A seaside town with a “wild” and “beautiful” beach in the North East has been crowned the best in the UK for 2024, according to Which?

Bamburgh in Northumberland has triumphed for the fourth consecutive year in the annual ranking of seaside towns from the consumer champion website.

It comes as Which? surveyed over 4,700 people about their experiences of UK seaside towns in the last year, asking their views on a range of criteria including the quality of the beaches, food and drink offerings, tourist attractions and value for money.

The survey results spotlighted coastal gems from all four nations – as well as Bamburgh taking the top spot, Portmeirion, Gwynedd was ranked in second place, St Andrews, Fife in third place and Portstewart, Derry/Londonderry, the favourite Northern Irish resort, also featured in the top 20.

@intrepidgeordie If havent already tried the Hut at Bamburgh beach then you need to plan your visit ☕️ #bamburghcastle #bamburghbeach #coffeetok #northumberland #fyp ♬ Sunroof - Nicky Youre & dazy

This year's survey once again saw many lesser-known destinations beat their more popular counterparts to the top of the table.

You can see all the UK’s best seaside towns for this year on the Which? website.

Why is Bamburgh officially the UK’s best seaside town for 2024?

Which? explained: “Beloved by visitors for its ‘wild’ and ‘beautiful’ beach backed by its imposing castle, Bamburgh took first place in the consumer champion’s survey for the fourth consecutive year, achieving an impressive destination score of 86%.”

Visitors were awed by the “magnificent” and “totally unspoiled” beach, as well as by the “dramatic” views of the castle, which one visitor enthused “is probably the most impressive in the British Isles”, and awarded Bamburgh a full five stars for its beach, seafront, scenery, tourist attractions and peace and quiet.

Have you noticed how clear the water is at Bamburgh Beach?Thinking of planning a trip to Bamburgh this summer? (Image: Tripadvisor)

Others also revealed they enjoyed exploring the village, which though small, boasts a handful of well-regarded pubs, restaurants and cafes.

Visitors have also shared compliments about Bamburgh Beach on Tripadvisor and have given it a 5/5 rating from 299 reviews.

Someone posted: “Took ourselves & our dog for a trip to Bamburgh. Although it was warm it was very overcast. That didn’t spoil our fun. The pure sand, and how exceptionally clean it was, had obviously drawn a lot of others there too. Even though there was a lot of people it was still perfect to have quite a lot of your own space. We paddled in the warm sea & our dog had a fabulous time chasing his ball.”

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Another wrote: “Absolutely fabulous beach with the most stunning back drop. Picture soft golden sand, grand castle in the background, islands in the foreground, quiet and peaceful, non commercial but conveniences 5 mins walk, child friendly and dog friendly! What more could you ask for (warm water? No place is perfect!)"

Rory Boland, editor of Which? Travel, said: “From wild, unspoilt stretches of remote coastline to charming traditional bucket and spade resorts, the UK’s seaside towns offer something for everyone.

“While you may have your own favourite coastal spot, this year’s survey shows that it’s worth looking beyond the most famous resorts this summer, to the lesser-visited hidden gems in every corner of the UK.”