Your favourite English seaside destination

What's your favourite English seaside destination? We'd love to know! Comment on this blog and tell us where you like to go for sun, sand and a swim!

We've recently published a guide to our users' most popular seaside destination pages, and with Royal Mail paying homage to the great British holiday with six Beside the Seaside stamps including favourite holiday scenes of a sandcastle, deckchairs, a merry-go-round, beach huts, donkeys and an ice cream now seemes like a perfect time to offer advice on where to go for a swim in the sea!

Here's some recommendations from staff members at Enjoy England:

Harlyn Bay, Cornwall - white sand, clear water and fantastic surf!
Watergate Bay, Cornwall - surfing mecca, home to loads of extreme sports, Jamie Oliver's Fifteen overlooks the beach so you can dine in style.
Porthcurno, Cornwall - home to the Minack Theatre where you can sit and enjoy a show whilst watching the dolphins leap behind the actors and actresses. In the summer you might even be lucky enough to spot the basking sharks that come into the shallow waters.
Bigbury, Devon - beautiful scenic location and very child friendly. You can also walk out to Burgh Island and have a drink in the Pilchard Inn at low tide.
Croyde, Devon - another surfing beach on the North Devon coast.
Clovelly, North Devon - an amazing setting! Almost like taking a step back in time to the age of pirates!
Sandbanks, Dorset - beautiful, clean and great facilities!
Durdle Door, Dorest - features in our TV advert
Alnmouth, North East - stunning yellow sand set in a beautiful surroundings. Lots of coloured seaside cottages and loads of pubs!

Are we missing somewhere special in England? Let us know now!

Comments

[Wendy]

I was disappointed not to see Southend-On-Sea in your top ten.

I have lived here for 21 months and I love it, although the pier still needs to be renovated, we have lots of amusements and beachside cafes.

We also have 2 great shopping centres, The Royals and Victoria Place, which has been undergoing a wonderful regeneration programme.

Also this Bank Holiday we have our Annual Air Show.

So give a cheer for Southend-On-Sea!!!

[Jack C]

Whitby, the beautiful sea side town in north yorkshire has to b in there, and also i'd say goodrington sands because of the nice icecream, warm sea and sun

[Jacyntha Crawley]

I collect postcards and have over 100,000. I belong to an international postcard club, and postcards from England are much liked. I usually post my postcards on the First Day of Issue of Stamps from the Royal Mail (2 collector items in one!).
My favourite beach in England is West Bay, Dorset. There are many fossils here if there has been a high tide. I love that area of Dorset (Charmouth and Lyme Regis) and every year the London Intervarsity Club (www.londonivc.com) together with other Intervarsity Clubs do active conservation volunteerings for at least one week. This is done in collaboration with the National Trust, the charity which owns much of the coastline in Dorset. This is a very interesting and practical hobby.

[tim relf]

Top three: Aldeburgh, Aldeburgh and, eeer, Aldeburgh!

[Duncan]

Woolacombe - a great long sandy beach, backed by sand dunes. Ideal for paddling, swimming, body boarding or full surfing.

[Scott K]

"Embleton Bay, which lies just north of Dunstanburgh Castle on the coast north east of Alnwick in Northumberland."

Oh, that is fantastic too. The castle totally sets off the beach around it - and then there's the sand dunes to them, what, south? By the golf course anyway.

[Carol]

I saw your newsletter and my favourite beach is East Head at Wittering, West Sussex. The wildness of the place, the light on the sand as the sea retreats, the dunes, the vastness of it whan the tide is out, yet even at high tide there is still an atmosphere of space.

[Alastair Boyd]

I saw your newsletter and my favourite beach is, like one of your previous posters, Polzeath in North Cornwall. Fond memories, not just of the beach, but the ice cream too. Fantastic.

[anna]

My favourite beach Mablethorpe linconshire mile upon mile of golden sandy beach with the sea covering it at high tide beautiful

[Mrs A Heasman]

I saw your newsletter and my favourite beach is St Mildred's Bay in Westgate because the sea comes right up to the sea wall every day and washes the beach. The sea is safe as it is shallow for a long way out and shelves gently down. When the sea is out there are rock pools for the children to explore.

[heather rowley]

I saw your comment and my favourite beach is at Lulwal Cove absoutely breath taking, private and beautiful.

[Michelle]

'I saw your newsletter and my favourite beach is Broadstairs

[Richard Pool]

I saw your newsletter and my favourite beach is Sennen Cove in Cornwall. A small beach close to the end of the country it is a beutiful place.

[Sarah Carpenter]

I have read your newsletter and my favourite beach is at Hayling Island in Hampshire. At low tide you can walk for quite a distance right out from the shore.

[Jill]

I saw your newsletter and my favourite beach is another Cornish one, Polzeath on the north coast. We often go for the day even though it takes 3 hours each way!

[Catherine Nash]

I saw your newsletter and my favourite beach is Broadstairs in Kent.It's safe,clean and unspoilt with a cliff lift, rock pool, beach huts, donkey rides and a Punch and Judy Show for a real traditional bucket and spade holiday.Crazy golf nearby and the best ice cream you can buy at Morrelli's.It's a place full of memories for me.

[Mrs Barbara Chambers]

I saw your newsletter and my favourite beach is sandsend, Whitby. Real old world charm.

[Sue]

'I saw your newsletter and my favourite beach is Calshot beach overlooking the Isle of Wight across Southampton Water. We have been visiting this beach and my Aunts beach hut for nearly 60 years. There is always something to look at being an extremely busy stretch of water. I love it so much I'm having my ashes scattered there when I am no longer here.

[Sue]

Calshot beach is my perfect beach overlooking the Isle of Wight across Southampton Water. We have been visiting this beach and my Aunts beach hut for nearly 60 years. There is always something to look at being an extremely busy stretch of water. I love it so much I'm having my ashes scattered there when I am no longer here.

[Joan Butcher]

I saw your newsletter and my favourite beach is broadsands in Devon.

[TRACY WALKER]

I saw your newletter and my favourite beach is Sandy Bay in Devon. I remember as a young child spending many hours playing with my bucket and spade on the sandy beach.

[Sue Sherman]

I saw your newslatter and my favourite beach is Weston Super Mare - miles upon mile of firm sand..great for building sandcastles and windsurfing.

[Jay]

I saw your newsletter and my favourite beach is Aldeburgh in Suffolk.

[Pauline Jacobs]

I saw your newslatter and my favourite beach is Woolacombe, especially in the winter with the wild waves. In the summer, the further you walk, the quieter it gets!

[H Bowman]

'I saw your newsletter and my favourite beach is...Sheringham, Cromer, Wells-next-the-Sea...anywhere along the North Norfolk coast! Beautiful sandy beaches, sand dunes, rock pools, fabulous wide open skies...been visiting the area for holidays since I was 5 and we're now about to take our 4 month old son there in a few weeks!

[Jo Dobson]

I saw your newsletter, and my favourite beach is Knoll Beach - Studland, Dorset.... Simply Beautiful!

[Lionel Goult]

I saw your newsletter and my favourite beach is Old Hunstanton in North Norfolk. Perfection !

[Brita]

'I saw your newsletter and my favourite beach is...
Anderby Creek, Lincolnshire. It's peaceful, pretty and has a lovely sandy beach. Perfect for family outings and picnics.

[Pauline Hobday]

Hi
I have just recieved your newsleter my favourite place is weston supermare although you cant see the sea I love sand bay its just great

[Mary]

I saw your newsletter and my favourite beach is Cromer in Norfolk for the long sandy beaches, clear water and sea life that it supports....crab fishing off the pier.... views from the clifftops and church tower....and curious seals just off shore.

[Carol]

I saw your newsletter and my favourite beach is The Cobb in Lyme Regis. It is a little bit small, but all the local shops and view turn itself into a fantastic place to visit.

[Gloria]

I saw your newsletter and my favourite beach is at Wells-next-the-sea in north norfolk. Sand,sea and sky with a few brightly coloured beach huts,a little piece of heaven.The tide goes out for miles leaving channels and rock pools to explore.Be warned,there are strong under currents as the tide turns.

[emmajane]

'I saw your newsletter and my favourite beach is sandsend, Whitby, North Yorkshire ...

[emmajane]

'I saw your newsletter and my favourite beach is Sandsend, Whitby, North Yorkshire

[Scott K]

I saw your newsletter and my favourite beach is Broadsands, in Torbay, Devon - in England, anyway (I'm Scottish and was brought up by the coast, so have quite high standards!) As the name implies, there's a broad stretch of sand between two headlands - the southern one of which is ideal for walking over to the next beach, if you're not the sitting around type.

I quite like the crunch of the pebbles on Brighton and Worthing's beaches too.

[Nigel Brooke-Smith]

I saw your newsletter and my favourite beach is Embleton Bay, which lies just north of Dunstanburgh Castle on the coast north east of Alnwick in Northumberland. It's a haven of quiet, uninterupted sand and sea, with very little else there. A beautiful spot for a picnic in good weather, and excellent for building sandcastles!

[Angela]

I saw your newsletter and my favourite beach is Saltburn by the Sea, Cleveland. Although not far from where I live, it has got a cliff lift, penny arcade and a lovely pier. Surfers visit regularly and they make surfing look SO easy! Near the beach are also beautiful Valley Gardens, a play area for the children, a miniature railway, a stream to paddle in - not forgetting the annual plastic duck race! Perfect location for a day out with the children - take a picnic!

[Marilyn Budd]

I have read your newsletter and my favourite beach is Herne Bay, Kent

[Carolyn]

I saw your newsletter and my favourite beach is Bridlington. It's a great place for a traditional family holiday, with something for everyone. There's not just the sandy beach, but also a harbour where you can take a boat ride, amusements, lovely cliff-top walks within easy walking distance, and interesting things to visit such as the model village.

[Rachael Czajkowski]

I saw your newsletter and my favourite beach is Bridlington

[NEIL BOWMAN]

I saw your newsletter and my favourite beach is.... Caister-on-sea

[Linda]

I saw your newsletter and my favourite beach is Margate where I was taken in the 1960s when I was 10 years old, and cannot stay away from the place. I have lived far and wide but return to UK every year for holidays and do a day trip to Margate each time. It has Amusements, bingo, ice cream, deckchairs, a cliff top walk to a lovely tearoom and restaurant. Women in twin sets, women in flip flops, young people making a noise - just good clean fun. Sit on the beach and the noise disappears. Even amongst crowds of other sun seekers your spot on the sand is a haven of rest.

[Laura]

I agree. You cannot beat Cornwall for dramatic coastline, pounding waves and spectacular scenery. One place in particular that I remember fondly is Zennor which has a very quirky little "Wayside Folk Museum" perched on the cliffs.

[Tim]

Kynance Cove in Cornwall, fantastic little spot, the small beach at the far end of the headland gets cut off by the tide and can be your own island paradise for a few hours as many people prefer not to brave the rocky path down to the sand.