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The Irish Sun
13-05-2025
- Entertainment
- The Irish Sun
‘A nostalgic British holiday': The seaside town with one of Europe's best beaches – that gets country's first sunrise
OUR new column gives you the lowdown on what to see and do in your favourite holiday hotspots. This week we're heading closer to home with a staycation spotlight on Gorleston in Norfolk . 3 This week we are shining a spotlight on the Norfolk town of Gorleston Credit: Alamy 3 A stop at the Pavilion Theatre is a must The Sun's Head of Travel Lisa Minot often visits the seaside town. She said: "If you're craving a little nostalgic look at how we holidayed before the advent of package holidays to the Med, then Gorleston ticks every box. "I was entranced with this little slice of old-school seaside fun from the moment I saw my kids scamper onto the broad sweep of sandy beach. "We were blessed with a very untypically sunny day and after sandcastles were made and destroyed, it was an easy stroll through the lovely gardens in search of ice cream. Read more on seaside towns "It may be just half an hour from the bright lights of Great Yarmouth but with my little ones in tow, the relaxed, family-friendly focussed Gorleston gave us a chance to pause and relax." MUST SEE/DO Just a few miles from the action of Great Yarmouth's Golden Mile, Gorleston-on-Sea offers a quieter stretch of golden sand with a huge bay. The coastal town features in Tripadvisor's annual Travellers Choice Best of the Best Beaches list for 2025. It was named 23rd best beach in Europe and one of only two UK spots featured on the list. Most read in Beach holidays It boasts cliff-top gardens and a grand promenade perfect for walking and cycling . An unspoilt gem of a resort, it is easy to see why Gorleston's charm caught the eye of director Danny Boyle, who used it as a backdrop to feelgood film Yesterday. HIDDEN GEM The Gorleston Pavilion, an Edwardian seaside theatre, features an eclectic mix of plays, pantomimes, musicals and an unmissable Summer Show which runs every Tuesday from May 6 to October 7 this year. This gorgeous old theatre seats 300 cabaret style at candlelit tables and is all on one level, making it fully accessible to wheelchairs. Drinks are served to your table by friendly bar staff. Discover UK's Best Beaches: Hidden Gems Revealed The adjacent bandstand has summer concerts throughout the main season so you can bring a chair and a picnic and listen to the music while overlooking Gorleston beach. BEST VIEW The best views can be found from Gorleston's cliff top towards the southern end, providing great vistas of the sandy beach and the gentle rolling waves of the North Sea. RATED RESTAURANT Family-run The Shed Tapas on the quay side is a surprise treat and serves an excellent choice of small dish. Mediterranean tapas including favourites such as chorizo in cider, padron peppers, patatas bravas, garlic prawns plus daily specials. BEST BAR The Cliff Hotel's restaurant and bar is the place for beach views and drinks can be enjoyed on the terrace on warmer days. It's a fabulous spot to while away a few hours over a beer or glass of wine or two. It also serves a great range of cocktails. HOTEL PICK Cast and crew for Danny Boyle's Yesterday movie spent a month at The Pier Hotel and the hotel and beach both feature in the film. A key scene was shot from the balcony overlooking the beach, where 6,000 local people responded to Danny's call for a lively crowd to dance and have fun as the film's star The Beatles ' song Help! for them. The hotel is just a few metres from the beach and has wonderful sea views, 21 bedrooms, an elegant restaurant and spacious bar. 3 The huge stretch of sand is rated highly amount tourists and locals
The Sun
24-04-2025
- Entertainment
- The Sun
The 10 stunning UK beaches starring in a new Hollywood movie – from little-known coves to underground tunnels
THE new movie The Salt Path is coming to cinemas next month and it will show off some of the UK's best beaches. Actors Gillian Anderson and Jason Isaacs walk the South West Coast Path in the film, which is based on a true story. 12 12 The Salt Path, written by author Raynor Winn, is based on her and her husband Moth who walked around 630 miles along the South West Coast Path. It's England 's longest walking trail from Minehead to Poole - of which almost half is in Cornwall. Along the way are rugged cliffs, incredible beaches, coves and headlands - and we've rounded up some of the destinations you can visit. Somerset The journey begins in Minehead, which is the official starting point of the South West Coast Path. The beach is sandy with small areas of pebbles and rock pools. It's also great for watersports, from paddleboarding and kayaking to beachcombing. Minehead is where the world's earliest fossilised forest was discovered in 2024. The route to the neighbouring beach of Porlock Weir takes around four to five hours to walk, with the distance being 9.6 miles. Porlock Weir is a coastal village and former port in West Somerset. Found on the edge of Exmoor National Park, it's known for its harbour, pebble beach and long tradition of oyster farming. Discover UK's Best Beaches: Hidden Gems Revealed 12 Devon In Devon, one of the filming and book locations is Heddon's Mouth. The name is derived from the mouth like valley where the River Heddon opens up to the sea. It's a recognisable rocky cove on the coast of North Devon where you can walk through ancient woodland. One keen hiker ventured there and wrote on Tripadvisor: "The coastal path here is spectacular, steep climbs but wonderful views once you get up to some of the highest cliffs in England. Not for those with a fear of heights!" Another added: "This coastal walk is amazing stunning breathtaking views an awesome coastline - couldn't put my camera away." 12 12 Ilfracombe, the seaside resort in Devon is a long-standing destination for holidays. In Ilfracombe, you'll find Tunnels Beaches which is a network of hand-carved tunnels leading to secluded beaches and a tidal bathing pool. Another stop on the coast path is Clovelly, the beautiful seaside village that was once owned by the Queen of England. The village was owned by royalty until the 1200s. Since then, Clovelly has been owned by different families and is currently under the care of John Rouss, who inherited the village from his mum in 1983. If you plan a visit, the village looks like it's stuck in time with steep and quaint cobbled streets that lead down to the beach that is known for its charming harbour. 12 13 miles along the path away from Clovelly is Hartland Quay, a secluded corner of North Devon. For anyone venturing to Hartland Quay, you'll find it has its very own hotel and bar on the South West Coast Path. Hartland Quay hasn't just been featured in The Salt Path, it was also the backdrop for Disney 's Treasure Island and Sky series, House of Dragons. 12 North Cornwall One beach featured in the stretch of North Cornwall is Port Quin. Port Quin is a cove that faces the Atlantic Ocean that sits in a deep inlet between Port Isaac and Polzeath. Like many coastal villages Port Quin forms a natural harbour and once had a thriving fishing industry. According to legend, the town was deserted after the loss of the fishermen who all drowned one night during a terrible storm. In reality, it's more likely that people left because of the decline in the fishing and mining industry. Only a handful of people live in Port Quin today. Up on the cliff-top, you'll be able to spot Doyden Castle which is owned by the National Trust - and you can even book a stay there, but it doesn't come cheap. Padstow is a much more bustling fishing port and has lots of stunning beaches to relax on. It's said that Gillian Anderson and Jason Isaacs caused quite a stir when they were spotted filming there during the summer of 2023. From Hawker's Cove, Harbour Cove and St George's Well Cove - these golden sandy beaches all have stunning views over the estuary. 12 12 Fistral Beach in Newquay is called the "Home of British Surfing", and has soft sand for anyone donning a bucket and spade. It's known for its vibrant atmosphere too, especially during festivals like Boardmasters, which hosts pro-surf competitions. If you're lucky enough, you could spot Humpback whales and dolphins. Fistral beach is also dog-friendly, making it popular with holiday-makers. Holywell Bay has rolling sand dunes, grasses and sea caves. It's popular with people wanting to explore hidden coves too. One visitor revealed in Tripadvisor: "There are a number of rock pools and caves to explore at low tide, including The holy well in St Cuthberts Cave." It's also a beach where you can spot wildlife like kestrels and seals.
