Despite the fact that summer is not always as warm as we would like, that has never deterred Britons taking in the sights and sounds of the many seaside towns around the country.
As I child, I got to visit numerous resorts in the south and south-east. Our annual holidays (vacations, for Americans) were at Greatstone-on-Sea, in Kent, with fabulous sandy beaches stretching for miles, or at Lulworth Cove, a very traditional and rustic area in Dorset. My grandparents would also take me on camping trips to Devon and Cornwall, taking in such wonderful places as Mevagissey, Marazion, Brixham, and the spectacular and beautiful Clovelly. In addition, living on the south-side of London, it was easy to take a day trip to Brighton, Hastings, or Selsey. Here, I will tell you about some of the southern seaside towns.
Brighton, East Sussex
Perhaps the most popular of all south-coast resorts, the introduction of the railway in 1841 made it very easy for Londoners to spend a day at the coast. Apart from the beach, Brighton is noted for having one of only two Grade 1 listed piers (piers are very much a part of British culture, but more on that at a later date) in the country. Another attraction is the Royal Pavilion, a 19th century palace for the Prince Regent.
Brighton Beach Houses by KevCheng is licensed under CC BY 2.0
Population growth recent years has led to an urban area encompassing Brighton, Worthing, and Littlehampton, with the latter two towns also being popular resorts in their own right.
Padstow, Cornwall
A traditional Cornish fishing village, Padstow has developed into a tourist destination. Much of that is thanks to local chef, Rick Stein, who had a TV series filmed at his Padstow restaurant. Classical music fans will also know "The Padstow Lifeboat", written for brass band by Sir Malcolm Arnold.
Padstow old station building by Ed Webster is licensed under CC BY 2.0
Clovelly, Devon
Located on the north Devon coast, Clovelly affords spectacular views of the Bristol Channel. It is best known for a cobbled - and remarkably steep - main street. Like Padstow, Clovelly was also a fishing village. What makes Clovelly unusual is that it is privately owned, and the main street is now closed to vehicular traffic. A very ancient and picturesque village, Clovelly has just one pub, and one hotel.
Clovelly by Chris Parfitt is licensed under CC BY 2.0
Southend-on-Sea, Essex
Southend is on the Thames estuary, just 40 miles east of London. The main attraction in Southend is the world's longest pleasure pier. Built in 1930, it is 1.33 miles long! Unfortunately, the pier has suffered a number of mishaps, including several fires, and being hit by a boat.
Southend Pier by dimercaprol1 is licensed under CC BY 2.0
For nearly 80 years, Southend was home to the Kursaal, one of the first amusement parks in Britain. Opening in 1894, it closed in the 1970's.
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