Bamburgh tops UK seaside towns as Lancashire and Wales lag

A new survey of seaside destinations has named Bamburgh in Northumberland the best in the United Kingdom for the sixth consecutive year, while several traditional resorts in Lancashire and Wales ranked among the lowest. The annual study by consumer organization Which?, published on July 3rd, 2026, was based on responses from more than 5,300 members who rated towns on criteria including beaches, scenery, food and drink, accommodation, attractions, shopping, and value for money.

Bamburgh achieved an overall destination score of 84 percent, earning five-star ratings for its beach, seafront, and scenery. Visitors praised its "lovely beach overlooking Bamburgh Castle" and "spectacular coastal scenery." The broader North East region performed strongly, with Tynemouth in Tyne and Wear placing second with a score of 82 percent. St Andrews in Scotland took third place with 81 percent.

In Wales, the highest-rated destination was Portmeirion in Gwynedd, with a score of 80, followed by St Davids in Pembrokeshire and the historic town of Conwy. However, the survey also highlighted lower-performing locations. Bangor in Gwynedd was rated the least popular seaside town in Wales, scoring 46,...