Revealed: The multi-million pound upgrade that locals hope will breathe new life into Britain's 'worst' seaside town

Daily Mail​

23-04-2025

A seaside town, once named the worst in the country, is set for an exciting multi-million pound revamp.
Skegness, on the Lincolnshire coast, picked up the unwanted accolade in the 2023 Which? Travel seaside resort survey where it was described as a 'vulgar hellhole with brown sea'.
In 2024, it ranked fifth from bottom with tourists awarding it just one star for scenery and noise levels.
But things could be looking up for 'Skeggy'.
The town's railway station is currently undergoing a £3.3m overhaul, part of a project designed to make Skegness a 'spectacular gateway' to the Lincolnshire coast.
Skegness' main station building, known as the old Red Star, is getting a 'full renovation' under the plans.
The historic Red Star building 'fell into disuse' in the 1990s and the project is aiming to 'preserve the historic station building and bring it back into modern-day use'.
The Connected Coast team behind the project has said that the station's internal concourse and taxi rank/drop off area will also be 'improved'.
Exciting new facilities at the station will include a community cafe with an outdoor seating area, a community space which can be booked by the public and commercial units for businesses and offices.
Passengers will also benefit from new toilet facilities and refurbished waiting rooms.
Connected Coast explained that the station will also have an upgraded security system, WIFI and 'digital customer information'.
Chris Baron, chair of Connected Coast, said: 'This is a really exciting project for the community and holidaymakers alike. We're incredibly fortunate in Skegness to have received this funding.
'One of the major projects is the revitalisation of the railway station, bringing it up to the 21st century.
'The current plain brick facade (at the station) will be redesigned to bring in natural light, with new facilites such as a waiting room, cafe space and left luggage area.
'It's fantastic to see these improvements, but we're also focusing on the needs of the community by creating rentable office spaces, offering local business owners a place to establish and grow their ventures.
'An essential part of the Connected Coast initiative is the installation of a Changing Places toilet, ensuring that disabled people have a fully accessible and appropriate facility upon arrival in Skegness.'
The Connected Coast team behind the project has said that the station's internal concourse and taxi rank/drop off area will also be 'improved'. Pictured above is Skegness station in 2024
In another exciting development, East Midlands Railway recently unveiled its first fully refurbished Class 170 train.
The upgrades are set to enhance and increase to Skegness on the Nottingham to Skegness via Grantham line.
The refurbished trains have a range of modern features, including brand-new seating, updated flooring and toilets.
Will Rogers, managing director of EMR, has said that the upgrades are 'just the beginning' with more improvements to come.
Ever wondered what Skegness used to look like?
Dive into the resort's history with this collection of fascinating photos which date back as far as 1900.