Having been named one of the worst seaside towns in the UK, Skegness is now getting a £23 million transformation.
But the Lincolnshire town isn’t the worst place for a beach holiday in Britain.
Which? Travel surveyed thousands of people about their experiences at 120 UK seaside towns, asking for their views on a range of criteria, including the quality of the beaches, food and drink offerings, tourist attractions and value for money.
And, while Bamburgh, in Northumberland, was voted as the UK’s best seaside, these are the ten worst – in reverse order…
10. Southend-on-Sea, Essex
Despite being one of the few coastal towns in the UK with an airport, Southend was voted the tenth worst in the country, with an overall score of 53 per cent.
Despite being one of the few coastal towns in the UK with an airport, Southend was voted the tenth worst in the country, with an overall score of 53 per cent
The Essex town was given one star for its shopping, as well as for peace and quiet – unsurprising given that it’s home to a beachside theme park, Adventure Island.
But, in August 2024, terrified locals described how Southend had become a ‘warzone’, and gang warfare between local youths and those travelling down from London was blamed for an ‘explosion’ in violence and sexual crime in the area.
The situation came to a head at the end of July when horrific footage showed gangs of hooded thugs armed with machetes fighting near Adventure Island.
9. Fleetwood, Lancashire
In ninth worst place was Fleetwood, which received a meagre overall score of 51 per cent.
In ninth place was Fleetwood, which received a meagre overall score of 51 per cent.
The Lancashire town was given one star for its tourist attractions and shopping.
But, in better news, visitors are very likely to easily find a parking space, as Fleetwood was given four stars for parking.
Hotel prices in this area are low too, at £73 a night.
8. Great Yarmouth, Norfolk
With a score of 51 per cent, Great Yarmouth came in at eighth place from the bottom
With a score of 51 per cent, Great Yarmouth came in at eighth place from the bottom.
Don’t expect to feel relaxed there, as the Norfolk seaside town was given one star for peace and quiet.
The beaches and tourist attractions are where Great Yarmouth scored highest, but it was only given three stars in these categories.
Hotel prices are low at £78 a night.
7. Blackpool, Lancashire
Blackpool scored 49 percent overall, and its shopping and scenery were ranked lowest, both receiving one star each
Of all 120 of the UK’s seaside towns, Blackpool is the cheapest to stay at – with hotels costing on average £70 a night.
And even the area’s huge theme park, Blackpool Pleasure Beach, wasn’t enough to impress tourists, as the area’s attractions were given three stars.
Blackpool scored 49 percent overall.
But its shopping and scenery were ranked lowest, both receiving one star each.
6. Clacton-on-Sea, Essex
With a score of 48 per cent, Clacton-on-Sea has been voted Essex’s worst seaside town
Visit Essex describes Clacton-on-Sea as a ‘bustling but affordable seaside resort’.
But, with a score of 48 per cent, it’s actually been voted the county’s worst seaside town.
The worst part of the town is its scenery, according to tourists, as that was given one star.
It’s a fall from grace for Clacton, as its pier was named Pier of the Year in 2020.
5. Skegness, Lincolnshire
Skegness ranked bottom in Which?’s 2023 poll of UK seaside towns, and was described as a ‘vulgar hellhole’ with a ‘brown sea’, but it was ranked as the fifth worst in last year’s survey
Skegness ranked bottom in Which?’s 2023 poll of UK seaside towns, and was described as a ‘vulgar hellhole’ with ‘brown sea’.
But it was ranked as the fifth worst in last year’s survey.
However, the town’s luck might be about to change, as a new rail upgrade by East Midlands Railway (EMR) is expected to bring a wave of improvements to the area.
On April 15, EMR unveiled its first fully refurbished Class 170 train, part of a wider £60 million investment into its fleet, according to Lincolnshire World.
4. Bognor Regis, West Sussex
With a score of 47 per cent, Bognor Regis was ranked the fourth worst seaside town in the country
With a score of 47 per cent, Bognor Regis was ranked the fourth worst seaside town in the country.
The West Sussex town’s pier and shopping were given one star by Brits.
In 2019, after it was voted the joint worst seaside, Bognor locals hit back.
Jo Millen, the owner of Bognor ice cream shop Rainbows, told The Guardian: ‘Which? should just keep advising us about the washing machine that we should buy rather than grade the negative views about Bognor from people on the internet.
‘How many of the people who voted in their survey actually have been in Bognor recently? About 50 per cent of my customers come from Butlin’s [resort] nearby and they keep coming back. On a sunny day at least you can get a space on the beach here.’
3. Burnham-on-Sea, Somerset
Scoring 47 per cent, Burnham-on-Sea came in third place from the bottom
Scoring 47 per cent, Burnham-on-Sea came in third place from the bottom.
The Somerset town was given one star for its tourist attractions, food and drink, and shopping.
It was also given two stars for its pier and seafront.
Hotel prices aren’t cheap either, charging £106 a night on average.
2. Mablethorpe, Lincolnshire
The Lincolnshire town of Mablethorpe received a score of 46 per cent, and came in second from the bottom
The Lincolnshire town of Mablethorpe received a score of 46 per cent, and came in second from the bottom.
It scored just two stars in the value for money, peace and quiet and seafront/pier categories, and just one star for food and drink, tourist attractions and shopping.
But its beaches and parking are what stopped it coming in last place, as it scored three stars in both of those categories.
Hotel prices are relatively cheap, costing £86 a night.
1. Bangor, Gwynned
Wales’ oldest city, Bangor, was voted the worst seaside in the UK, and was described as ‘drab’ and ‘run down’ by tourists
Wales’ oldest city, Bangor, was voted the worst seaside town in the UK, and was described as ‘drab’ and ‘run down’ by tourists.
It scored just 42 per cent and one-star ratings for food and drink, tourist attractions, and shopping.
For everything else, Bangor received just two stars.
However, it was praised as a good base for visiting the ‘fabulous’ scenery and coast of North Wales.
