Now you know why it’s beneficial to book ahead for your beach holiday for 2024, let’s help you get planning for the perfect coastal break to suit your needs. Depending on who you’re going with, the sort of activities you want to do, and where you want to go, the UK throws up all sorts of incredible options for a staycation by the sea. Take a look at these suggestions and get planning your coastal break for 2024. 

Best for Sustainable Seaside Holidays

With climate change and sustainability topping our social and political agendas, it’s never been more imperative to find more eco-friendly ways to holiday. Firstly, you could use our ‘Max Driving Time’ tool to pick a destination closer to home. And secondly, see if you can find alternative, greener ways to get to where you want to go.  

With a twice-weekly direct rail link between London and Newquay, a surfing holiday to this cool Cornish destination is now a much more sustainable option than it was if you’d had to travel by car or plane. And with so much to do within walking distance of the beaches and accommodation, it’s a breeze to holiday by the sea here without wheels. 

If you’re looking for more of a city-on-sea experience, why not hop on the sleeper train from London and cross the border into Scotland heading to Edinburgh, Glasgow, Inverness or even Aberdeen – dubbed the Silver City with Golden Sands? Or, for a shorter journey, it’s less than two hours from the UK capital to Margate via the high-speed railway connection, making it easy to cruise down to this trendy seaside town for a coastal break. 

Best for Summer Beach Holidays

Year after year Cornwall comes up trumps for summer beach holidays. So isn’t it time to try somewhere a little different that offers the same dreamy white sands, water sports and rugged coastline? Why not pack your beach gear and head for Wales for a change? 

Pembrokeshire is littered with stunning bays and surf breaks, as well as a smattering of vibrant coastal hotspots, including the harbour town of Milford Haven, the vast sands of Newgale Beach and the smallest city in Britain, St Davids. Or you might prefer the picture-postcard Gower Peninsula, where the vibrant Mumbles area on the edge of Swansea gives way to a necklace of wave-lashed beaches, from Langland and Three Cliffs Bay to Rhossili (the latter often dubbed the ‘supermodel’ of British beaches). 

Best for Coastal Walks

With over 10,000 miles of coastline to explore in the UK, pack your walking boots and bag some of its highlights on your next holiday. In Dorset you can scale the highest cliffs on the south coast at Golden Cap, or in Kent, ramble along the 10-mile span of the White Cliffs of Dover for a gull’s eye view of the English Channel. 

There’s no shortage of natural wonders to capture on camera on your coastal walks, from Cornwall’s mighty Bedruthan Steps and The Needles on the Isle of Wight, to North Devon’s enigmatic Valley of Rocks and Dorset’s Durdle Door. If you want to combine the UK’s peaks and valleys with a coastal yomp, base your holiday in Snowdonia National Park, where you can gaze out to the ocean from the peak of Snowdon, or explore a wild coastline that hems the Irish Sea. 

Best for Large Group Multi-Generational Get Togethers 

Christmas and large group holidays need plenty of pre-planning – and there are often many different ages and interests to cater for. This not only requires a property where everyone can relax and be entertained but also a location where there’s plenty to do for everyone from tots and teens to grandparents. We love Brixham for its combo of seafood restaurants, boat trips, beach life and coastal walks – all within easy access from harbour’s edge properties (check out Wolborough House, sleeping 16 in palatial style).

Whitby is also perfectly positioned between the coast and countryside, and boasts an enviable fusion of history and culture (think Captain Cook and Dracula), fine food (famous for its smoked kippers) and sand-between-your-toes lifestyle (from bucket-and-spade beaches to rugged bays). And don’t overlook kiss-me-quick Brighton, much loved for its quintessential British seaside vibes with a lick of Bohemian style. Whatever your age and interests there’s plenty to do beside its pebble beach, from splashing your cash in the amusement arcades and trendy boutiques, to swimming in the Lido and bar hopping along the beach. 

Best for Couples 

As far as romantic destinations go, Cornwall has our heart for its wild coastline smattered with picturesque villages where fishermen land their catch to be served up at candle-lit tables beside the sea. Padstow, Port Isaac, St Ives, St Mawes and Fowey all roll off the tongue when we conjure up perfect places for couples to hide away in boutique boltholes beside the waves. 

However, it’s not just Cornwall that gets our vote for those special holidays for two. The Western Isles of Scotland are an idyllic destination for romantic getaways – think cosy cottages nudging white-sand bays, hand-in-hand walks along rugged shores and coming home to cuddle up beside a roaring log fire.

Best for Surfing 

One of the world’s fastest-growing watersports since its appearance in the Olympics, surfing and beach holidays have become synonymous worldwide. And while you can’t mention surfing in the UK without mentioning Cornwall – what with Fistral Beach dubbed the nation’s surfing capital – there are other destinations on British shores to ride the waves. A little less distance to travel for most, North Devon is home to the UK’s first World Surfing Reserve, putting it in the same league as Hawaii and the Gold Coast. 

Now that coldwater surfing gear is so advanced, you don’t have to stick to south-west England to brave the water temperatures year-round. The pumping waves on Britain’s east coast have been luring surfers for decades, and there’s no reason not to don a winter wetsuit and join them on the Yorkshire coast at breaks such as Saltburn, or hit the heart of Newcastle’s surf scene at Tynemouth. 

Best for Beach Holidays with your Dog

One of the huge advantages of holidaying at home means you don’t have to leave the four-legged members of your family behind. Many of the UK’s coastal towns are flinging open their doors to Fido and his friends, with dog-friendly beaches, eateries, attractions and accommodation.  

Ranking in the top ten most searched places for a dog-friendly holiday last year, the New Forest boasts over 140 miles of dog-friendly paths and the pretty seaside town of Lymington makes a great base for walks and boat trips with your pooch.

If you’re heading to Cornwall, Padstow flies the flag as not only a top foodie destination, but it’s dog-friendly too, with a web of coastal and countryside trails complemented by a plethora of award-winning restaurants where you can dine with your dog at your side.

If you’re looking for a city-focused holiday with your canine companion, Edinburgh was recently named the most dog-friendly destination by tails.com, for its concentration of paw-fect green spaces, accommodation pet-friendly attractions and restaurants. 

Best for a Digital Detox

Never before has it been more important to disconnect and escape from our tech-led lifestyles on holiday. Reconnect with yourself and immerse yourself in nature in some of the UK’s more remote coastal locations, such as Scotland’s rugged northeast coast, which offers guaranteed peace and quiet along its miles of lonely beaches. Base yourself in the pretty little fishing village of Gardenstown, where stone cottages huddle around a wave-gnawed bay, and there’s little to do except soak up the solitude.

Or why not perch yourself on the edge of Europe in Ireland’s County Kerry, and bag a remote property where the Atlantic fills your view and the salty air fills your lungs? 

Plan The Perfect Seaside Staycation In 2024

Whether you prefer a seaside city packed with culture or a remote coastal location where wildlife reigns, Simply Sea Views offers a huge range of holiday cottages throughout the UK. Check out our collection of holiday cottages beside the beach and find the perfect base for your staycation in 2024.