stepping

IS there anything better than a traditional British seaside summer holiday when the sun shines?

Buckets and spades, Cadbury Flakes jammed into Mr. Whippy ice creams, rounds of seafront mini golf and travelling home with a stick of rock as a souvenir.

But let’s face it – some of our favourite resorts have become built up over the years with flashy neon arcades and attractions.

Over the years, our Travel team have visited seaside towns all over the UK, and a few stick out as traditional favourites that have remained nearly unchanged.

Not only this, but there’s heaps of history to be explored in these historic seaside towns, too.

From one of Britain’s best-preserved Medieval walls lined with gunports and stone towers, to 1950’s-style gelato bars serving up a retro knickerbocker glory, here’s Sun Travel’s favourite seaside towns that feel like stepping back in time.

Broadstairs, Kent

Deputy Travel Editor, Kara Godfrey

The coastline of Broadstairs really does feel like you’re stepping back in time, from the retro huts lining the beach to the vintage merry go round that pops up in summer.

Forget the chaotic arcades and bustle – there’s just a small arcade on the top of the cliff, and most of the busy cafes and bars are further up from the sand.

Of course, expect it to be busy in the peak summer months, but visit in shoulder season and you’ll have most of the beach to yourself.

Morelli’s is an institution and a must – the retro 1950s gelato bar will satisfy that itch for a towering knickerblocker glory.

For the best chippy, The Mermaid is the go-to of locals, while the Charles Dickens’ pub (named after the famous author who once raved about Broadstairs) is the popular spot for a pint.

Personally, my favourite spot is the slightly trendier Bar Ingo, with basque tapas inspired small plates that have led to its multiple awards.

Want to make a weekend of it? Stay at Smith’s Townhouse, a recently opened boutique hotel that has some of the best coffee in town. Rooms from £160 a night. See smithstownhouse.co.uk.

Or opt for the Canterbury Bell by Marston’s Inns, which offers double rooms from £52 per night.

Portreath, Cornwall

Head of Travel, Lisa Minot

The pretty Cornish fishing village of Portreath has escaped the modern makeover of many of its neighbouring coastal resorts.

Its layout is still dictated by its 18th century industrial past with its historic harbour built to ship copper ore to Wales.

You can still walk or cycle the old Great Flat Lode tramways that once carried the minerals.

Set at the bottom of a steep-sided valley, the village is flanked by towering, rugged cliffs that look exactly the same as they did centuries ago.

You won’t find chain stores, amusement arcades or sprawling hotels here, the seafront and village streets are lined with traditional granite cottages alongside independent local cafes like the Pod Cafe overlooking the beach.

There are also a couple of very traditional Cornish pubs including the Portreath Arms and Basset Arms.

The beach is perfect for long walks with the dogs with the Atlantic swells crashing against its shores.

Stay at the Gwel An Mor Resort above the village with a woodland path to the beach.

This lovely resort of eco-chic pine lodges also features a restaurant, indoor pool and spa as well as tennis courts and indoor soft play and adventure course.

Stays start from £167 per night in June. See argyllholidays.com.

If you prefer holiday park breaks, book a stay at Parkdean Resorts’ Crantock Beach.

The beachfront holiday park offers four night stays for four people in a Bronze caravan from £119, or £7.44pp per night.

Great Yarmouth, Norfolk

Travel Reporter, Jenna Stevens

Families have been flocking to the fairgrounds of Great Yarmouth for hundreds of years – and it still very much remains a popular seaside resort today.

Great Yarmouth saw a particularly big boom in holidaymakers in 1844 when the seaside railway opened, which transported visitors from the Midlands straight to the beach.

Today, Brits visit from all across the UK to try out top attractions like the rollercoasters of Pleasure Beach and watch the eye-catching shows of the Hippodrome Circus.

While these modern attractions are absolutely worth visiting, there’s plenty of historical sites here that go under the radar.

You might not expect it, but Great Yarmouth has the second-best preserved medieval town wall in England (following York).

You can still walk alongside the mile-long wall and see its massive flint towers and gunports, a scenic and historic walk away from the busier streets.

For some maritime history, head to The Time and Tide Museum.

Here you can discover the town’s fishing heritage through hands-on family activities and transport back in time to the 1950’s quayside. Adult tickets cost £7.74 and child tickets (aged 4 – 17) cost £6.57.

For somewhere to stay, the Knights Court Hotel has rooms from £90 per night and sits directly on the seafront.

Or go for a stay at the award-winning Seashore Holiday Park, with Haven Hideaway offers from £49 for four people for four nights – which works out to £3.06pp per night.

Aldeburgh, Suffolk

Travel Reporter, Alice Penwill

Counties like Norfolk and Essex are filled with noisy, arcade-filled seaside resorts.

But I recently discovered that those dotted along the Suffolk coastline are very different, especially when I found myself in Aldeburgh on a quiet spring weekend.

The promenade is protected so it means there can be no sellers or souvenir shops on the front, so it still maintains its feel of being a Victorian seaside town.

There’s nothing but towering pastel coloured merchant houses, fisherman’s cottages and of course, its long shingle beach.

The town is consistently referred to as being one of the prettiest (and might I add, poshest) in the country.

Behind Crag Path promenade is where you’ll find classic English bakeries, ice cream parlours, fish and chip shops, and pubs.

I popped into the White Hart, perched on the corner. It’s a small 18th century building filled with wooden furniture and nautical memorabilia – and serves up Adnams on draught – brewed up the road in Southwold.

Make sure to pop into Aldeburgh Fish & Chip Shop across the street too, it’s the oldest in the town and first opened in 1967.

Stay at the Brudenell Hotel right on the seafront from £74.50pp/pn. See
thehotelfolk.co.uk/hotels/brudenell-hotel.

Or opt for a stay at Parkdean Resorts Kessingland Beach, where you can book four nights in a chalet for 2 for £99. That’s £12.38pp per night.

Babbacome, Devon

Travel Reporter, Cyann Fielding

Nestled within the coastline between Dawlish and Torquay, you’ll find Babbacombe – an unspoilt town with heaps of history.

The town dates back to the 16th century when it was a fishing village and much of the original charm can still be seen today.

You can head to Babbacombe Beach, which is made up of shingle and sits below the towering red cliffs that form Babbacombe Downs.

Or you can visit Oddicombe Beach, by the historic funicular which has been operating for a century and travels the 200 metres down to the beach.

If you’re wanting somewhere special to eat, head to Babbacombe Bay Cafe, which serves freshly made toasties with salad.

About a three-minute walk away from the Downs, you’ll reach the high street where you can explore Bygones – a museum with a full-scale replica Victorian street (£13.95 per adult/£9.75 per child).

Another great attraction is Babbacombe Model Village, where you can feel like a giant as you explore hundreds of model scenes depicting British life (£21.95 per adult/£17.95 per child).

As for somewhere to stay, head to the Cary Arms Hotel and Spa where stays start from £195 per night.

There are also four night stays available at Parkdean Resorts Torquay Holiday Park for £99, or £12.38pp per night.

Whitby, Yorkshire

Travel Reporter, Jenna Stevens

Whitby offers everything you’d want in a trip to the seaside: award-winning fish and chips, amusements, tasty ice creams at every corner – but it stands out thanks to its connection to some famous historical figures.

Famous explorer Captain Cook trained for his global voyages in Whitby. Here you can visit the Captain Cook Memorial Museum, known as the House on the Harbour.

Inside, have a nosy around the 17th-century rooms where a 17-year-old James Cook lived as an apprentice in 1746.

Outdoors, you can hop on a Captain Cook boat tour which dives right into the life of the famous voyager, packed with plenty of sea shanties to sing along to.

Horror and literature fans alike will love the town’s connection to Dracula. You can see the grand Gothic ruins of Whitby Abbey from across the harbour, which keeps watch over the town from its creepy clifftop perch.

Author Bram Stoker visited Whitby in 1890 and was struck by the landmark looming over the pretty resort. After reading up on folklore in the local library, the writer penned his famous text.

This town takes its vampire fame seriously. To celebrate 125 years since the novel’s publication, English Heritage broke a Guinness World Record by hosting the world’s largest gathering of vampires, with 1,369 caped fans showing up.

To follow in the count’s footsteps, you can climb the famous 199 stone steps. In the book, a sinister black dog dashes up this staircase to announce Dracula’s arrival.

Luckily, daytime climbs offer gorgeous views of tiered red-roofed cottages rather than scares.

Stay on theme at the nautical Smugglers Rest bed and breakfast from £95 per night.

Or bag yourself a four night stay at Parkdean Resorts Cayton Bay in a Bronze Caravan, which sleeps eight, from £136 – which works out to £4.25pp per night in a full caravan.

Cockington, Torquay

Head of Travel, Lisa Minot

Tucked away in a hidden valley just a mile from the bustling seafront of Torquay, the quintessential Devon village of Cockington is unchanged.

While the English Riviera expanded over the centuries to accommodate the boom in tourism, Cockington has stood frozen in time.

The village is made up of striking 16th and 17th century cottages complete with whitewashed cob walls, timber beams and thick, thatched roofs.

And the reason the village has been unchanged for centuries is Cockington Court, A manor house dating back to the Domesday Book, the estate and country are protected against any development by a registered charity.

Legendary crime writer, Agatha Christie, was a frequent visitor to Cockington Court in her youth and even took part in amateur theatre on the manor house’s lawns.

The village’s narrow lanes wind past three tranquil mill ponds, ancient orchards and wooded walks and to this day, one of the most popular ways to arrive here to get around is via traditional horse drawn carriages.

Quench your thirst at the local pub, The Drum Inn, designed in 1936 by the architect Sir Edwin Lutyens to seamlessly blend in with the ancient surroundings or visit the original Forge, which has been operating on the same site since the 14th century.

Stay at the Hotel Indigo Torquay which sits on the seafront close to Cockington Country Park. Double rooms start at £61 per night in June. See ihg.com.

Book a four night stay at Park Holidays’ Dawlish Sands from £249 total, or £15.56pp per night.