When it comes to quintessential British experiences, few things match the pleasure of tucking into a plate of fresh fish and chips on the seafront. Crisp batter, thick-cut chips, all while soaking in the sea breeze... life simply doesn’t get much better.
Naturally, when it comes to naming the best UK foodie destinations by the sea, the competition is fierce. A recent study by Which conducted thousands of interviews with visitors across more than 100 seaside towns in order to gauge the best places in the country for beachside nosh.
Out of all those towns, only two were bestowed with a coveted five-star rating. Yep, just two! They were St Andrews in Fife and Aldeburgh in Suffolk.
Once a shipbuilding hub. these days Aldeburgh enchants with its exceptional food culture and pastel-hued nineteenth-century holiday villas on the promenade. Fishermen’s huts dot the pebbled beach (where the daily catch is sold), setting the stage for an authentic seaside feast.
St Andrews, meanwhile, apparently offers café-hopping and a cornucopia of innovative food options, from haggis burritos to Fife strawberry gelato. Cozy pubs like The Criterion add further flair, serving up a variety of cask ales, malt whiskies, and local gins.
But that’s not all. Which’s study also revealed a slew of other seaside spots as foodie paradises, each with its own qualities. Dartmouth in Devon, Tynemouth in Tyneside and Southwold in Suffolk all got nods as coastal culinary havens.
Keen to find out more? You can read Which’s study in full here.
ICYMI: Here are the best seaside towns in the UK, according to the Times.
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