Bamburgh beach named best in North England by The Times

Bamburgh in Northumberland was the regional winner in The Times and Sunday Times annual top UK beach guide.

It’s the first year the guide consisting of 50 seaside locations in total has been nominated by readers of the publication.

Chris Haslam, Chief Travel Writer at The Times and Sunday Times, then assessed the beaches using a “rigorous” checklist.

@thenomadsyouknow Such an impressive castle! Have you heard of it? 🏰🍃#visitnorthumberland #bamburghcastle #northeastengland #ukscenery #uniqueexperiences #thisprettyengland #visitengland #castlesofengland #englishheritage #foryoupage #fyp ♬ Evergreen - Richy Mitch & the Coal Miners

Every one of the coastal spots listed has been visited within the past eight weeks.

The guide highlights the “world-beating magnificence of the British seaside”, and gives a description of the scenery and setting, as well as all the practical information needed to plan a beach day.

The full guide can be found here.

What did The Times and Sunday Times say about Bamburgh?

Chris said: “Despite my ill-ease with Bamburgh — too big, too windswept and too scary — the Northumberland beach emerged as the clear winner of the 44 northern beaches you nominated, so I’ll let you explain why.

“Apart from being an incredible beach, having the dramatic castle overlooking it makes Bamburgh truly special,” Hannah from Newcastle says while Kate Brierton from Cambridge mentions the “swathes of golden sand, rock pools with pugnacious hermit crabs and the sunset over the castle”.

Although Bamburgh beach won the award for best in the North of England, other Northumberland coastal spots made the list too (Image: Getty)

Chris added: “And so on, with the last word going to Maureen Chilvers from Manchester, who says: “I don’t really want to publicise Bamburgh and make it too popular, but it has everything and deserves to be No 1!”

“This is the people’s beach guide and I’m touched by the outpouring of love for Bamburgh, but, as devil’s advocate, I must point out that the public loos are at least ten minutes from the beach; that, as Joyce Shearsmith from Durham lamented, there’s inadequate disabled access; and that the fish and chips cost 18 quid. Plus, Seahouses, a little to the south of the same beach, has better views of the Farne Islands and significantly cheaper chips. Just saying.”

@thenomadsyouknow This beach will forever live rent free in our minds. Have you been yet? You need to add it to your UK bucketlist 🫶🏼 #visitengland #visitnorthumberland #thisprettyengland #ukbeaches #bestbeaches #uktraveller #uktravels #uktrip #foryoupage #travelinspo ♬ original sound - Owen

Other beaches that made the top 50 located in the North East were Dunstanburgh and Cresswell in Northumberland and Longsands in Tynemouth.

Chris Haslam said: “As families flock to the British coastlines this summer, and tourists migrate to more northerly latitudes, beaches in Britain could be on the cusp of a new golden age.

“This is the most comprehensive and detailed beach guide available, and the only one in which every stretch of sand, pebbles or shingle has been physically inspected within the past eight weeks.

“The weather was magnificent throughout, and when the sun is shining - our beaches are the most beautiful on earth."