SANDS GOOD
The tiny English seaside town often overlooked by Brits – with pretty sandy beach and cheap holiday park
Plus, the top three staycation locations to visit in 2024
THERE'S an overlooked seaside town in the UK that's home to a Blue Flag Beach with stretches of golden sand and an affordable holiday park.
Located in East Yorkshire, Withernsea is a small seaside resort town that has a rare inland lighthouse as well as a pair of historic towers.
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Withernsea is an often overlooked holiday spot, with most Brits heading to places like Whitby, Hornsea and Robin Hood's Bay instead.
Even though it may not spring to mind when planning a staycation in the UK, Withernsea has plenty of draws, including its golden sandy beach.
Despite not being named one of the World's Best Sustainable Beaches by TripAdvisor, Withernsea is home to a Blue Flag Beach, which means the water at the beach is of excellent quality.
Popular activities at Withernsea Beach include sailing, windsurfing and kayaking, with lifeguards on duty in the summer.
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The redeveloped promenade, which is located near the golden sandy beach, features numerous cafes, chippies and pubs.
Other facilities include toilets, a first aid point and car parking on the street.
There are plenty of other attractions in Withernsea, including a rare inland lighthouse.
Known for its breathtaking views overlooking both the town and the coast, Withernsea Lighthouse Museum is rated as the best thing to do in the seaside town on TripAdvisor.
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Built in 1892, a quarter of a mile away from the coast, the octagonal lighthouse was in operation until 1976.
Visitors can now climb 144 steps to the top of the lighthouse where they can take in views overlooking the Holderness coastline.
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Holiday deals in Withernsea
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- Park Holidays Sand le Mere Holiday Park 4-night breaks from £129 per stay
- Parkdean Holidays withernsea-sands 2-night breaks from £99 per stay
- Hotels near Withernsea from £55 per room
- Airbnbs from £22 per night
- Large family homes for 10-12 guests with Snaptrip from £16pp per night
Those Brit holidaymakers who've braved the climb will be able to spot the Humber Gateway wind farm as well as passing vessels in the North Sea.
Outside, there's also the Tranquil Garden where free exhibitions are held.
Withernsea Lighthouse Museum opens for the summer season on June 17, 2024, and it will be open every day of the week from 11am until 5pm.
Entry tickets cost £4.50 for a full-paying adult and £3.50 for children.
Another impressive architectural structure are the town's historic pier towers, which were first built in 1877.
The towers cost £12,000 to erect, with holidaymakers being charged one penny to enter.
In the next two decades, several ships collided with the pier, and it was deemed unsafe in 1893.
The parts of the pier that were still standing were removed, with just two support legs left on the beach.
Today, just the historic pier towers remain.
Brit holidaymakers who want to visit Withernsea will be able to book an affordable overnight stay at Withernsea Sands Holiday Park.
Operated by Parkdean Resorts, Withernsea Sands Holiday Park is just a short walk from Withernsea Beach.
In addition to its close proximity to the beach, the holiday park also has an indoor pool.
Sun Online Travel have found three-night stays at Withernsea Sands Holiday Park from £129 for a two-bed caravan.
Withernsea is a 31-minute drive from Hull, and it's 90-minute drive from Grimsby.
Other seaside towns
There are plenty of other overlooked seaside towns to visit in the UK, including Hastings in Sussex.
While Hastings was once voted the "worst weekend stay" in the country by consumer watching Which?, the town's reputation was is starting to change thanks to a wave of new openings.
One of those places is the new Vive Hotel, which is set to attract even more tourists too, following a collaboration with the ex-owner of Es Vive in Ibiza.
Attractions in the town include Hastings Pier, Bottle Alley, a 1930s underpass with multicoloured lights made from broken bottles, and the East Cliff Railway.
Littlestone-on-Sea in Kent is often overlooked by the nearby Folkestone, but is set to open a trendy new hotel next year.
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Best staycation locations for 2024
1. Bristol
The arty harbour city was the top spot on the list and is bursting with culture and trendy cafes scattered along the River Avon.
A bubbling hub for creatives, Bristol is the birthplace of street artist Banksy, and you can admire some of his best early works on a free walking tour.
2. Hull
The Humberside port city started to get recognition last year, and it has a thriving nightlife scene - if that's something you're after.
The old town is crawling with history and classy buildings, whose walls have many stories to tell and The Deep is a fascinating aquarium attraction.
3. Isles of Scilly
Just off the Cornish coast, it's easy to see why the archipelago made it into the top three.
Here, you can expect golden sandy beaches where you will be able to spot dolphins beyond the shoreline, as well as seafront pubs serving up hearty grub.
And Brean is expected to be popular in 2024, with an award-winning holiday park and one of the longest sandy beaches in Europe.
And an Italian seaside city has been tipped as a top holiday hotspot for 2024.
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