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Revealed: the UK’s sunniest seaside town

According to Which?, one Essex town catches more rays than any other beach destination

Annie McNamee
Written by
Annie McNamee
Contributor, Time Out London and UK
Frinton-on-Sea in Essex, England
Photograph: Laurence Berger / Shutterstock.com
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Is there anything us Brits talk about more than the weather? If it’s good, when it’s bad, how annoyed we are about the fact that it’s bad. We’re obsessed. And for good reason; sometimes the sun coming out is the difference between a miserable day and a great one. 

Never is the quality of your day more weather dependent than when you’re at the beach. There’s nothing fun about sitting on a beach towel with an ice cream in the rain, in fact there are few things sadder. 

If you fancy a beach day sometime soon but don’t want to pay for flights across the channel, you’ll be glad to know that Which? has done some essential research into where the sunniest seaside towns in the UK are so that you can properly enjoy a swim maybe, just maybe, get a tan.  

According to Which?, Frinton-on-Sea in Essex is your best bet if you’re hoping for sand under the sun. The beach itself came ninth out of 120 in their national beach rankings, and with average highs of 21C in August and less clouds than warmer spots. They describe it as having ‘broad, pristine sands,’ and praised its abundance of independent shops rather than chain stores and amusement arcades. 

Brighton and Bournemouth were also recommended for warmth, with highs of 22C throughout this month, although they are forecasted to be slightly more grey than Frinton. Newquay and its nearby beaches were actually noticeably colder, averaging only 18C on its good days.

Sadly, the only real way to ensure good weather for your beach trip is to check in advance, but if you want to maximise your chances of a good time, Frinton is your best bet. If you’re not near the east coast, have a look at Which’s full report here to find your local. Enjoy the sandcastles!

Plus: this is the sunniest place in the UK.

Time Out by the sea

If you want a slice of seaside living without the long-term commitment, you’re in the right place. We've recently reported on how Saltcoats is the UK's cheapest seaside town to live in, and how Weston-Super-Mare might be getting a tourist tax. We've also got guides toTime Out’s 20 coolest, prettiest and quirkiest coastal towns in the UKmost amazing hidden beaches or best fish ’n chip shops

Did you see that the UK’s best (and worst) seaside towns for food and drink have been named by Which?

Plus: The UK’s oldest pier has just had a £10 million revamp.

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