The best and worst seasides in the country have been listed, with critics laying into rude shop owners and dirty beaches.
A trip to the beach for a bag of chips, paddle in the water and Mr Whippy ice cream is about as iconic a British activity as it's possible to do.
Yet the act of being at the seaside in the UK is a diverse one that takes in everything from roasting in 35C weather on a packed, sandy Bournemouth Beach, to bracing against the ferocious wind and rain on a pebbly front in north Scotland.
While everyone has their own favourite seafront loved since childhood holidays or after a later in life magical weekend away, the Telegraph has attempted to rank the best and worst in the country.
Rhyl in North Wales was named the UK's worst seaside town, despite the fact it attracts millions of people each year.
As holidays abroad became cheaper Rhyl's pull began to weaken, leading many of its core attractions such as the Pavilion theatre, its old pier and its beach funfair closed.
Like many coastal towns, it suffers from a feeling of former glory that can become intoxicatingly depressing once a stiff, salty British breeze and overcast sky is thrown into the mix.
Many of those who have recently returned to Rhyl on a nostalgic trip have been shocked to discover how much it has changed since their childhoods, while others were disappointed by the starkness of its seafront architecture.
"Whoever planned the beach front at Rhyl has committed a crime," one man wrote on Tripadvisor. "Instead of seeing the view of the absolutely beautiful beach, there’s just a massive car park."
South Shields took the second spot, being criticised in the rankings for feeling like it's part of the urban sprawl without any of the nightlife and culture that enriches the centre.
It may be that South Shields is a particular taste, as its Sandhaven Beach has often been a hit with visitors and locals for its beauty, golden sands and blue sea stretching out the horizon.
Some of those who've made the trip to the area have left unimpressed by the shape it's kept in. "Very dirty. Dog poop and lots of broken glass," one person wrote beneath a one star Google review.
The third spot went to Weston-super-Mare, which recently garnered attention as the location of the See Monster art installation - a theme-park-on-an-oil-rig that was unveiled as part of the Festival of Brexit.
It came in for a fair amount of criticism for its cost and the lateness of its opening, although the towering structure did undeniably spark a lot of conversations and visits to the town.
Some of the criticisms levelled at Weston is that it lacks independent chains, feels a bit scruffy and has lost the charm its art deco buildings once delivered.
Most reviews of the seafront are favourable, but those which aren't pull no punches.
"One the most unfriendly places I have visited," one person recently wrote on Tripadvisor. "The locals working in the shops and especially on the pier are rude and be ignorant towards the visitors."
UK's 10 worst seaside towns
- Rhyl
- South Shields
- Weston-Super-Mare
- Blackpool
- Morecambe
- Cleethorpes
- Southport
- Torquay
- Southend-on-Sea
- Scarborough
It wasn't all bad news for those planning coastal breaks though - some of the UK's best seaside towns were also unveiled, with St Ives in Cornwall being tipped as the winner.
It is home to The Tate, the Barbara Hepworth Museum and Sculpture Garden which have made it a hub for artists in the area, at the same time as fancy hotels, Rick Stein's seafood restaurant and high-end ice cream shops ensure it packed with tourists throughout the summer.
A great place to visit to witness how a seaside town can be reinvigorated in the 21st century, but not the place to go for a quiet day's out in the high summer.
"Simply spectacular," a happy customer recently wrote online.
"It’s got everything that would get it best beach awards. If you get the weather, which we were lucky enough to do, there is no point in flying hundreds of miles. Staycation heaven!"
Southwold also proved a hit thanks to its lighthouse, beach huts, award-winning pier, busy harbour and cliff top cannon, taking the second spot on the podium, with Whitstable coming a close third.
UK's top 10 best seaside towns
- St Ives
- Southwold
- Whitstable
- Lyme Regis
- North Berwick
- Brighton
- Margate
- Tenby
- Portstewart
- Worthing
Do you agree with the rankings? Let us know in the comments below.
