seaside

Just under two hours away from London with Mediterranean-style beaches, this getaway won’t break the bank

Britain is approaching the final stretch of winter, with warmer weather hopefully just around the corner.

Whilst you might assume a lovely getaway requires jetting off overseas, the UK boasts plenty of stunning destinations perfect for a weekend retreat – and this seaside gem stands out as the finest of them all.

This picturesque town sits less than two hours from London, with train tickets starting at just £14, making it wonderfully budget-friendly. It offers Mediterranean-style beauty featuring sandy shores, clifftop rambles and mouth-watering cuisine, yet retains quintessential British character through its Victorian promenades and harbour.

The beautiful spot in question is Broadstairs in Kent, is dubbed the jewel of Thanet.

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This sheltered coastal resort brims with sandy beaches, clifftop trails, independent cafés and seafood establishments, all conveniently accessible from its Victorian promenades and harbour.

For those who enjoy exploring on foot, there’s Viking Bay – a stunning horseshoe-shaped beach bordered by pastel-coloured huts.

Visitors can catch waves at Joss Bay, or traverse clifftop paths across Botany Bay for breathtaking vistas over the Channel.

If you’re after a more urban-style escape, there’s an abundance of independent retailers and dining spots to discover.

Independent cafés and seasonal eateries nestle alongside traditional fish-and-chip shops and family-owned institutions like Morelli’s Gelato, which dates back to the 1950s.

The town also boasts renowned literary connections. Charles Dickens spent his summers here at Bleak House.

This delightful coastal town brims with character, and the beauty of it is you won’t need to shell out hundreds of pounds or mess about with passports to experience it — eimply jump on a train and discover what’s on offer.

Pete Walls, Co-Founder of Split My Fare, remarked: “Broadstairs shows that you don’t need to go abroad for that coastal escape because clean beaches, local culture and atmospheric streets are right on our doorstep, and the train makes it easy to get there.”

ONE popular seaside town known for its Royal Harbour and sweeping sandy beach is en route to having its heritage lift restored.

The Edwardian lift in Ramsgate has been out of action for four years, but could soon be transporting visitors once more.

The historical East Cliff lift is found on Ramsgate’s seafront and was once used to transport visitors and locals between the upper promenade and main sands area.

However, the lift, which is at Harbour Parade, has been out of action since 2021.

The council says it requires “significant works” to get it up and running again.

Now, Thanet District Council (TDC) has put aside £120,000 to restore it in the 2026-27 draft budget.

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The council’s cabinet will consider the proposals on February 24, 2026.

The East Cliff lift was built in 1910 and was one of many developed across the country.

The lifts were built so that seaside hotels could provide their guests with quick and easy access to the beach.

It’s not the first time the East Cliff lift has gone under major works – it stopped operations in the 1990s and after being neglected for years, it was restored in 1999.

However, it is the only surviving lift in Ramsgate – there were once three in the seaside town however the Marina Lift was demolished back in 1926.

And the West Cliff Lift went up for auction in December 2025.

Ramsgate itself is a popular seaside town, although it’s sometimes overlooked in favour of its neighbours, Broadstairs and Margate.

But lots of Brits will still flock there every summer, usually to its Main Sands Beach.

The long sandy stretch is next to the UK’s only Royal Harbour and Marina.

It has lots of amusements, arcades, and restaurants. During the summer, you can get ice cream and drinks from the kiosks and hire out deck chairs.

Ramsgate is also home to the UK’s biggest Wetherspoons.

The Grade-II listed Royal Victoria Pavilion opened as a Wetherspoons in 2017 and it has a whopping 11,000sqm of space for drinkers, and a beachfront terrace.

When the Sun’s Deputy Travel Editor Kara Godfrey visited she said: “It’s definitely huge so you don’t have to worry about being crammed in even on a busy Saturday.

“Most people sit around the edges to be near one of the many beach views from the window.

“It’s a classic Wetherspoons grub – hearty and cheap, with the curry, sides, and wine setting me back around £11.”

Plans have been drawn up for an outdoor pool to be built in Ramsgate…

Near to the East Cliff lift is a car park that could be turned into an outdoor pool…

Heritage Lab revealed it’s in “early discussions with an experienced developer” on creating an outdoor pool complex on Ramsgate’s East Cliff.

It could be built on the Marina Esplanade Car Park in Ramsgate.

What is now a council-owned car park was once the Marina Bathing Pool built in the 1930s. It had an Olympic-sized pool, diving area and filtered seawater.

Open for years to swimmers, it eventually closed in 1975 after structural issues.

However, Heritage Lab has hinted that it hopes to bring an open-air pool back to Ramsgate.

It wouldn’t just be a pool either – Heritage Lab has hinted that the possible site could have saunas, cafes and social spaces to make it a “year-round destination”.

For more on British coastlines – the best ‘one-of-a-kind’ beaches around the world have been revealed and two in the UK make the list.

Plus, check out this English hotel right on the beach with sea-view rooms and gorgeous spa.

THERE’S a small town along the Essex coastline that’s one of the driest places in the country.

Shoeburyness has a lower annual rainfall average than the rest of the UK – not to mention it has two Blue Flag beaches and is just one hour away from London.

Thirteen minutes from Southend-on-Sea is the lesser-known coastal spot of Shoeburyness.

The town is home to around 22,000 people and is one of the driest places in the country.

Its position on the southeast coast means it gets less rainfall than other spots around the UK.

Shoeburyness records an average of between 526.78mm and 527mm of rain per year.

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In comparison, the average annual rainfall for the entire UK is 1,163mm – Shoeburyness receives less than half of that.

So, it’s no wonder that lots of people flock to the town to visit its two Blue Flag beaches; Shoebury Common and Shoebury East Beach.

Shoebury Common is a sand and shingle beach that’s popular with families during the summer.

But it’s not just bucket and spade friendly, or for paddling, though. It’s also a popular place to launch boats and jet-skis, and is good for kitesurfing too.

Up on the promenade are colourful beach huts, as well as Uncle Tom’s Cabin where visitors can grab an ice cream, soft drink or cup of tea.

Shoebury East Beach is further along the coast, and is set to undergo a £600,000 makeover this spring.

The new inclusive playground at Shoebury’s East Beach in Southend will have themed zones inspired by the sea.

There will be a sandpit, climbing areas and a submarine structure in the middle of the playground.

The playground will be open to all age groups and abilities and include wheelchair-accessible swings, roundabouts and sensory features.

The area surrounding East Beach had a new addition last summer with the Beach House Cafe opening next door to the East Beach Cafe and marking the completion of a £2million regeneration project.

One visitor to the Beach House said: “Love it here! Come for brunch every weekend, drive up from London. Lovely beach setting, food is fresh, tasty & lush!”

Last year, The Telegraph also named Shoeburyness as one of the top 20 destinations in Britain for the best secret and remote beaches.

The Telegraph stated: “Just three miles from the mayhem that is Southend in summer, Shoeburyness has two Blue Flag beaches that are far less well known.

“Its East Beach is the nicest and is popular with local paddleboarders and kitesurfers, thanks to its long strand of sand.”

The town was once even accessible on the London Underground – although it was never officially part of the network.

The District line ran seasonal, direct services to Shoeburyness via Southend between 1910 and 1939 – and was known as the ‘Southend Service’.

Those who want to visit Shoeburyness can still do so very easily from London by getting on a direct train from London Fenchurch Street.

The journey takes just one hour and one-way tickets are as little as £11.30.

If you head further into the town of Shoeburyness, you’ll find a Wetherspoon called Parson’s Barn.

There’s also a popular restaurant called The Angel Inn which earned itself a Tripadvisor Travellers’ Choice Award last year.

Here you can dig into sizzling fajitas from £15, burgers, mains like steak with chips and salmon with broccoli and paprika cous cous.

Speaking of which, on Tuesdays, The Angel Inn does Pie and Pint Night where you can get any pie and any drink from its menu from £17.

Shoebury Park is another popular spot, it stretches across 20 acres and is filled with green areas and ponds.

It also has a tennis court, basketball court, cricket pitch, bowling green, BMX trail track, skateboarding facilities, fishing lake, and a children’s playground.

For more on Southend – here’s how the coastal city has become cool with celeb visitors…

Southend-on-Sea has become an unlikely hot spot for some of the UK’s best-known TV personalities.

The Essex town has seen a surge in popularity, thanks to its colourful beach huts, award-winning hotels and stunning coastline.

Dubbed the British Miami by fans because of its long golden beaches, the town often welcomes celebrity visitors.

Fool Me Once actress Michelle Keegan spent her first Mother’s Day as a mum, at the Roslin Beach Hotel on Thorpe Bay.

On Sunday 30 March, Michelle was spotted there with her husband, Mark Wright and their new baby, Palma, as well as other family members including Jess Wright.

They aren’t the only ones; the Roslin Beach Hotel has also opened its doors to Gary Barlow, Tyson Fury, Denise van Outen, and TOWIE stars including Frankie Essex, who have all visited.

It was reported earlier last year that the hotel would undergo a £10million makeover. Currently, the Roslin Beach Hotel has 37 bedrooms, but with the extension, it will have an extra seven rooms.

They also want to add a spa, a new wedding venue, and add outdoor restaurant facilities.

For more on Essex, this is Britain’s smallest town that was named one of the coolest spots in the country with cosy pubs and coastal walks.

And here you can swap the Cotswolds for a less-crowded but equally quaint weekend in Essex’s most perfect market town.