UK beach town named the ‘best’ in the UK set to to reopen 99-year-old outdoor pool
THE UK’s best beach town has been revealed – and it’s one that regularly impresses visitors with its sights, its attractions and even dolphins.
The country has a vast array of beach options, making it a great place to be during the warm summer months.
And it turns out that Tynemouth in the north east could well be the number one town in the country for a day out at the seaside.
It was named the best beach destination in a new study carried out by outdoor experts Millets.
They looked at the average Google review ratings, water quality ratings, the warmest ocean temperatures and also the average parking costs to find the best seaside town in the country.
Tynemouth came out on top, with an overall score of 8.49/10, once all the criteria had been taking into account.
Millets said: “The area’s main beach is Long Sands Beach, a beach well known for its long stretches of golden sand and the powerful waves in the area making it ideal for surfing.”
Overall, its beach, Long Sands Beach, has an overall rating of 4.8 out of 5 on Google Reviews, the highest of any that Millets looked at.
What’s more, the Environment Agency gave the beach a rating of 3 out of 3, making it ideal water for people to swim in.
The average price of parking is around £3 for four hours, making it one of the cheapest in the country, while the beach also offers deck chair hire, as well as designated disabled parking and ramps leading to the beach, making it very accessible.
However, the warmest temperature recorded for the water is just 15.6C, making it among the cooler places for a dip.
However, there could soon be another place for outdoor swimming, with plans in place for the reopening of Tynemouth outdoor pool.
Described as “one of the biggest community driven regeneration projects the UK has ever seen” the campaign to reopen the pool 99 years after it first opened has been up and running since 2012.
Thee Friends of Tynemouth Outdoor Pool say they’re aiming to transform the “incredible eyesore” that sits at the end of one of the beach into “a brand new outdoor pool that’s modern, safe and, most importantly, heated”.
The pool has remained off limits since the 90s when local authorities filled it with rubble in hope of creating an artificial rock pool.
The council has said they are “minded” to give the plans the go-ahead but are yet to give it the full approval.
Best Beach Destinations in the UK
The Top Five Best Coastal Towns
- Tynemouth – The best coastal location in England and Wales is Tynemouth, located in the North East of England and scoring 8.49 out of 10 overall. The area’s main beach is Long Sands Beach, a beach well known for its long stretches of golden sand and the powerful waves in the area making it ideal for surfing.
- Weymouth – Located in the South West of England is the aptly named and award-winning Weymouth Beach. This beach is located at the very heart of the Jurassic Coast, a World Heritage Site that stretches the southern coast of England.
- Poole – Poole is the third-best coastal area for people to explore this summer, scoring 8.09 out of 10 overall for the factors we looked at. The main beach is Canford Cliffs Beach, which has won a Blue Flag Award; it’s a gorgeous sandy beach and within walking distance of Canford Cliffs Village.
- Clacton-on-Sea – Clacton is a seaside town and resort in the county of Essex, on the east coast of England. It’s home to the UK’s biggest pleasure pier, which is set currently undergoing a £40,000 transformation, with work already starting.
- Wallasey – Wallasey is a town in the Wirral, Cheshire. It’s home to a popular bathing beach at the eastern end of the North Wirral Coastal Park, next to the Derby Pool Harvester Bar and Grill.
Nevertheless, despite the pool not being there any longer, there’s plenty of other exciting things to do around the beach in Tynemouth.
One of the most obvious is Tynemouth Priory and Castle, which sit on the headland overlooking the beach.
The history of the ruins dates back more than 2,000 years and they make a striking scene with the sea providing a stunning backdrop.
The ruins are also the site of an annual music festival, which will host Ocean Colour Scene and Rick Astley among its performers this year.
Sam Fender, Laura Marling and The Proclaimers are among previous headline acts to have performed in the picturesque surroundings.
On a good day, visitors to the priory, or even the beach, could also be treated to some great natural sights as well, with dolphins and even whales known to sometimes visit the waters off the coast.
To keep an eye on any sightings, following the Cullercoats Dolphin Watch Facebook group is a great way to boost your chances of seeing some sea creatures along the coast.
Away from the beach, Tynemouth is also home to a famous market that takes over the town’s Victorian metro station every weekend.
Street food, souvenirs and trinkets can all be bought from the vast array of stalls that set up alongside the station’s platforms.
However, it’s far from the only place to get tasty treats in Tynemouth, with places like Marshalls fish and chips, supposedly named after Jimi Hendrix, serving food throughout the town.
There’s also Crusoe’s cafe, which has become something of a landmark for people visiting the town.
The coffee-shop serves hot food and drinks from a cabin right on the sand, making it the perfect place to warm up after a dip in the sea.
Getting to Tynemouth is very easy too, with a direct Metro link from Newcastle Central Station that takes about 15 minutes.
A night for two in one of the town’s bed and breakfasts can be booked from around £36.
Meanwhile, this forgotten Victorian seaside town has been tipped to be big this year.
And this seaside town is often overlooked by visitors and holidaymakers.
