British beach with 'legendary' seaside charm is 'one of world's best'
Brighton Beach has been a firm favourite with Brits looking for classic sea, sun and sand, thanks to its bustling pier, long promenade and easy access to restaurants, bars and shops
The UK is brimming with stunning beaches that could give the Caribbean a run for its money, but one seaside gem stands out not only for its natural beauty but also for its wealth of attractions and cultural offerings, making it an ideal spot for Brits planning a staycation.
Brighton Beach has long been a favourite among Brits seeking the classic combination of sea, sun and sand, thanks to its lively pier, extensive promenade, ample beach space and the convenience of having restaurants, bars and shops just a stone's throw away.
The city itself boasts a plethora of must-visit spots including the magnificent Royal Pavilion, the Lanes where you'll discover unique boutiques and bars, and family-friendly locations like SEA Life Brighton.
The beach is popular with both locals and tourists, lined with cafes, fish and chip shops and ice cream parlours. Plus, you can hire loungers to bask in the sunshine or take a dip in the swim-friendly waters.
It's so picturesque that it's been bestowed with a 'Golden Beach Award' by the folks at BeachAtlas, although it's worth mentioning that the main beach is pebbled, not sandy.
The team's rankings are based not just on a beach's beauty but a number of factors including the local community, lifestyle offerings and cultural significance.
The team shared: "Brighton Beach, a picturesque five-kilometre stretch along England's southern coast, offers breathtaking views of the English Channel and is a cultural symbol of the UK.
Nestled on Brighton's lively seafront, this beach is a famed retreat for Londoners in search of a seaside break. Furthermore, Brighton is renowned for its inclusive and diverse community, notably housing one of the largest LGBT communities in the UK.
Frequently dubbed as the "gay capital" of the country, Brighton's rich LGBT history dates back to the early 19th century, contributing to the city's reputation as a welcoming and progressive seaside resort."
On Tripadvisor, some visitors have cautioned that due to the beach's popularity, it can become quite packed on sunny days, and seaweed can be a problem in the waters during spring.
However, generally, holidaymakers have been left awestruck by the iconic coastal spot. One satisfied holidaymaker wrote: "Lovely walk along the beach. There are pebbles and stones, no sand. Nice and clean. Some shops along the actual seafront too which is nice. One of my favourite UK beaches."
Another person commented: "It's a lovely walk along the beach and the board walk. However, the fantastic Victorian benches, shelters and the mid level walk all look very run down and decrepit - which is a shame.
"It's fun to walk to black rock and the marina and then walk back on the top road and admire the magnificent houses. You can do all of this with a dog but please note the pier does not allow dogs.."
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Scottish Sun
39 minutes ago
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Click to share on X/Twitter (Opens in new window) Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window) MAGALUF is looking unusually bare as Brits shunned the popular holiday spot after feeling "tired of being demonised". Dozens of beach sunbeds lay empty as the usual UK party-animals were nowhere to be seen - opting to spend their time in Benidorm instead. 9 Deck chairs lay empty in the Spanish resort Credit: Solarpix 9 Restaurants that were once filled with boozing Brits appeared bare Credit: Solarpix 9 Figures published last week showed Benidorm's leading visitors were Brits and its average hotel occupancy rate had reached almost 85 per cent in May. Meanwhile, pictures of the Spanish resort showed deserted beaches and empty restaurants - a steep contrast to what was once described as a "lawless party" hub. Deck chairs that would previously have been filled with boozing Brits sat empty, whilst Magaluf's once crowd-stricken streets appeared decidedly desolate. The barren resort is a positive change for many locals, who despaired at the "touristification" of their town. They're welcoming instead a new wave of tourists hailing from different European countries, which they hope will clean up the resort's image. Nightclub boss, Migue Perez-Masra, told local press that Playa de Palma, near the Majorcan capital, has seen a sharp increase in German tourists. 9 Once crowd-stricken streets now seemed visibly empty Credit: Solarpix 9 The barren resort is a positive change for many locals Credit: Solarpix 9 Magaluf was branded a lawless party resort Credit: Solarpix He claimed young Brits are turning their backs on Magaluf after feeling 'demonized" by locals. The area is now seeing more and more French and Italian visitors too. Attempts to clean up the resort's image come as Magaluf was branded a lawless party resort after a shocking sex video emerged in June 2014 showing a British tourist performing sex acts on 24 men in a bar. The 18-year-old at the centre of the viral footage was reportedly duped into performing the sex acts for what she thought was a free break that turned out to be a cocktail named 'Holiday'. At the time, Spanish politician Jose Ramon Bauza, branded Punta Ballena - Magaluf's strip - as '500 metres of shame'. Anti-tourist mob attacks holidaymakers with water guns as they vow Spain faces 'long hot summer' of protest carnage The bar was ordered to close for a year whilst authorities cracked the whip on unruly behaviour. Fines of up to £50,000 were introduced for holidaymakers caught leaping off their hotel balconies, whilst limits were set on the amount of alcohol served at all-inclusive hotels. Further restrictions in Spanish party resorts were introduced last year. In parts of Majorca and Ibiza, tourists can be fined up to £1,300 for drinking on the streets and shops are now only allowed to sell alcohol at certain times. Britain's then-Ambassador to Spain Hugh Elliott urged holidaymakers in the Majorcan party resort to 'show responsibility' and remember they were "guests" in Spain. This Sunday anti-tourism protestors will stage another demonstration in the Majorcan capital Palma. The demo has been organised by activist organisation Menys Turisme, Mes Vida, with 60 groups already pledging to take part. Protestors from other cities including Barcelona and San Sebastian will also take to a streets as part of co-ordinated events. A Menys Turisme, Mes Vida spokesman said last week: 'We will demonstrate for the right to a decent life and to demand the brakes are put on the touristification of this island.' 9 Many locals lamented at the loss of their town to boozing Brits Credit: Solarpix 9 Residents said they're welcoming in a new stream of tourists from Europe Credit: Solarpix
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