The UK's magnificent 19,491 miles of coastline harbour secrets that would make your jaw drop – yet most of us rush past them in our mad dash to Brighton's pebbles or Blackpool's towers.
Or even more, sadly, go abroad, missing out on what the UK has to offer.
While millions of holidaymakers jostle for space on famous shores, a different Britain exists along quieter stretches of coast, where seals outnumber tourists, fishermen still sell their catch from weathered beach huts, and ancient coastal paths lead to pristine beaches accessible only by determined souls willing to walk.
These are the hidden coastal gems of the UK - hideaways offering something the crowded destinations simply can't: authentic experiences that capture the essence of British seaside life without the commercialisation.
So grab your walking boots and sense of adventure, because we're about to explore the spectacular coastal treasures that remain wonderfully, refreshingly undiscovered.
Walberswick, Suffolk - The Artist's Secret Haven
Just across the River Blyth from the well-known Southwold sits a Georgian village so perfectly preserved it feels like stepping into a watercolour painting.
Walberswick has charmed artists for generations, yet remains refreshingly uncommercialized thanks to strict development controls.
The village green slopes gently down to a working harbour where fishing boats bob beside pleasure craft, while beyond stretches a glorious expanse of golden sand.
The world-famous crabbing spots still delight families who arrive with bacon-baited lines and buckets of hope.
And it’s just so aesthetic, you won’t be surprised that many photographers and artists visit here for creative inspiration.
Five reasons to visit:
Condé Nast-recognised golden beaches backed by unspoiled dunes
World-famous crabbing spots (former British Open Crabbing Championship location)
Telegraph-recommended dining at The Anchor Inn
Charles Rennie Mackintosh's beloved artistic retreat
Seasonal ferry access keeps crowds beautifully manageable
Essential information:
Best Time to Visit: May-September for warmest weather; April for bluebells
Getting There: Seasonal ferry from Southwold or coastal footpath
Parking: Limited; use Southwold and take the ferry
Must-Try: Fresh crab at The Anchor Inn
St Bees, Cumbria - Where History Meets Wild Adventure
Perched on Cumbria's western edge (which is well worth visiting in itself), St Bees offers a perfect blend of heritage and natural drama. The towering red sandstone cliffs shelter England's only west coast seabird colony, where thousands of guillemots, razorbills, and fulmars create a spectacular aerial display.
Below, a mile-long sandy beach offers everything from fossil hunting to windsurfing, while the Norman Priory provides a stunning historical backdrop.
Five reasons to visit:
England's only west coast seabird colony (RSPB St Bees Head)
Norman Priory, dating from 1120
Consistent Seaside Award-winning beach
Jurassic fossil hunting in red sandstone cliffs
Starting point of the famous Coast-to-Coast Walk
Essential information:
Best Time to Visit: May-August for seabirds; year-round for fossils
Getting There: Train to St Bees station, 10-minute walk to the beach
Parking: Village car parks available
Must-Try: Cumberland fare at The Queen's Hotel
Cushendun, County Antrim - Northern Ireland's Cornish Village
Here's something that'll surprise you: Northern Ireland's most enchanting coastal village was actually built to resemble Cornwall. The result is utterly magical – like discovering a secret Cornish fishing village that somehow sailed across the Irish Sea.
The village gained Game of Thrones fame through its nearby caves, yet tourist numbers remain refreshingly modest. The real draw is authentic charm and exceptional pub food in impossibly cramped quarters.he village gained Game of Thrones fame through its nearby caves, yet tourist numbers remain refreshingly modest. The real draw is authentic charm and exceptional pub food in impossibly cramped quarters.
Five reasons to visit:
Unique whitewashed cottages built to resemble Cornwall (1912)
Game of Thrones filming location with modest tourist numbers
Mary McBride's Bar - once Ireland's smallest pub
Purple sandstone cliffs and sheltered family-friendly harbour
14th-century Castle Carra ruins nearby
Essential information:
Best Time to Visit: May-September for warmest weather
Getting There: A2 Antrim Coast Road, 1 hour from Belfast
Parking: Village car park available
Must-Try: Steak and Guinness pie at Mary McBride's Bar
Plockton, Wester Ross - Scotland's Impossible Palm Tree Village
Prepare to question everything you thought you knew about Scottish weather. Plockton boasts naturally growing palm trees – the only Scottish village with this tropical anomaly, thanks to the warming Gulf Stream.
Traditional whitewashed cottages line the harbour where Gaelic culture remains vibrantly alive, creating an almost Mediterranean atmosphere in the heart of the Highlands.
Five reasons to visit:
Only Scottish village with naturally growing palm trees (Gulf Stream effect)
Traditional whitewashed cottages line a sheltered Highland sea loch
Exceptional seafood platters at The Plockton Inn
Regular wildlife boat trips spotting seals, dolphins, and otters
Scenic rail journey from Inverness via the Kyle line
Essential information:
Best Time to Visit: April-October for best weather; year-round for scenery
Getting There: Scenic train from Inverness to Plockton station
Parking: Village parking available
Must-Try: Langoustines and scallops at The Plockton Inn
Traeth Llyfn, Pembrokeshire - The 133-Step Secret
Some beaches make you work for their beauty, and Traeth Llyfn epitomises this perfectly. Accessible only via 133 metal stairs from the Wales Coast Path, this sandy cove offers genuine solitude with absolutely no facilities – just you, golden sand, and the wild Atlantic.
The challenging descent filters out casual visitors, ensuring you'll often have this dramatic cove entirely to yourself. At low tide, pristine sand stretches between towering cliff walls.
Oh, and don’t forget the Blue Lagoon nearby!
Five reasons to visit:
Accessible only via 133 metal stairs descending towering cliffs
Golden sand cove with complete solitude (no facilities)
Perfect for wild swimming and sunrise photography
Nearby Porthgain's The Shed Fish & Chip Bistro
Wales Coast Path provides dramatic clifftop walks
Essential information:
Best Time to Visit: May-September for swimming; year-round for drama
Getting There: Wales Coast Path between Porthgain and Abereiddi
Parking: Porthgain village car park, 1-mile coastal walk
Must-Try: Fresh seafood at The Shed, Porthgain
Runswick Bay, North Yorkshire - The Invisible Village
They don't call it the "invisible village" for nothing.
Runswick Bay completely disappears from view until you crest an unassuming hill, then suddenly unfolds like a pop-up storybook – 90 impossibly sweet cottages tumbling down cliffsides to a sweeping sandy bay.
This former fishing village clings to the cliffs with narrow alleyways, steep steps, and red-roofed cottages so picture-perfect they seem almost too good to be real. The beach reveals wooden huts, extensive rock pools, and – at Kettleness – impressive fossils dating back 180 million years.
Five reasons to visit:
Sunday Times Beach of the Year 2020, yet remains wonderfully hidden
90 honey-colored cottages with red roofs - invisible until you crest the hill
Jurassic fossil hunting hotspot with 180-million-year-old discoveries
The Royal Hotel offers sea views and hearty Yorkshire fare
Cleveland Way passes through for dramatic coastal walks
Essential information:
Best Time to Visit: May-September for warmest weather; year-round for fossils
Getting There: A174 coast road, 5 miles north of Whitby
Parking: Bank Bottom (pay and display) - very steep descent to village
Must-Try: Sea view dining at The Royal Hotel
Portscatho, Cornwall - The Roseland Peninsula Secret
Set on the gloriously undiscovered Roseland Peninsula, Portscatho remains Cornwall's best-kept secret. This small fishing village combines whitewashed cottages, colorful fishing boats, and a rocky beach with some of the county's most spectacular coastal scenery.
The nearby St Anthony Head offers seal-watching opportunities and breathtaking views, while the village itself hosts a thriving artistic community. Several galleries showcase local talent, and small restaurants serve exceptional seafood straight from the boats.
Five reasons to visit:
Hidden gem on Cornwall's rugged Roseland Peninsula
Working fishing village with colorful boats and whitewashed cottages
St Anthony Head (Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty) for seal watching
Thriving artistic community with local galleries showcasing talent
The Hidden Hut serves legendary beach feasts (walk-in only)
Essential information:
Best Time to Visit: May-September for warmest weather; April-May for wildflowers
Getting There: A3078 to St Mawes, then minor roads to Portscatho
Parking: Village car park (can get busy in summer)
Must-Try: Beach feast at The Hidden Hut (evening events)
Robin Hood's Bay, North Yorkshire - The Smuggler's Haven
This tumbling cliff-side village looks like it's been frozen in time since its 18th-century smuggling heyday. Cobblestone alleyways zigzag down impossibly steep slopes to a sandy beach where you can still explore the rock pools and caves once used to hide contraband.
The village remains largely car-free due to its medieval layout, creating an authentic atmosphere where narrow streets wind between ancient cottages. The surrounding coastline offers some of Yorkshire's best fossil hunting opportunities.
Five reasons to visit:
Picturesque fishing village steeped in smuggling history and legend
Cobblestone alleyways leading down to sandy beach and rock pools
Largely car-free village with steep, narrow medieval streets
Bay Hotel serves traditional Yorkshire hospitality with sea views
Excellent fossil hunting along the Jurassic coastline
Essential information:
Best Time to Visit: May-September for beach activities; year-round for atmosphere
Getting There: B1447 from A171, park at top and walk down
Parking: Hilltop car parks (village itself largely pedestrian-only)
Must-Try: Traditional Yorkshire fare at Bay Hotel
Dungeness, Kent - Britain's Only Desert
Welcome to Britain's strangest coastal landscape.
The Met Office officially designates this vast shingle beach as the country's only desert – a surreal, almost lunar environment that feels like stepping onto another planet.
The late artist Derek Jarman's black timber Prospect Cottage stands as a testament to creative vision, surrounded by his extraordinary garden that somehow thrives among the shingles.
More than 25 years after his death, the former fisherman's hut remains a pilgrimage site for art lovers.
Five reasons to visit:
Met Office officially calls it "Britain's only desert" - vast shingle landscape
Derek Jarman's famous Prospect Cottage (now protected building)
Dungeness Nature Reserve with circular trail through unique wetlands
Rare ecosystem supporting plants and wildlife found nowhere else in UK
Romney, Hythe & Dymchurch Railway provides vintage steam access
Essential information:
Best Time to Visit: April-October for nature reserve; year-round for dramatic landscapes
Getting There: A259 to Dungeness, or vintage railway from Hythe
Parking: Free parking near lighthouse and nature reserve
Must-Try: Fish and chips at The Pilot Inn
Kynance Cove, Cornwall - The Serpentine Wonder
Arguably Cornwall's most beautiful beach, Kynance Cove dazzles with turquoise waters that rival the Caribbean. The dramatic coastline features towering rock stacks and secluded coves, all carved from the unique green Serpentine rock that gives this stretch of coast its distinctive character.
At low tide, several hidden coves become accessible, each offering its own perfect patch of sand and crystal-clear water. The contrast between the emerald rocks and azure sea creates some of the most photographed coastal scenery in Britain.
Five reasons to visit:
Stunning turquoise waters and towering rock stacks on Lizard Peninsula
Famous for unique green Serpentine rocks (The Lizard Complex)
Multiple secluded coves accessible at low tide for exploration
Crystal-clear waters perfect for wild swimming and snorkeling
National Trust car park with well-maintained coastal path access
Essential information:
Best Time to Visit: May-September for swimming; September-October for fewer crowds
Getting There: A3083 to Lizard Peninsula, follow signs to Kynance Cove
Parking: National Trust car park (charge applies, free for members)
Must-Try: Cornish pasty from the seasonal café
Note: Dogs banned July-August 10am-6pm, welcomed rest of year
Porth Joke (Polly Joke), Cornwall - The Secret Poppy Beach
Known locally as 'Polly Joke', this handsome sandy beach sits between two bays, feeling incredibly remote despite being just minutes from West Pentire village. The complete absence of facilities creates a wonderfully wild atmosphere where nature takes center stage.
If you time your visit for late spring, you'll witness one of Cornwall's most spectacular natural displays – vibrant red poppies carpeting the clifftops, creating a stunning contrast with the deep blue sea below.
Five Reasons to Visit:
Hidden sandy beach near West Pentire village escaping Crantock crowds
Deep coves and excellent rock pools perfect for family exploration
Late spring poppies create vibrant red contrast with blue sea
No facilities means complete al fresco experience away from commercialization
Easy access from National Trust car park at West Pentire
Essential Information:
Best Time to Visit: May for poppies; June-September for warmest weather
Getting There: West Pentire village, short walk from National Trust car park
Parking: National Trust car park at West Pentire (charge applies)
Must-Try: Picnic provisions from nearby Crantock village
Note: No facilities on beach - bring everything you need
Ready to Escape the Crowds?
Britain's secret shores are calling – and they're tired of waiting.
While everyone else queues for overpriced fish and chips in Brighton, you could be crabbing with champions in Walberswick.
While they're fighting for towel space in Blackpool, you could be watching seals from your own private beach in Pembrokeshire. While they're stuck in traffic heading to Cornwall's hotspots, you could be sipping whisky beside palm trees in the Scottish Highlands.
The choice is yours: follow the masses to the same old seaside experiences, or become one of the few who've discovered what Britain's coastline is really capable of.
Pack your sense of adventure, download those offline maps, and prepare to fall head-over-heels for corners of Britain that most people will never even know exist.
Your secret coastal adventure starts now.
The only question is: which hidden gem will you discover first?