From kiss-me-quick hats to artisan gelato, the great British seaside has reinvented itself more times than Doctor Who. Rank these coastal contenders from most charming to 'maybe pack a cagoule'.
Put the items in your preferred order.
Brighton
Home to The Lanes, a pier full of nostalgia, and more vegan cafΓ©s than seagulls. Brighton is where London goes to feel breezy and pretend it owns a linen shirt.
Whitby
Dracula's holiday home, complete with a clifftop abbey and the country's most argued-about fish and chips. Bring a black cape, leave with vinegar on your jumper.
St Ives
Turquoise waters, Tate St Ives, and pasties that could start a Devon-Cornwall war. The light here has inspired artists for over a century, and your Instagram won't shut up about it.
Blackpool
Loud, proud and unapologetically itself, Blackpool is the Pleasure Beach of the nation's heart. Where else can you ride a rollercoaster and see Strictly live in the same weekend?
Margate
Once written off, now home to the Turner Contemporary and Dreamland's retro rides. Tracey Emin moved back, and frankly that's the only review you need.
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