A seaside trip in the UK may be more commonly associated with sticks of rock and penny arcades than sun and sand.
But the country's finest beaches have been revealed for 2022 - and the winner may surprise you.
The Sunday Times has this month revealed its top picks for its Best Beaches Guide, with factors such as cleanliness, water quality and access to toilets at play.
So pack your bucket and spade as we reveal some of the country's best beaches.
1. Sandhaven, South Shields
Topping this year's list was Sandhaven beach in Tyne & Wear. It may not be a location which instantly springs to mind when considering the best places to sunbathe, but the North East beauty spot ranked highest when it came to regular maintenance of its sand and facilities.
Sandhaven also picked up marks for conservation. Efforts have been made to preserve its Victorian heritage, while environmental groups run projects such as the installation of smart bins to eliminate litter and plastic.
According to Nick Jones, who runs a not-for-profit surf school on the beach, those who use the beach "are passionate about protecting it and proud to share it".
2. Mablethorpe, Lincolnshire
Sidling down the UK's east coast from South Shields, Lincolnshire's Mablethorpe is listed as a prime location for a day at the seaside.
It's the first time the beach has been featured in The Times' guide, but locals have been flocking to the area for decades.
The area was ranked as one of the country's most poverty-stricken based on the 2019 Indices of Deprivation, but a £24m grant has seen the small town flourish since then.
Visitors to Mablethorpe will be pleasantly surprised by its original Victorian promenade, attractive beach huts and vast array of ice cream stands and chippies.
3. Lunan Bay
This Scottish treasure is as pretty as it sounds, with the bay headed by gentle sand dunes and framed by dramatic cliffs.
Nestled on the East coast at Montrose, Lunan is a popular spot for surfing, fishing and even horseback riding.
Nearby is the crumbling ruins of Red Castle, which was built in the 12th century to protect the Scots from Viking invaders.
Lunan Bay was ranked Scotland's best beach, with special mentions for its nearby Arbikie Distillery which claims to be producing the world's most sustainable and planet-friendly gin from peas.
4. Watergate Bay
Cornwall's Watergate Bay has beaten off some stiff competition to be named among the South West's best beaches.
With a two-mile stretch of velvety sand which meets gentle cliffs, people walking along this shore are treated to stunning scenery.
Also listed among the South West's best beaches were Perranporth, Sandymouth and Godrevy Rocks.
5. Three Cliffs Bay, Gower, Wales
Already considered by many as Wales' finest beach, it's no surprise this idyllic bay at Gower near Swansea has once again made the top spot.
Three Cliffs is a spectacular spot of dramatic limestone cliffs giving way to a gently sweeping shoreline.
It's described as dog-friendly with plenty of nearby camping spots. Most recently, the beach was used as a filming location for Netflix series The Witcher.
6. Dymchurch, Kent
Running four miles from Hythe to St Mary’s Bay, anyone stepping onto British soil at Dymchurch will have a staggeringly-high bar for the rest of the country.
It's said Romney Marsh "owes its survival" to this beach, acting as a four-mile wall of protection.
Earlier this year, Dymchurch was given a seaside accolade from the Keep Britain Tidy awards.
The Times has described it as "easy to walk on" and, interestingly, "brilliant for sandcastles". Meanwhile, the nearby village offers an amusement park and steam railway, as well as multiple cafés and shops.
7. Perranporth, Cornwall
If the UK's beaches are its crown, Cornwall is the jewel. Point at any beach around the foot of this magnificent isle and you'd be hard beaten to find a better one anywhere else.
Perranporth was listed by the Sunday Times as the best in all of the South West region. It's a surfing hotspot representing everything that lures 5m visitors to Cornwall each year.
Beneath its rocks on the shore are the remnants of old tin mines, while just north of the bay are the 6th-century ruins of St Piran's, named after the country's patron saint who gave them their black and white flag.
For fans of Poldark, this is a major spot on the map. Perranporth regularly features as a location in the novels, while a stone bench along the bay next to the Watering Hole pub is dedicated to its creator Winston Graham.
8. Stone Bay, Kent
This beach boasts cliffsides rivalled only by the Algarve, according to The Sunday Times' Guide. A 300m inlet of flat sands, pick 'n' mix beach huts and rock pools serving up a real-life aquarium of sealife.
Stone Bay's attractions such as chippies and ice cream vendors are fewer and farther between than some of its nearby rivals, but unlike some of them the water quality is clean and perfect for a dip.
9. Weymouth, Dorset
If you've not been to Weymouth Beach - and if not, why not? - then you'll have certainly seen it photographed myriad times anytime there is so much as a sniff of a UK heatwave.
Pin-striped deckchairs, pedalo's and puppet shows - Weymouth embodies everything we've come to associate with the good old British seaside.
It's a classic - but a classic for a reason.
10. Howdiemont Sands, Northumberland
Last, but by no means least, is Howdiemont Sands. 400 miles away and much less well-known than the aforementioned Weymouth, Howdiemont is a small, unspoiled gem.
In fact, it's described as mostly a secret to locals and dog walkers.
The water quality, however, has not been officially rated, so paddle with caution.
