring not a jot that the nearest beaches are in Skegness or north Wales.”

Similar to other seaside towns like Llandudno, Matlock Bath even has a cable car.

Called the Heights of Abraham Cable Car, which is around a third of a mile long, it takes visitors right up goes up to the into the Peak District hillside.

When you get to the top of Masson Hill, visitors can explore Masson Cavern which has been turned into an immersive experience.

There’s also Great Rutland Cavern, Womble Mania, multiple viewing platforms, a sculpture trail, playground and a hilltop restaurant and cafe.

For families, Matlock Bath has another must-visit tourist spot – Gulliver’s Kingdom theme park.

In spring last year, the theme park opened a new thrilling ride called ‘Tree Top Drop’.

The drop ride at the park gives riders an incredible view of the park before suddenly plunging 15 metres.

Gulliver’s Kingdom has around 30 rides and attractions – it will reopen on March 14, 2026 for the season.

Entry to the park can cost as little as £24 if booked in advance, or £27 on the day.

Here’s another attraction minutes away from Matlock Bath…

Head to Crich Tramway Village for a fun day out – writer Catherine Lofthouse reveals why it’s the perfect family day out…

“My boys love a visit to Crich Tramway Village on the edge of the Derbyshire Dales, with its dramatic scenery over the Derwent Valley, trams of all shapes and sizes, historic buildings and fun for all the family.

“It’s the perfect place to visit if you’re gutted by the news that Blackpool’s heritage trams will no longer be spotted along the seafront as they cost too much to run. 

“But luckily Crich has several Blackpool trams from different eras, including an unusual open-topped one that looks more like a barge than a bus, that sometimes runs in nice weather.

“Once you’ve paid to visit Crich, your ticket is valid all year so you can go back as much as you like to ride the rails.

“A ticket covering either one adult and four children or two adults and three children is around £50, so it’s good value if you live close enough to make the most of visiting lots of times during the summer season.

“One little touch that my boys love is receiving an old coin on arrival, which is used to pay the conductor for your ticket on the first tram you board.

“Adults are given an old penny and children a halfpenny. It certainly helps get you in the spirit of days gone by, before you even step foot on a tram.

A visit to Barnett’s sweet shop, with jars of goodies and ice creams to choose from, is a hit with the little ones, while adults can enjoy a drink in the Red Lion, a pub that’s been reconstructed brick by brick from its original site in Stoke.”

For more on Derbyshire, here’s why Derby makes one of the best city breaks for an affordable holiday and fun attractions.

If you’re heading to the Peak District, discover these lesser-known spots from one local who grew up there.

THE UK is home to some brilliant places to head off on a staycation, with one spot in particular recently being named one of the best places to visit this year.

Hastings, sat on the south coast, features the perfect blend of history, beaches and independent shops.

And now the seaside town has just been named one of the best places to visit in 2026 by Time Out, due to a range of exciting reasons.

Time Out said: “Hastings and St Leonards has been up-and-coming, with what locals call DFLs (down from Londoners) for a few years now, and that’s not going to slow down in 2026.

“It’s well known that Hastonians love a good knees-up, and every year the seaside town has a calendar packed full of cultural and community events: the incoming year has the usual festivals, including Fat Tuesday, Jack and the Green and Pirate Day, all on the books for 2026 already.”

One reason the seaside town will be particularly special to visit this year is that 2026 marks the 960th anniversary of the Battle of Hastings.

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To mark the 960th anniversary, there will be a huge wargame with thousands of mini figures that will re-enact the battle where William the Conqueror took the throne.

Down the road from Hastings itself, is Battle Abbey – which sits next to the field where the battle took place.

Today it is an English Heritage site that you can visit for £17.50 per person to learn about the battle in the visitor centre and experience an audio tour that re-enacts the battle.

The abbey itself was founded by William after the conquest and is said to be sitting on the exact spot that King Harold died.

Back in Hastings there are plenty of other things to see and do.

In Hastings Old Town, you can explore lots of antiques shops – particularly on George Street.

If you aren’t into treasure hunting, then Hastings has a lot of modern, independent shops as well.

It is also in the Old Town where you will find the UK’s steepest funicular railway in use today.

It originally opened in 1902 and boasts amazing views of the beach below.

A return journey ticket costs £5.50 per person.

For art lovers, there is Hastings Contemporary which is right by the beach and is home to contemporary and modern British art – tickets cost £11 per person.

The beach is a pretty spot worth exploring too – it features a mix of sand and shingle and has a promenade with arcades and fish-and-chip spots.

Along the beach, you can venture onto Hastings Pier, for example.

The pier has an open design with stunning views of the sea and features cafes, a restaurant and even a sauna.

One recent visitor said: “Hastings Beach is a beautifully balanced seaside experience offering nostalgia, waves, and local life all in one.

“Whether you’re here for a lazy lunch, paddle sports, a dip, or simply soaking up that Old Town vibe by the sea, it’s a great spot to unplug and enjoy a British beach day with character.”

Another visitor said: “This beautiful stony beach offers a peaceful and well-maintained setting, with a remarkably quiet atmosphere.

“The area is exceptionally clean and tidy, and the locals are warm and welcoming.

“It was well worth the two hour drive from Sutton, and I would highly recommend it as a destination for families.”

If you walk for around 20 to 30 minutes along the promenade, you will reach St Leonards too, which is actually nestled within Hastings.

According to Time Out, “neighbouring St Leonards is quickly becoming a trendy coastal epicentre to give Margate a run for its money“.

Here you will find art galleries, more independent shops and top coffee spots.

Foodies should head to The Royal – a Michelin Bib Gourmand restaurant – which can be found in a Victorian building in the town centre with a vintage feel inside.

Dishes include pork loin and apple sauce for £19 or rare sirloin of beef with horseradish cream for £23 – both include roast potatoes, carrots, Yorkshire pudding, greens and gravy.

It takes just under two hours to drive to Hastings from London, or you could catch the train from London Bridge, with it taking around one hour and 23 minutes.

If you want to explore other top spots in the UK, here’s an under-the-radar seaside village that’s one of the coolest places in the UK – with £2.50 pints and beach saunas.

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MANY of us have fond memories of our UK seaside summer holidays growing up.

Fish and chips, building sandcastles, braving the British waters – this is all a part of growing up holidaying in the UK.

But as time went by, many seaside resorts lost their sparkle, leaving behind abandoned fairgrounds or forgotten piers, especially following the boom in cheap package holidays abroad.

Thankfully, many major seaside resorts in the UK have had some serious revamps – with new restaurants, hotels, cafes and shops breathing fresh life into these beloved beach towns.

Now, some of these familiar towns are becoming family holiday hotspots, and are fast-becoming some of the UK’s must-visit destinations.

Here are some of the seaside towns that were once left to ruin – only to have become the coolest places to visit in recent years.

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Folkestone, Kent

Folkestone was was once dubbed a “dump” in a viral TikTok video, and was left rundown after years of neglect, despite being a popular holiday resort back in the Victorian times.

Not only was there once a direct train from London to the harbour itself, but it had a thriving funicular, lido and even rollercoaster.

Yet over the years, these were all left to fall into disrepair before closing or being knocked down.

However, the seaside town is becoming a new coastal hotspot.

The town was named the Best Place to Live in South East England last year in The Sunday Times, and even charted as Time Out’s best UK place to visit in 2025.

Folkestone has undergone major transformation in recent years.

Once a tired ferry port, Folkestone has been refreshed with the addition of trendy seafront bars, high-end restaurants, and a thriving Creative Quarter.

The once-derelict Harbour Arm celebrates it’s 10th anniversary this year, now lined with nearly 70 food and retail stalls, bars and live music spots.

Linking the Harbour Arm to the Lower Leas Coastal Park is the Boardwalk – a path over the calm shingle beach made from old railway sleepers.

Or wander up the hilly, cobbled streets from the harbour into the town centre, and you’ll find the vibrant Creative Quarter – packed with galleries, studios, and independent shops.

Here you’ll find the Folkestone Quarterhouse, showing a range of theatre shows, comedy and music events and festivals.

In fact the town is home to many artistic festivals – celebrating everything from poetry to documentaries.

The seaside town even attracts hoards of Kate Bush fans for the viral Wuthering Heights day.

And the transformation isn’t slowing down anytime soon.

The historic Leas Lift, a Grade II listed funicular railway taking passengers between the seafront and promenade, is set to reopen in 2026.

Cromer, Norfolk

Cromer in North Norfolk was seen as a dated seaside town for a long time.

With trendy seaside towns like Wells-next-the-Sea and Holkham drawing in crowds to North Norfolk each summer, to many Cromer appeared bland and dreary in comparison.

However, Cromer has recently reinvented itself with a wave of new cafes, shops and quirky art spaces.

And with Norfolk being named a must-visit destination by Condé Nast in 2025, the limelight is shining back on the Victorian seaside town.

“Come for the party but stay for one of the UK’s very best summer getaways […] as you stroll Cromer’s charmingly retro pier” states the travel magazine.

Cromer Artspace is home to contemporary art and exhibitions, whilst the artisan Grey Seal Coffee shop offers a trendy new spot to grab a flat white.

And recently, new dessert spot Norfolk Crumble has seen queues long out the door for its unique crumble flavours and popular thick shakes.

Down at the Blue Flag beach, you’ll find a maritime museum, pretty painted beach huts, and Norfolk’s best waves for surfing.

There’s also a year-round weekly market on Fridays, and the Amazona Zoo where you can meet jaguars, parrots and anacondas.

Hastings, Sussex

For many, Hastings has not been a top pick when choosing a seaside town to visit in the South-East of England.

In fact, a Which? survey of more than 3,500 people saw the resort rank in last place under the “best small UK cities for a short break“.

However, the Victorian seaside town has been undergoing a glamorous a glow-up.

Hastings was one of 101 UK towns to be given a share of investments from the government in their £3.6bn Towns Fund – a plan to “level up our regions”.

The program has seen the addition of public art, extra green spaces, and even a boost in affordable housing for locals.

Thanks to these investments, Hastings is not only becoming a desirable place to live – but a trendy seaside spot to visit.

Historic Hastings Castle is home to Norman ruins and breath-taking clifftop views, whilst the iconic Hastings pier (opened in 1872) is a Victorian classic revamped.

The pier, which suffered a dramatic fire in 2010, has been rebuilt with cafes, children’s rides, and even live music in the summertime.

It’s also home to the Pavilion Restaurant and Bar, a 2x AA Rosette-winning restaurant inside of the original pier’s only remaining building.

There’s also plenty to see and do in Hastings with the kids, including the traditional Flamingo Amusements, and Hastings Aquarium – home to pufferfish, pythons and axolotls.

There’s also the exciting Smugglers Adventure – a journey through caves and caverns to discover the secrets of real smugglers.

Southend-on-Sea, Essex

Southend-on-Sea has long had a divisive reputation, and was even once dubbed the “worst place on earth” by a resident on TripAdvisor.

In fact, Which? Travel ranked the Essex town number 10 in their list of the Top 10 Worst Seaside Towns in the UK earlier this year.

Many have thought the town to be an unsafe place to visit, but a £16 million cash injection has revived the once-faded seaside resort.

Now, Southend is swapping tacky for trendy, with a line-up of brand new restaurants, hotels and revitalised shores.

The well-known Essex Mimosa restaurant has opened up a stylish location on Southend’s seafront, and the brand-new boutique Seven Hotel has added a splash of luxury to the resort.

Plus an £8m refurbishment of the popular Cliffs Pavilion arts venue is underway, which will see a major restaurant expansion, a modern new entrance and brand new outdoor piazza.

Another major change the town has seen is the introduction of a “green oasis” on the seafront.

Work is underway to create luscious gardens which will both prevent flooding and add a pretty landscape of canopies and greenery.

Alongside these new additions, classic attractions such as Adventure Island continue to bring in hoards of thrill-seeking tourists.

Many continue to return to Southend year after year for the ever-popular pier and railway, chasing a wave of childhood nostalgia from bucket and spade summer holidays.

Now in the coming years, the seaside town is set to offer the perfect mix of classic coastal charm and modern design.