MEASURING more than 19,000 miles, Britain’s beautiful coastline has a host of attractions and reasons to visit.
Nigel Thompson unveils our pick of what’s happening around our shoreline next year, with options for every traveller’s budget.
Scarborough leads the way for 2026 as the “Queen of the Yorkshire Coast”, celebrating its 400th anniversary as a spa resort.
ANNIVERSARIES
SCARBOROUGH’S journey to becoming the nation’s first seaside spa resort began in 1626, with the accidental discovery of mineral waters.
Mrs Thomasin Farrer noticed natural springs bubbling beneath a cliff.
These were subsequently said to cure minor ailments.
Celebrations throughout next year to mark the centenary include heritage and art installations and a 10-day festival in mid-July.
Across the Pennines, Morecambe is marking what would have been comic legend Eric Morecambe’s 100th birthday (May 14).
The town he was born in, and named himself after, will offer a series of events and activities that are sure to bring some sunshine!
Italianate village Portmeirion in North Wales will celebrate the centenary of its completion with events, exhibitions and tours.
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It’s also 60 years since cult TV series The Prisoner — which starred Patrick McGoohan as a former secret agent dubbed Number Six — was filmed at Portmeirion.
There will be a convention weekend on April 24-26, featuring parades, human chess and immersive experiences.
Fans will surely want to stay in hotel room number six!
The Jurassic Coast will be even more roar-some as it celebrates the 25th anniversary of its Unesco listing.
Highlights along the 95-mile geological route in Dorset and East Devon include dinosaur fossil hunting in Lyme Regis, picture perfect Durdle Door and the 180billion pebbles that make up Chesil Beach.
WALKING
NEXT year will see the completion of the King Charles III England Coast Path. At 2,795 miles it will be the world’s longest continuous coastal trail.
The newest 42-mile section now links the Scottish border to Lincolnshire and a summer celebratory event will be announced.
Other coastal walking celebrations include Dorset’s WALX Festival (September 17-20) with Jurassic Coast hikes and workshops and the Isle of Wight’s Spring and Autumn Walking Festivals (May 9-17 and October 3-11), focussing on its landscape, wildlife and heritage.
ACCOMMODATION
BLACKPOOL’S Royal Carlton Hotel is getting a multi-million-pound makeover.
The 38-room art deco property, between Central and South Pier, will reopen in the spring and feature a new pergola with extensive greenery.
The luxury Kithmore Hotel in “home of golf” St Andrews, Fife, will debut in the summer with a major transformation.
The former Ardgowan Hotel will have 44 rooms, a bar/restaurant and an expanded terrace.
A mixed-use cultural, creative attraction with a 31-room hotel is under construction at Old College on the promenade at Aberystwyth, Ceredigion.
The restoration project is due to finish by the end of 2026.
FOOD
FOOD lovers have a busy calendar starting with value-focused Whitby Restaurant Week (March 2-8), Yorkshire produce at Filey Food Festival (April 4-5) and street eats at Southsea Food Festival (July 4-5).
Isle of Wight Garlic Festival runs from August 15-16 and Essex foodies will flock to the Maldon Food & Drink Festival (August 29-30).
CULTURE
HULL Maritime Museum will reopen in the summer after a £27.5million restoration.
New exhibits covering 800 years of history will range from ship models and seafaring art to a 40ft whale skeleton.
Redcar, on the North Yorkshire coast, will welcome a £25million multi-purpose cultural and family entertainment venue near the Esplanade.
The Edge in Cumbria, on Whitehaven harbour, is a unique new building. It has a cafe and bar area and there are 16 en-suite bedrooms.
A £12million development will transform Isle of Barra Distillery in the Outer Hebrides with a visitor centre and café.
Due to open in October, you can try out seaweed botanicals and honey vodka.
FESTIVALS
THE south coast of England has a variety of events for next year, including kites massing for Let’s Go Fly in Dorchester on June 6, Portsmouth’s Country on the Coast Festival on April 17-19 and hydrofoil competitors speeding across the water at the World E-Foiling “iQFOiL” Championships in Weymouth and Portland from September 21-26.
NATURE
WORLD Saltmarsh Day will be held at WWT Steart Marshes in Somerset on June 11, aimed at connecting people with coastal nature via new audio trails, community art and viewing platforms.
In Hampshire, the Southsea Coastal Scheme will double the size of the shingle beach between the Pyramids and Eastney for 2026, to enhance the visitor experience and bolster climate resilience, helping to reduce local flooding.
More info at englandscoast.com/en, visitscotland.com, visitwales.com
