America boasts the Hamptons and Cape Cod, France has its riviera – and these days the UK has seasides that are every bit as cool. Here are Britain’s 15 classiest coastal spots, with tips on how to stay alongside the millionaires on a budget.
South
St Ives, Cornwall
This Cornish fishing village’s cobbled lanes lead from the harbour to beaches via boutiques selling £100 T-shirts.
Star watch: Hollywood actress Thandiwe Newton often returns to her family home.
Cool highlight: The circular seafront Tate gallery is a work of art in its own right.
Dream stay: Michelin-starred food and a seaweed spa at private beach lodges; up to £2,350 a night (carbisbayhotel.co.uk).
On a budget: Romantic clifftop rooms in D.H. Lawrence’s favourite pub; from £140 (whitehousezennor.com).
Mawgan Porth, Cornwall
A sandy surfers’ cove that’s dubbed north Cornwall’s Hollywood-on-Sea.
Star watch: Cate Blanchett, Jason Statham and Coldplay’s Chris Martin have homes; Kate Winslet, Noel Gallagher and Gary Barlow are often spotted.
Cool highlights: Soak up the Japanese Garden’s zen vibes, followed by lessons in the latest watersport, wave-skiing.
Dream stay: Eco adults-only hotel, with wooden hot tubs and hanging lanterns; from £310 (scarlethotel.co.uk).
On a budget: Seaview bungalow B&B; from £130 (trevarrianlodge.co.uk).
Whitstable, Kent
This cool Kent Riviera hang-out has an arts and crafts market.
Star watch: Spot locals Harry Hill and Janet Street-Porter; visitors Gary Lineker and Kate Moss.
Cool highlight: Forge Beach Cafe’s takeaway oysters and chips on paper plates.
Dream stay: Enjoy anchovies in seaweed mayonnaise, English bubbly and private balconies; from £184 (marinewhitstable.co.uk).
On a budget: Charming fisherman’s huts next to oyster beds; from £95 (whitstablefishermanshuts.com).
Lymington, Hampshire
Where the New Forest meets Solent yachties amid Georgian antique shops.
Star watch: Sir Ben Ainslie and singer Birdy are local; visitors include Johnny Depp and Elton John.
Cool highlight: Stand-up paddle-boarding in a Victorian seawater lido.
Dream stay: Luxury yacht in Lymington marina; from £400 for two nights (zendogcharters.co.uk).
On a budget: Solent-side hotel; from £104 (macdonaldhotels.co.uk/elmers-court).
East
Cley-next-the-Sea, Norfolk
This marshy millionaires’ hotspot on the atmospheric Norfolk coast boasts a village charcuterie and smokehouse.
Star watch: James Blunt’s home town; Rick Wakeman recently married there.
Cool highlight: Seafood in Wiveton Bell pub garden next to a village green.
Dream stay: Historic windmill that’s now a luxury B&B; from £325 (cleywindmill.co.uk).
On a budget: Elegant Victorian guesthouse; from £130 (blakeneyhouse.com).
Southwold, Suffolk
Southwold, with its pier, sandy beach and beach huts, is sometimes dubbed Hampstead-on-Sea.
Star watch: Rowan Atkinson and Twiggy live here; Stephen Fry visits.
Cool highlights: The pier’s eccentric, arty amusement arcade and ice cream from chocolatier Harris & James.
Dream stay: Boutique coaching inn with private butlers; from £304 (theswan
On a budget: Beachside bar with rooms; from £180 (sailloftsouthwold.uk).
Aldeburgh, Suffolk
Enjoy literary and classical festivals, designer clothes, bookshops and the half-timbered cinema.
Star watch: Locals range from Bill Nighy to Roy Keane; visitors from Joanna Lumley to Tom Hiddleston.
Cool highlight: Art everywhere, including Maggi Hambling’s 20ft-high steel scallop beach sculpture.
Dream stay: Victorian seafront hotel; from £261 (wentworth-aldeburgh.com).
On a budget: Hand-dived scallops, complimentary cocktails and vintage rooms; from £185 (the-suffolk.co.uk).
Wales
Beaumaris, Anglesey
The millionaires’ coast between Menai Bridge and the world heritage castle has beaches, yachts and very smart shops.
Star watch: Hollywood star Stanley Tucci dines at The Bull’s Head Inn, James Nesbitt at Midland Tapas.
Cool highlights: Carbon-neutral puffinspotting cruises with Seacoast Safaris and a £175 ‘surprise menu’ at Michelin-starred restaurant Sosban.
Dream stay: Fairytale waterside chateau; from £180 (chateaurhianfa.co.uk).
On a budget: Historic coaching inn near the castle; from £152 (inncollection
Cardigan, Ceredigion
It’s a bohemian town on the River Teifi with antiques, art and artisan food.
Star watch: Fans include Lee Evans, Charlotte Church, Kevin Keegan and Billy Bragg.
Cool highlights: Power kiting on Poppit Sands and birdwatching from Welsh Wildlife Centre’s eco-cafe.
Dream stay: Spa hotel owned by local family overlooking Cardigan Island; from £251 (cliffhotel.com)
On a budget: Refurbished beach hotel; from £145 (teifiwatersidehotel.co.uk).
North
Arnside, Cumbria
This fishing village claims the UK’s best sunset views across the bay to the Lake District fells.
Star watch: Visitors include Michael Portillo and mountaineer Chris Bonington.
Cool highlight: Galleries and cocktail bars on the promenade.
Dream stay: Two-bed luxury waterside balcony apartment named Beach Haven; from £1,150 a week, code: UK46163 (cottages.com).
On a budget: Whitewashed inn with gardens; from £88 (the
Alnmouth, Northumberland
You’re by a two-mile beach with colourfully painted houses, a Victorian golf club – and The Ferry Hut, the UK’s smallest museum (the curator has to sit on a deckchair outside).
Star watch: Visitors include Robson Green and Vernon Kay. DJ Calvin Harris married Radio 1’s Vick Hope here, and Nile Rodgers played at the party.
Cool highlights: Seabass and scallops perched in the Treehouse Restaurant, or one of the UK’s largest second-hand book stores in the old rail station.
Dream stay: Open fires and standalone baths in a period B&B; from £153 (stvaleryalnmouth.com).
On a budget: Cheerful village inn; from £110 (hopeandanchorholidays.co.uk).
Lytham-St-Annes, Lancashire
It’s a haven of leafy avenues with seaside villas, golf clubs and a cast-iron pier.
Star watch: Freddie Flintoff is a local; Olly Murs visits.
Cool highlights: Pear frangipanes at Taps pub, bargain hunting at Verdi antiques warehouse and takeaway salmon-and-dill fishcakes from Whelans.
Dream stay: Award-winning self-catering flat; from £175 (no16lytham.com).
On a budget: Recently refurbished seaview hotel; from £89 (inncollection
Scotland
North Berwick, East Lothian
Golf, seabirds and castles help make this Scotland’s most expensive seaside.
Star watch: Colin Firth appropriately loves the Firth of Forth.
Cool highlights: Foodie tours by electric bike, gannet-spotting boat safaris and supercar driving for kids at East Fortune circuit.
Dream stay: Golf, spas and island views at Marine Hotel; from £370 (marine
On a budget: Historic inn alongside world’s biggest herbaceous border; from £150 (castleinndirleton.com).
Leith, north of Edinburgh
From the grungy setting for Trainspotting, Leith has risen to become Scotland’s smartest suburb, nicknamed Scotland’s Shoreditch, with hip bars and restaurants, and vintage markets.
Star watch: Spot locals The Proclaimers or visitor Tom Cruise, who sailed into Leith on his superyacht.
Cool highlight: Stroll the decks of the retired Royal Yacht Britannia.
Dream stay: Stay afloat in a five-star hotel-ship alongside the Britannia; from £400 (fingal.co.uk).
On a budget: Opulent Victorian guesthouse overlooking a park; from £151 (sandaigguesthouse.co.uk).
St Andrews, Fife
It’s the home of golf, Scotland’s first university and bracing sandy beaches.
Star watch: Look out for visitors Catherine Zeta-Jones and Michael Douglas.
Cool highlights: ‘Landsailing’ on West Sands, sweating in a Wild Scottish Sauna or The Himalayas putting course.
Dream stay: Iconic historic golfers’ hotel; from £570 (oldcoursehotel.co.uk).
On a budget: A modern rural bed and breakfast built by the owner; from £140 (tarskavaigbnb.co.uk).
