England is very popular with international tourists, but not because of its beaches. When most people think of England, they think of rainy weather, Georgian architecture, and narrow cobblestone streets. You might be surprised to learn then that England has got an incredible selection of beaches. If you visit the island nation during summer, then you could even encounter a heatwave or two. With global warming on the rise, heat waves are becoming more and more common in Britain.
This post will tell you how you can spend a perfect beach holiday in England:
Beachside Pubs
British people love to drink, it’s a huge part of their culture. You shouldn’t be surprised to learn then that in seaside resorts, it’s very common to find pubs situated next to the beach. One of Britain’s most popular seaside towns that has an abundance of pubs in Bournemouth, located in Dorset. You should be able to find a pub in Bournemouth that’s by the beach and that doubles as a hotel. If you are visiting England for the first time, staying in a beachside pub will be a very enjoyable experience. Try to find one that’s by the beach, so that you can head out and enjoy yourself without needing to travel.
Travel Destination
If you’re visiting England for the first time, then it’s highly likely that you won’t be familiar with the nation’s most popular beach resorts. As already mentioned, Bournemouth is one of them. The good thing about Bournemouth is that it’s relatively close to London and other cities, like Salisbury and Winchester. Bournemouth is a good place to base yourself on your visit to England. You can take day trips into England’s most historic cities while staying in a peaceful, friendly town.
Visiting Season
The season that you visit is something that you need to give a lot of thought to. Britain’s weather isn’t the best, as you may already know. The best time to visit if you want to go on a beach holiday is during the summertime, which can get very hot. From around May to September, England’s temperatures regularly exceed 20 degrees. They tend to sit at around 19 on average, during this period. However, heatwaves are becoming more common. It’s worth checking out England’s national weather agency, The Met Office, prior to your visit. Their website will tell you what the country’s weather is forecast to be.
Beach Safety
If you are visiting one of Britain’s beaches on a quiet day, then there might not be any lifeguards present. As with any beach, anywhere, you need to make sure that you are as careful as possible. Watch out for rip tides, waves, and the current. Generally, Britain’s waters are very calm, but from time to time storms arrive on the nation’s shores, which can be very dangerous for beachgoers. You also need to think about pollution, which happens sometimes. If you check out the website of the beach that you are visiting, you will be able to find the area’s current pollution levels and temperature.
Local Wildlife
Local wildlife is something that you need to give serious thought to when you are visiting England. Many of England’s beaches are home to seals for several months of the year. During the period that seals make Britain’s beaches their home, the beaches themselves become off-limit to beachgoers. This is usually during autumn and winter. It’s important that you research the area that you are going to so that you can determine whether or not the area’s beaches will be off-limit due to seal presence.
Rural Destinations
Britain has a long coastline, due to it being an island. This means that there are lots of sleepy, rural destinations with beaches that you can visit. Most tourists just go to large towns and cities, to enjoy their beaches (like Brighton, for example). If you do a little bit of research online and talk to people on British forums, like Reddit’s r/Britain sub-forum, then you will be able to find out the location of hidden beaches that aren’t very popular with domestic and international tourists.
Have Manners
One of the most well-known aspects of British culture is the insistence on good manners. If you are rude or disrespectful to English people, they will take great offense. English people tend to be very polite, even to people that they don’t like. With that in mind, make sure that you are as polite and well-mannered as possible. Manners also extend to the way that you treat the beach that you are visiting. Make sure that you don’t leave litter around or do anything that might upset the locals. After all, you are a guest on their beach and should treat it as such.
School Holidays
If you visit during the school holidays (which is when schoolchildren are off of school), then beaches are bound to be a lot busier. The British school holidays begin in mid-to-late June (and July in some districts). If you visit during the beginning of June when British weather’s just warming up, then you will be able to avoid busy beaches. You will need to visit on a weekday, however. You can also visit at the end of September while the weather’s still warm because this is when schoolchildren return to school. Timing your visit to coincide with schooltime will help you to enjoy more privacy on the beach.
Fish and Chips
One last thing that you need to know about is fish and chips, one of England’s most popular dishes. It is best enjoyed at the seaside. All of England’s seaside towns and villages will have a fish and chip shop, or there will be one locally. Cod and chips are the quintessential dishes, although you can also purchase haddock, plaice, and scampi. Fish and chips are a dish that you have to try while you are there. Typically, fish and chips are enjoyed with mushy peas or curry sauce, and the chips are salted and seasoned with vinegar.
If you want to visit England’s beaches, then you need to do a lot of research and carefully plan your trip. If you don’t plan your trip then you won’t be able to make the most of it. While in England, make sure to visit the nation’s capital, too. London is somewhere that everybody has to go once in their lives.
