Best seaside staycations

Margate, Kent

A classic English seaside resort that’s been enjoyed by tourists since the 18th century, Margate still retains its appeal with more modern visitors, mixing its old-school coastal charm with cool vintage shops, the famous Turner Contemporary art gallery and bubbling café culture.

What foodies can do in Margate

To start the day, join creatives for brunch at Forts, known for its focaccia bacon sarnies, choose between Oast's fabulous rotation of sourdough and sweet buns or go for a proper fry up at The Dalby Café, before browsing the bars, shops and galleries along Cliff Terrace, including stylish fragrance store, Haeckels (which also sells a delicious seaweed tea made from locally foraged seaweed and sold in gorgeous glass jars). Mooch along the seafront and breath in the fresh air with next-level fish and chips from Peter's Fish Factory followed by a Melt ice cream. Or walk to the end of Margate's Harbour Arm to Sargasso for a great-value set lunch of moules marinières and a glass of dry sparkling rosé. In the afternoon, work up an appetite by strolling along the coastal path to Botany Bay or embracing the sea water with some lengths in Walpole Tidal Pool. Back inland, you can warm up with coffee and vinyl at Cliffs, enjoy legendary seafood suppers at intimate Angela's or make your way through Sète’s eclectic curation of wines and cheeseboards (they also throw a casual BBQ in the garden every Sunday in August).

Where to stay in Margate

One of Margate’s iconic seafront buildings opposite Turner Contemporary gallery has been restored to its former life as a hotel. In a nod to its history, sepia photographs and postcards of the seaside town in its bathing holiday heyday line the burnt orange walls. Local connections, including Kentish wine and gin, extend to the food and drink options, served in the smart, intimate ground-floor restaurant complete with flickering fire to warm up the colder months. Breakfast is a real treat, with bacon sarnies offering a satisfying crunch courtesy of hot baguettes from Oast Bakery down the road (that also bakes divine cinnamon buns). A brown paper bag of homemade cookies awaits in the room, best enjoyed with a sherry-laced hot chocolate on the rooftop while watching the sunset over the rugged coastline. Doubles from £140, check availability at fortroadhotel.com or booking.com.

Elie, Fife

Imagine Cornwall, only quieter. Much of The Kingdom of Fife, just over the Forth Bridge from Edinburgh, is neat farmland and its coastline is peppered with sand and old stone villages. Harbours team with fishing trawlers unloading creels of langoustine and lobster, and lanes are lined with fancy farm shops and Italian ice-cream cafés (check out Jannettas in St Andrews): in summer Fife feels like a giant picnic hamper. This is old-fashioned, make-your-own-fun, bucket-and-spade territory – go cockling on the shore, build sandcastles or tuck into a barbecue in the beer garden.

What foodies can do in Fife

Join the Fife Coastal Path on a seafood safari through postcard-pretty fishing villages, stopping for smoked fish tacos at East Pier Smokehouse in St Monan’s, deservedly popular fish and chips at Anstruther Fish Bar, and a pint of prawns at Elie’s Harbour Café.

Where to stay in Elie

The Ship Inn is a local institution with a newly designed upstairs restaurant and six contemporary bedrooms, decked out in a fresh, coastal style with a smattering of junk-shop finds. Contemporary comfort comes from roll-top baths, monsoon showers, flat-screen TVs and espresso machines. From the top-floor ‘Admiral’ room you can gaze down on dog-walkers weaving across the broad, sandy beach. Famous for its fish and chips, the inn champions Scottish seafood and local shellfish (the crab, lobster and langoustine are landed at nearby Pittenweem). Doubles from £190, check availability at booking.com

Aldeburgh, Suffolk

Aldeburgh, a small seaside town in Suffolk, is famous for its annual food and drink festival, and something of a hot gastronomic ticket.

What foodies can do in Aldeburgh

The Lighthouse serves simple home-cooked fare with a neighbourhood vibe – including its very own Lighthouse 77 gin, which includes botanicals such as heather and liquorice. Sea Spice is a beautiful restaurant that combines local Suffolk produce with flavourful Indian cooking. The beach is lined with shacks selling boxes of prawns and smoked fish from local artisans including Butley Oysterage. And, like all great coastal towns, there’s the iconic Aldeburgh Fish & Chips made the traditional Suffolk way – fried in beef dripping!

Where to stay in Aldeburgh

Be it colour palettes and decorative touches inspired by the Suffolk countryside or a guest pantry where you can pour yourself a complimentary cocktail, every detail of this six-bedroom property has been carefully considered. Enjoy the rooftop sea-view terrace, then head down to Sur-Mer restaurant, where chef Tom Payne makes impressive use of Suffolk produce, such as Gressingham duck or Dingley Dell pork. From Butley Creek oysters to lemon sole in Pernod garlic butter, seafood is prominent. Check rates and availability at the-suffolk.co.uk

Deal, Kent

The genteel coastal town of Deal, on the Kent coast, has gone hip in recent years, attracting artists and second-homers from Hackney and Dalston, who can bomb down to “Dealston” in just over an hour thanks to a fast train service from St Pancras.

What foodies can do in Deal

Walk to Walmer Castle at one end and visit Deal Pier on your way back. Browse the display window at Jenkin & Sons for shimmering local mackerel, sea trout and locally-caught shrimps. In-house chef Pete Keyes leads the energetic kitchen at lunchtime, turning out hot fishy delights such as fat scallops cooked in their shell with cherry tomatoes and handmade pesto, juicy prawn skewers and fish tacos. Head to Pop Up Cafe for excellent sourdough and croissants, order a bespoke beach picnic from Hut 55 or head to The Frog & Scot for fine wines and a selection of small plates inspired by the bistros of Paris.

Where to stay in Deal

The Rose is a renovated Victorian inn on Deal’s high street. Downstairs is a bar, restaurant and lounge full of bright vintage furniture, while upstairs are eight bedrooms, each painted in a unique bold hue, inspired by the bright beach balls and deckchairs of the seaside. There’s a relaxed vibe at breakfast with magazines and papers piled high and the menu chalked on a blackboard. Vegetarians can fill up on roast mushrooms with oregano and goats cheese on toast, while the Nordically inclined can opt for the Scandi breakfast plate – smoked salmon with avocado, egg, dill, whipped cream cheese and toast. For dinner, The Rose’s restaurant offers British comfort food with a fresh Aussie feel (think chicken schnitzel jazzed up with fennel slaw), with most ingredients coming from neighbouring suppliers. You can reserve a table in the garden if you’d prefer to sit in the open air. Doubles from £196, check availability at booking.com

Babbacombe, Devon

Babbacombe is the kind of place Agatha Christie might have sent a recuperating character to: there’s Devon sunshine, blue seas, charming Oddicombe beach (made private by the shelter of a steep, tree-lined cliff) and even an art deco funicular railway linking the beach to Babbacombe’s pretty clifftop green. Standing sentinel over all of this is the Cary Arms, squeezed inside the curve of the bay directly above the beach. Walk along Oddicombe beach via a wooden walkway to reach the funicular (look out for crabs skirting the rock pools below) and catch a ride up the cliffs.

Where to stay in Babbacombe

The 19th-century Cary Arms’ bedrooms (some dog-friendly) have a fresh, coastal feel. If there are more of you than two, rent one of the adjoining blue-and-white fisherman’s cottages or, for a romantic weekend, book a beach hut. At breakfast, take in the sprawling views of the pink-soil cliffs of the English Riviera while tucking into grilled kippers or the Devon full English. For dinner, pick one of the chef’s seafood specials for the freshest catch, and eat out on the terrace. Doubles from £365, check availability at booking.com

Southwold, Suffolk

This seaside town sits within the Suffolk Coast and Heaths Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty. A stretch of brightly coloured beach huts hug the shoreline that leads towards Walberswick – a quieter part of the coast backed with dunes and marshland.

What foodies can do in Southwold

If you have a car it’s worth exploring the local area. Drive 30 minutes south to Aldeburgh to enjoy the freshest fish and chips, and cones of stem ginger ice cream on the seafront. Another 15 minutes down the road is Orford, a small town home to Pinney’s smokehouse – where you can stock up on locally caught fish – and Pump Street Bakery, for silky smooth hot chocolates topped with homemade marshmallows.

Where to stay in Southwold

An extensive renovation in 2017 has breathed fresh sea air into The Swan Hotel. There are 35 cheerful bedrooms, a relaxed yet refined restaurant (reservations essential for indoor seating) and separate cosy bar area (the Tap Room). Breakfast is a leisurely affair; make yourself a spicy Bloody Mary with Adnams vodka and Tabasco sauce and choose from the likes of smoked kippers with herb butter and lemon and poached eggs, served Benedict, Florentine and Royale style. Doubles from £190, check availability at booking.com

Isle of Sheppey, Kent

Elmley National Nature Reserve on the Isle of Sheppey is a sprawling, unspoilt patchwork of meadows and waterways. As such, it’s abundant with wildlife – spot birds of prey, hares, butterflies and dragonflies. You might even catch sight of water voles hiding out near the ponds.

What foodies can do in Kent

Work up an appetite on a bike ride; there’s a 16-mile cycle route that will take you past all the most notable landmarks on the isle. If you fancy a drive, head out to one of Kent’s great foodhalls: Macknade, in Faversham, or The Goods Shed, in Canterbury.

Where to stay on the Isle of Sheppey

Situated on a farm, Elmley promises luxurious accommodation in the form of hand-crafted shepherd’s huts, a five-bedroom cottage and a six-bedroom farmhouse, with individual rooms available to book for bed and breakfast. Comfortable and cosy while keeping you close to the elements, these guest spaces really help you make the most of the tranquil surroundings. Cook for yourself (on anything from a firepit to a portable gas stove) or give yourself a break and enjoy dinner in the ground floor dining room or order meals to be brought to your hut in a wicker hamper. There are two choices for breakfast, lunch and supper, with many of the ingredients sourced from small local businesses and the Macknade farmshop in Faversham. elmleynaturereserve.co.uk

North Norfolk

With its cinematic beaches and big skies, the North Norfolk coast has long drawn walkers, cocklers, twitchers and bucket-and-spaders. But, increasingly, visitors are lured there by the food, with Norfolk’s north-west region being especially flavour-intense.

What foodies can do in North Norfolk

Take a trip to Brancaster Staithe, where the freshest mussels and local smoked fish are stuffed into baguettes at the Crab Hut, while among Burnham Market’s pretty flint-and-brick cottages, you can buy potted shrimp from Gurneys Fishmonger and Norfolk pork pies from Humble Pie Deli. In nearby Thornham, Eric’s Fish & Chips, opened by Snaith in 2015, elevates the old coastal faves: sustainable fish in beer batter, IPA pickled onions and pineapple fritters.

Where to say in North Norfolk

Handsome redbrick Titchwell Manor gazes across the marshes. Built in the 1897 as a farmhouse, it’s now a smart 31-room hotel that marries Victorian stateliness with bold, modern brio. The manor guestrooms are a riot of statement wallpaper, vintage pieces and acid colours. There are calmer, more neutral retreats in the converted outbuildings; best is The Potting Shed, a standalone hideaway with log burner, veranda and roll-top bath. Like its rooms, Titchwell’s kitchen caters for all tastes: robust bar staples in the hotel’s Eating Rooms offer counterpoint to the Conservatory’s inventive menus and monthly supper clubs. Doubles from £240, check availability at booking.com

Penzance, Cornwall

Well on the way to the southernmost tip of mainland Britain, this historic, rough-around-the-edges Cornish town may not be as talked-about as its cousins of Padstow and St Ives, but has plenty of appeal for staycationers looking for a beach-side break.

What foodies can do in Penzance

Stroll the mile-long shingle promenade beach, or visit one of the neighbouring coastlines, such as that of the fishing port, Newlyn. Drop by Penzance Farmers’ Market, which takes place on Fridays and pick up freshly baked bread and cake, as well as local cheeses and Wild Smoked’s seafood. Polgoon Vineyard is worth a visit too – take in the 24-acre estate and try a self-guided tour and tasting.

Where to stay in Penzance

Chapel House is tucked away in Penzance’s Old Quarter. The Georgian building, which is replete with landscape paintings by students at Newlyn School of Art, has six stylish rooms. All come with sea views, painted white floors and a mix of antique and Scandi-style furnishings. Take breakfast either in your room, the large stone-flagged kitchen-diner in the basement, or – if the weather allows – out in the garden, and try the speciality of cod’s roe, smoked bacon, samphire and poached egg. On Friday and Saturday evenings, pre-booked suppers are available, too. chapelhousepz.co.uk

Sandsend, Yorkshire

This small, picturesque fishing village on the edge of the North York Moors National Park comes with a charmingly rugged beach and a rich history. It’s right next to Whitby in North Yorkshire, and affords some great views of the town’s historic abbey, a few miles south. Once you’ve acquainted yourself with Sandsend’s own beach and taken in the views of the 7th-centry cliff-top abbey in the neighbouring town of Whitby, follow the coast down there and climb the 199 steps to see the ruins up close. Then, take that newly roused appetite to Whitby Deli and check out the counter full of fresh meats, cheeses, as well as the shelves lined with wine, craft beer and top-notch ingredients to take home and cook with.

Where to stay in Sandsend

Estbek House is a restaurant-with-rooms housed in an 18th-century mansion on the edge of the beach. There are five individually styled rooms here, all sympathetic of the building’s regency roots. The kitchen team take regular deliveries of fresh North Sea lobster, Whitby cod and diver-caught scallops, which all compete for your attention on the sustainability-focused, seafood-championing menu created by co-owner-chef Tim Lawrence. estbekhouse.co.uk

Brighton, East Sussex

Known for its bohemian charm, lively seafront and lush surrounding countryside, Brighton has long been a popular seaside destination for holidaymakers from home and abroad.

What foodies can do in Brighton

Brighton and Hove has a wealth of brunch and lunch options. Why not try Moksha for unbeatable meat, veggie and vegan full English options, and excellent coffee; Mange Tout for French classics including croque madame and croque monsieur; or, for lunch, make your way to restored Victorian seafront food hall Shelter Hall, where an array of seven unique kitchens offers something for everyone, from top-notch burgers and pizzas to Egyptian street food and fish and chips.

Come dinnertime, for a treat head over to Dave Mothersill's exceptional Furna opposite the Royal Pavilion for a menu of stunning small plates and audacious wine pairings; Wild Flor for its neighbourhood bistro vibe and superb British-French à la carte menu and wine list; Kindling for superb open-fire cooking, high-welfare meats and sustainable produce; or tiny Brighton institution Bincho Yakitori for adventurous, izakaya-style plates such as Korean-style cauliflower and chicken heart skewers, with warm sake alongside.

Where to stay in Brighton

Quirky boutique hotel Artist Residence has unique rooms decorated by local artists that overlook the iconic West Pier. There’s a lively cocktail bar serving bespoke drinks, and the hotel's new restaurant is a big hit thanks to a thrilling menu of excellent seasonal small plates. Doubles from £145, check availability at booking.com.

Portrush, Northern Ireland

This Northern Irish town sits on the Ramore Head peninsula and has three sandy beaches to make the most of – no wonder it’s one of the isle’s most popular resorts.

What foodies can do in Portrush

Portrush is right on the Causeway Coastal Route, so if you have a car it’s well worth exploring for the gorgeous sea views. Before you set off, head to Babushka Kitchen Café for fab Swedish coffee and homemade bakes. Local foodies flock to Harry’s Shack in neighbouring Portstewart, where you can enjoy fish and chips perched above the beach before taking a post-lunch stroll along the shore.

Where to stay in Portrush

Nicola Neill has converted an Edwardian townhouse into a luxury B&B, Blackrock House. Welcome drinks and homemade whiskey cake greet guests when they arrive, and Nicola – who grew up nearby in Bushmills, home to the world’s first licensed whiskey distillery – has created a bountiful whiskey honesty bar. Breakfast can be taken in the lounge, on the balcony or in your bedroom. Try a traditional fry up with Belfast tea, or pan-fried salmon and scrambled eggs with purple dulse seaweed. Nicola and her team throw occasional supper clubs too, to showcase produce from local farms and smokehouses. blackrockbandbportrush.com

Isle of Wight

Brits have been holidaying in the Isle of Wight’s resorts since Victorian times, and its sun-soaked charm still remains. On the island’s southern tip you can stay in a hotel (The Royal) that the Michelin Guide has recommended every year since it was first published in 1911. But skip over to Newport or Cowes and you’ll find ambitious young restaurateurs using island produce in sleek, modern recipes.

What foodies can do on Isle of Wight

Take in the beauty of Tennyson Down (the poet lived on the island for over a decade) on a walk from The Needles to Freshwater Bay, stopping off at Dimbola Lodge for fat scones with jam and cream.

Where to stay on Isle of Wight

The Royal hasn’t lost its Victorian feel, with manicured lawns and a lofty dining room that looks as if it once doubled as a ballroom. Bedrooms enjoy the same ambience and most are painted sky blue to complement the views of Ventnor Bay, a five-minute walk away. The Royal’s traditional dining room belies the kitchen’s clever, delicate cooking: try whipped goat’s cheese with beetroot sponge, or roasted pollock with fricassee of spring vegetables and pea velouté. Doubles from £270, check availability at booking.com

Lyme Regis, Dorset

Imposing cliffs, blue seas and historic landmarks earn this coastal resort the title of The Pearl of Dorset. Sandwiched between the Devon and Dorset areas of outstanding natural beauty, it’s right up there with one of the most scenic seaside locations in the country.

What foodies can do in Lyme Regis

Visit local deli, Ammonite Fine Foods, and browse the shelves of locally produced food and drink – perhaps treat yourself to a bottle of Dorset’s award-winning Pothecary Gin. Or spend the evening at Harriet Mansell's wine bar, Lilac, that breathes life into a 400 year old cellar. Drop into Baboo Gelato on the beachside after exploring The Cobb (Lyme Regis’ famous harbour) and the magnificent, 100-mile long Jurassic Coast.

Where to stay in Lyme Regis

Alexandra Hotel was originally built as a house in 1735 for the Dowager Countess Lady Poulett. There are 23 rooms here, the most impressive being the sizeable Countess’s Room, with its towering headboard, floral furnishings and grand bay window overlooking the rear gardens and sparkling coastline. The restaurant is named Ammonite after the iconic fossils found along the Jurassic Coast, and focuses on the top-drawer seafood and local produce from the surrounding area. For breakfast, tuck into the West Country plate of dry-cured smoked bacon and award-winning sausages from Axminster, or whole grilled kippers, smoked by Chesil Beach Smokehouse in Bridport. hotelalexandra.co.uk

Salcombe, Devon

Enveloped in the South Devon Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty, this scenic coastal town hugs the Kingsbridge Estuary and blends sea views with lush, rolling countryside.

What foodies can do in Salcombe

Work up an appetite with a 45-minute coastal walk from Gara Rock to sandy Mill Bay beach, refuel at the cute little Venus beach café, then hop on the jaunty passenger ferry from East Portlemouth to Salcombe, where you can make your own gin at Salcombe Gin and watch ice-cream being made at Salcombe Dairy. Tuck into chargrilled scallops at cheery, bunting-garlanded beach café, The Winking Prawn. Book a visit to Overbeck’s, a National Trust property, and enjoy a mean cream tea in its tropical gardens overlooking the estuary.

Where to stay in Salcombe

Hip hotel Gara Rock, perched on a cliff over the harbour from Salcombe, has 12 rustic-chic bedrooms as well as a clutch of stylish self-catering family-friendly cottages – all of which are cleverly positioned to make the most of magnificent coastal views. Gara Rock’s restaurant and terrace offers a relaxed vibe, a limited but reliable menu that caters for all culinary persuasions, and panoramic vistas through floor-to-ceiling windows (tables 115 and 117 have uninterrupted views). Doubles from £548, check availability at booking.com