Twixmas: The gentle exhale after the festive frenzy. The hush before the New Year chimes. It’s the perfect time to press pause by the sea.
Wide-open beaches groomed by winter tides. Cliff paths crackling with frost. Log fires beckoning you into the cosy glow of coastal pubs and cottages.
A Twixmas coastal break is about slowing down into something simpler. Here’s our top ten seaside spots to reset, recharge, and let the waves rinse away the year behind you.
1. St Ives, Cornwall
The crowds are gone, the beaches are almost empty, and the Tate and many indie galleries stay open between the bank holidays. Step out on the coast path to Zennor or Carbis Bay, capture the incredible light on camera, and hunker in cosy pubs like The Sloop Inn. If you do decide to stay on until the bells of New Year, fancy dress, frolics, and fireworks make St Ives one of the UK’s top spots to party after the pause.
2. Whitby, North Yorkshire
Moody, atmospheric, and wild around the edges, Whitby is made for Twixmas breaks and winter wanders. Follow festive lights along the harbour, eat hot fish and chips in the cold sea air, and climb the Abbey steps without the summer scrum. The combination of dramatic cliffs, gothic charm, and cosy hideaways beneath brooding skies delivers the perfect winter escape on the Yorkshire coast.
3. Deal, Kent
This charming coastal town with a creative edge is quietly buzzing in midwinter. Seafront cafés beckon you inside on coastal walks, and antique shops are primed for browsing. Walk to the end of Deal Pier and warm up with a coffee at Deal Pier Kitchen, or retreat to a cosy pub like The Saracen’s Head for a pint by the fire. With plenty of sea view cottages in Deal to choose from, it’s a great place to chill before the New Year’s parties begin.
4. Southwold, Suffolk
Pastel beach huts, golden dunes, and the comforting glow of heritage pubs – Southwold’s winter charm makes a Twixmas break feel wonderfully warm and simple. Wander the pier in the morning chill, take a bracing walk along empty beaches, then retreat to a welcoming inn and flop by the fire with a pint of Adnams locally-brewed ale.
5. Bamburgh, Northumberland
Imagine miles of empty, windswept sand beneath brooding skies and a castle rising from the dunes; welcome to Bamburgh in Twixmas. Capture the perfect winter coastal scenes on camera while the birds wheel overhead, visit the dramatic Bamburgh Castle, and warm up in cosy cafés and pubs like The Potted Lobster. Read our seaside guide to Bamburgh and find out more about this northern gem that’s the ideal head-clearing escape.
6. St Abbs, Scotland
A tiny, perfectly formed fishing harbour close to the Scottish border, St Abbs is the perfect low-key hideaway to slow down between Christmas and New Year. This is the coast at its most rugged and remote – a dramatic seascape of cliffs and headlands that can be explored on bracing coastal walks, before retreating to the cosy Old School House coffee shop for soup, sandwiches, and a well-deserved cake.
7. Robin Hood’s Bay, North Yorkshire
A labyrinth of cobbled alleyways, higgledy-piggledy cottages, and a huge sweep of wild, wave-lashed beach… Robin Hood’s Bay is one of the most atmospheric and dramatic coastal escapes in the UK for a Twixmas break. Spend your days bracing yourself on cliff-top walks, poking around rockpools at low tide, and sinking into the charm of pubs and tea rooms dotted through the ancient fishing village.
8. Porthleven, Cornwall
Want your Twixmas break to feel a little wild? Head to Cornwall and watch Atlantic rollers crash over the harbour wall while surfers brave the chilly reefs. Don all-weather gear for brisk coastal walks, capture dramatic winter light in Penrose country estate, browse artisan shops, and fuel up in foodie gems from cosy cafés to Michelin-starred restaurants. Rugged coastal scenes and cosy hideaways make Porthleven a thrilling-but-comforting Twixmas choice.
9. Porlock, Somerset
Hunker down for Twixmas in this peaceful escape on the edge of Exmoor. Think salt-washed cottages, a tiny harbour, and woodland walks that drop straight to the sea. Winter in Porlock feels wonderfully slow: grab a fireside pint at The Ship Inn, wander the shingle beach with only the sea for company, and explore coastal paths where red deer might outnumber people. It’sa beautiful spot for a coastal break in Somerset.
10. Applecross, Scotland
Remote, rugged, and absolutely unforgettable – just getting to Applecross via the legendary Bealach na Bà pass is a journey that feels like leaving the year behind. Expect sweeping sea views to Skye, crisp coastal walks, and one of Scotland’s most iconic pubs for hearty food and winter warmth. Stay for Hogmanay and you’ll find community celebrations and ceilidh spirit in this wild, soul-stirring Twixmas retreat.
It’s Time to Book Twixmas by the Sea
Whether you crave empty beaches, cosy fires, or a hint of winter adventure, browse our coastal cottages and let the rhythm of the tides reset you between Christmas and New Year.
