A UK beach town that was named a trending destination for next year was previously named one of the country’s worst seaside towns.
It stated the reason as to why the seaside town is making a comeback is “thanks to a renewed love for quintessential British beach breaks.”
Flixbus has found the top trending destinations for 2026, one of which is Weston-super-Mare in Somerset.
It added: “Travellers are craving the simple pleasure of a day by the sea, with bookings for Weston rising as people seek out wide sands and retro charms.”
Weston-super-Mare is pretty retro as it was a popular Victorian seaside resort back in the 18th century.
The railway lines connecting it to Bath, Bristol and South Wales opened in 1841, which saw a huge tourism boost.
It fell into decline in the 1960s when cheap package holidays tempted Brits to holiday abroad.
The town hasn’t always had a good reputation in recent years either, having been named as one of the country’s worst seaside towns in 2023 by Which? and the Telegraph.
However a huge rejuvenation project taking place is probably another reason Brits are looking into visiting Weston-super-Mare.
The seaside town is going through a huge rejuvenation as part of its £20million Weston Placemaking Strategy which will regenerate the town as part of a 10-year plan.
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Weston-super-Mare’s Tropicana is being transformed into a venue for culture, arts, and entertainment.
It will undergo work like having its 1930s facade repaired while the venue’s outdoor capacity will be increased, and it’s due to reopen in 2026.
After closing as a lido in 2000, the Tropicana stood vacant for years until Banksy used it as the venue for his Dismaland bemusement park in 2015.
There are also plans to revitalise Birnbeck Pier which was open between 1867 and 1994.
It had a range of attractions like a Pavilion, a Switchback Railway, mini fairground, a water chute and a roller rink.
The pier is the only one in the UK which links to the mainland to an island, with access to Birnbeck Island.
Old Town Quarry, also currently closed, could be turned into an event space.
The town council’s Tourism and Information Services Manager, Warren Parker-Mills said: “We could have an opera there, we could have a ballet there, we could have things that are not necessarily associated with Weston-Super-Mare.”
There are also plans for a weekly market at the Italian Gardens.
Other popular attractions include the Weston Museum and The Helicopter Museum, the Playhouse and Winter Gardens.
The Northern county that made the Airbnb list of top trending beach destinations in the world…
Airbnb has revealed the trending beach destinations around the world, with the Northumberland coastline making the cut.
The northern county of Northumberland has been getting lots of attention over the summer, with plenty of pretty beaches that are usually less busy than those in the south.
Airbnb said: “Northumberland is drawing more summer visitors, with searches up over 50 per cent this summer, thanks to its pristine North Atlantic beaches.”
One beach that’s been highlighted as a must-see is Embleton Bay. It sits on the edge of the North Sea to the east of the village of Embleton.
The bay has a long stretch of golden sands, cool water and it’s overlooked by the ruins of Dunstanburgh Castle.
Near Embleton Bay is a pub that has previously held the title of ‘best beach bar in the UK’ – it’s called the Ship Inn in Low Newton-by-the-Sea.
It once claimed top spot in a list of the best beach pubs in the country put together by Conde Nast Traveller.
For more trending destinations, check out the holiday destinations our travel team predicts will be HUGE in 2026 – thanks to cheap hotels, flights and pints.
Plus, here are our favourite seaside towns that are less than 90 minutes from London.
