Best beach hotels in the UK

There’s nothing quite like a summer escape on the British coast. With glamorous seafront hotels, nautical pubs with rooms and peaceful country boltholes to choose from, no coastal getaway is the same.

Our undercover inspectors stay at hundreds of UK hotels to bring you honest and impartial reviews you can trust.

Inevitably, we’ve checked into some shabby seaside hotels, but there are plenty of beachfront properties that we'd return to without hesitation. Our best-rated beach hotels in the UK range from spa resorts to pubs, but each offers quality accommodation, top-notch food and access to spectacular scenery. 

We completed stays at the hotels included within the past three years. Prices are for a summer Saturday night (peak price) and correct at the time of publication. All scores are out of five.

The best beach hotels we've visited

• The Grand, Brighton, east Sussex
• No.42 by Guesthouse, Margate, Kent
• Harbour Beach Club Hotel & Spa, Salcombe, Devon
• The Harper, Langham, Norfolk
• The Rose, Deal, Kent
• The Swan, Southwold, Suffolk
• The Pig on the Beach, Dorset
• Moonfleet Manor, Dorset
• Artist Residence, Brighton, east Sussex
• Bike and Boot, Scarborough, north Yorkshire
• The Crown and Castle, Orford, Suffolk
• George and Heart House, Margate, Kent
• Harbourmaster Hotel, Aberaeron, west Wales
• The Ship Inn, Fife, Scotland

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The best beach hotels we’ve visited in England

The Grand, Brighton, east Sussex

Peak price £320

Rating 4.5 stars

Book direct at The Grand Brighton

Many know it as the hotel bombed by the IRA in a bid to assassinate Margaret Thatcher. In the 40 years that followed, at times, it was grand in name only. Fresh from a refurb, this seafront grande dame is shabby no longer – wowing from her plush art deco carpets up to her stately chandeliers. In the lobby bar, guests nurse champagne cocktails on dark-cyan, deep button-back banquettes – beneath the original 155-year-old marble columns that have been thoughtfully preserved. All of this comes without a hint of pretension: everyone from the coat-tailed bellhops to the friendly waiters were exceptionally attentive.

Rooms Nautical chic was the aesthetic in our newly revamped classic inland double: think navy and white striped cushions, herringbone throws and beach-themed prints. The spacious white marble rainfall shower pumped out lashings of hot water (welcome after a chilly sea dip). Our only complaint was the creaky corridor floor announcing every late-night guest with a groan. Sunday night stays are a bargain, but seafront king superior rooms, with wrought-iron balconies, typically set you back another £100.

Food and drink The restaurant specialises in seafood and grills. Afternoon tea is served in the sea-facing Victoria Terrace. Breakfast left us loosening belts: copious fresh continental and cooked options (which almost spanned the length of the sprawling ballroom-style Albert Room), plus a made-to-order omelette station.

Our verdict A high-end beachside stay without the haughtiness. 

This hotel was reviewed by an inspector for the July/Aug 2025 issue of 'Which? Travel'.

No. 42 by Guesthouse, Margate, Kent

Peak price £353

Rating 4.5 stars

Check rates at No.42 by Guesthouse

What’s stayed with us since our visit to No. 42 is not the sunset view over Margate’s Main Sands from our private balcony, nor the gorgeous interiors draped in thoughtful fabrics and embellished by hand with gold-leaf. It’s not even the record player and cleverly curated selection of vinyl in our room. No, it’s the free sweets. A vintage ticket booth on the second floor groans with glass jars of fudge, dolly mixture and jellybeans alongside serve-yourself striped paper bags. This, coupled with the traditional ice cream tricycle used to collect guests’ luggage from the station so they can enjoy the 10-minute seafront stroll, shows just how much care has gone into getting the breezy beach-club look and feel just right.

Rooms Our generous sea-view room felt like a suite. The bedroom, with its upholstered ceiling and the view that inspired more than 100 Turner paintings, is separated by glass and wood panelling from a little nook containing a cocktail fridge and a bag with towels for you to take to the beach.

Food and drink Breakfast is a luxurious two-course affair, served in the Pearly Cow brasserie with its luxurious corner sofas and stained glass. Pastries and overnight oats are served as ‘starters’, while a fancy full English and other classic ‘mains’ are cooked to order.

Our verdict You’ll pay through the nose for a summer stay (off season is more affordable), but if the sun shines it will be worth every penny.

This hotel was reviewed by an inspector for the July/Aug 2025 issue of 'Which? Travel'.

Planning a UK seaside holiday but not sure where to choose? See how readers rated popular resorts in Devon, Dorset, Northumberland and beyond for scenery, peace and quiet and more in our Best Seaside Town survey.

Harbour Beach Club Hotel & Spa, Salcombe, Devon

Peak Price £405

Rating 4.5 stars

Book your stay direct with Harbour Beach Club Hotel & Spa

Enjoy uninterrupted sea views from a wraparound terrace that makes the most of the secluded South Sands location. From the complimentary champagne welcome and coffee on departure to the free resort activities, along with boat and shuttle transfers to Salcombe harbour, you’ll feel well taken care of. 

Easy smiles, top-quality facilities (including a spa) and a stellar location make this a relaxing spot to while away lazy summer days. 

Rooms: Our worry that an inland room at a waterfront hotel would be disappointing was unfounded. Rolling hills were visible from the balcony, sunlight flooded through the skylights and a decanter of gin (and free soft drinks) awaited. Shades of green nodded to a 1930s coastal aesthetic, while a king-size bed, as well as twin wash basins and gold accents in the bathroom, added an understated touch of luxury. 

Food and drink: A sea breeze and chilled soundtrack drifts through the airy bar and restaurant. Its subtle nautical decor has hints of an Agatha Christie holiday home, with rattan chairs and nostalgic art dotted around. Big portions are matched by big flavours; the chicken with morels (£24) is a highlight. Breakfast is a moreish buffet and à la carte affair. 

Our verdict: Great service, thoughtful touches and an unbeatable location if you’re willing to splurge.

This hotel was reviewed by an inspector for the July 2022 issue of 'Which? Travel' and fact checked in June 2025.

Heading to Devon? Check out Brend Collection hotels. This family-run chain has fantastic properties in Devon and Cornwall and scored highly in our small hotel chains survey.

The Harper, Langham, Norfolk

Peak Price £340

Rating 4.5 stars

Book direct at The Harper

The village of Langham lies a mile inland from Morston Quay with its seal trips, salt marshes and huge skies. It has a church, a village school and, as of 2021, a luxury boutique hotel. Not that The Harper, with its friendly, unfussy service, feels out of place. This former glassblowing factory has been converted into a low-slung complex around a suntrap courtyard of olive trees, rusty chimineas and festoon lighting. Leading off The Yard is an indoor pool and hot tub, a stylish bar area and several cosy hideaways to curl up in with a little something from the wine-vending machine. 

Rooms Even the smallest of the hotel’s 32 rooms, at 280 sq ft, is classified as ‘big’ (others are ‘bigger’ and ‘biggest’). All have four-poster beds, high-spec bathrooms with monsoon showers and free pre-mixed negronis in the minibar. 

Food and drink Mouthwatering local produce is everywhere. There’s freshly caught North Sea shrimp sizzling over charcoal in The Yard, Norfolk pancetta mac ’n’ cheese from the bar and tandoori monkfish in Stanley’s restaurant. Even better, you can eat wherever and whenever you please. Just make sure you don’t miss the complimentary 6pm freshly cooked snacks – meatballs with chutney dip on our visit.

Our verdict: Spacious yet intimate, foodie yet unpretentious, relaxed but still special, The Harper has got its recipe just right.

This hotel was reviewed by an inspector for the July 2022 issue of 'Which? Travel' and fact checked in June 2025.

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The Rose, Deal, Kent

Peak Price £276

Rating Four stars

Book direct at The Rose

Once upon a time a rough boozer, The Rose has been given the Cinderella treatment. Located at the gentrified end of Deal high street and minutes from the seafront, it’s now a tasteful mix of contemporary art and vintage furnishings. You’ll long to linger in the courtyard, where peach roses climb the blue-brick walls. There’s no car park: we paid £10 for overnight use of the nearby long-stay. 

Rooms: There are eight rooms, each individually styled. Cobalt, turquoise and sage walls with a bright orange headboard shouldn’t work, but our technicolour cocoon felt luxurious. Help yourself to coffee, brandy and shortbread on the landing. It would have been perfect if the fire alarm hadn’t evicted us from our beds at 6.15am. 

Food and drink: The inventive menu, showcasing the finest local ingredients, was created by Nuno Mendes, formerly of trendy Chiltern Firehouse in London. We devoured flame-torched mackerel with juicy Kentish cherries and confit sea trout – although a few extra pink fir potatoes wouldn’t have gone amiss. Breakfast was just as elegant: smoked salmon, poached egg and potato rosti with dill hollandaise. 8am cocktail anyone? There’s a choice of Bloody Mary or zesty breakfast martini included. 

Our verdict: A chic food-lover’s paradise, The Rose ticks all the boxes on the Kentish coast.

This hotel was reviewed by an inspector for the November 2022 issue of 'Which? Travel' and fact checked in June 2025

The Swan, Southwold, Suffolk

Peak Price £350

Rating Four stars

Book direct at The Swan

The glamour stay of the Suffolk coast is a refurbished 17th-century house that skips seaside clichés for fresh, eclectic decor. 

Expect bold wallpaper beside oil paintings and pink-tipped four-poster beds. 

The mood is chic and fun, aided by lovely staff, while the town-centre location is unrivalled.

This hotel was reviewed by an inspector for the July 2023 issue of 'Which? Travel' and fact checked in June 2025.

The Pig on the Beach, Dorset

Peak price £495

Rating 3.5 stars

Book direct with The Pig on the Beach

The Pig on the Beach sits on Studland cliff, a gorgeous walk from the Old Harry Rocks. With its storybook yellow walls and muddle of chimneys and turrets, it looks like somewhere the Famous Five would investigate a phoney ghost. Head out the back door and you’ll pass gambolling lambs and snuffling black pigs on the way to the beach. Fancy a massage? Visit the shepherd’s huts for a bespoke treatment (£115). There are only two problems with this lovely hotel. The outrageous price and how popular it is. When we arrive, it’s heaving with locals and guests finishing off Sunday roasts.

Rooms Rooms are in rustic, autumnal colours, with comfortable beds and 1950s touches such as old-fashioned phones and Bakelite light switches. There’s no bath in the ‘cheaper’ rooms, just a rainfall-style shower. If you want a sea view it’s £495 in high season – ours looked out over the garden. Want a bath and sea view? £585.

Food and drink We loved the rich ‘Piggy bits’ (pork belly) and ‘Fishy bits’ (exquisite, unctuous cod roe) at £5.50 each, for dinner. We were disappointed by venison cottage pie (£24) and whiting (£28), which were hearty and filling but didn’t justify the price. Continental breakfast (£18.95) had a lot of healthy options (even the muffins have apple and carrot) but is, again, overpriced.

Our verdict If you see a double for less than £300, snap it up. But it will be a weekday in winter for that price. 

This hotel was reviewed by an inspector for the May 2024 issue of 'Which? Travel' and fact checked in June 2025.

Moonfleet Manor, Dorset

Peak price £340

Rating 3.5 stars

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A barefoot dad chases a toddler across a sandpit playground, pre-teens gorge on free popcorn in the cinema room while cackling babies throw spoons across the restaurant floor. If you’re a parent (or grandparent), this Georgian manor has enough to entertain the whole family – from the playroom, escape rooms and skittle alley to the tennis court, pool and spa. There are even horses grazing in the next field. However, if you’ve got no child in tow, you may want to give this multi-generational party a miss.

Rooms During summer weekends, a two-night minimum stay stipulation inflates the price a lot. Having bagged one night in a Fleet View Deluxe in the Fleethouse in the January sales for £308 (£425pn in July), we’re impressed by our garden terrace and its uninterrupted views of Fleet Lagoon (but disappointed that signs warn us off clambering to the water’s edge). This recently refurbished sage green panelled suite is comfortable and modern with a shower and bathtub. Classic rooms (£255) in the manor are similarly spacious, with high-spec amenities, but you’ll have to squint to see the lagoon and Chesil Beach beyond from your window.

Food and drink Perch on any sofa in the interconnected living rooms and you can order from an à la carte menu. Service in the light, airy restaurant was a bit distracted. The food came in generous portions, including spatchcock chicken (£25) and steak frites (£25). A continental buffet breakfast and freshly cooked options (included in price) were varied enough and serviceable. 

Our verdict Child-friendly touches add magic but come at a high price in the summer.

This hotel was reviewed by an inspector for the May 2024 issue of 'Which? Travel' and fact checked in June 2025.

Artist Residence, Brighton, east Sussex

Peak Price £225

Rating 3.5 stars

Book direct at Artist Residence

Spread over two townhouses on Regency Square, Artist Residence is just a few minutes’ walk from Brighton’s shopping district. Sink into a tan leather couch and admire the seafront view from the industrial-meets-boho lounge. Here, exposed brickwork is jazzed up with bold art by local artists. There’s a slick café-bar and even a ping-pong room. 

Rooms While the snug room was cosy (you’ll have to breathe in to use the wardrobe-sized bathroom), it was still crammed with useful extras, including a coffee machine. No two rooms are the same, but all have retro touches such as a Roberts radio and reclaimed wooden tea trays. Oodles of luxurious toiletries also provide a premium experience. 

Food and drink Breakfast is made to order, with punchy barista coffee and a selection of specialist drinks. Our smashed avocado, feta and poached eggs on toasted sourdough came with a chilli and zesty lemon kick (£14). Only nibbles (such as nuts and olives) are served the rest of the day, but the extensive cocktail list – the Viva La Frida is a twist on the classic margarita (£13) – makes up for it. 

Our verdict The antithesis of the soulless hotel room, it brings the outside in by imaginatively capturing Brighton’s convivial energy.

This hotel was reviewed by an inspector for the July 2022  issue of 'Which? Travel' and fact checked in June 2025.

Bike and Boot, Scarborough, north Yorkshire

Peak Price: £121

Rating 3.5 stars

Book direct at Bike and Boot

The starchily traditional Georgian building at the posh end of Scarborough’s long seafront conceals what’s probably the most dog-friendly hotel we’ve ever visited. Most of the canine guests are impeccably behaved, but one or two greet each other like lads on a raucous stag do. No one seems to mind, though, at this outdoorsy cross between a chic boutique and a youth hostel. In the basement, there’s space to leave a bike or surfboard, and wash your dog, then pop next door to a mini-cinema with velvet seats. Upstairs has a trendy coffee-shop vibe, with sea-green and grey corridors, and bikes hanging on the lounge wall. 

Rooms: Small doubles are a decent size, with seaside posters and colourful wood panelling. You can save around £10 by choosing a smaller Boot Room, with a double instead of a king-size bed. While there’s no bath in either, the rainfall shower is a good alternative.

Food and drink: Looking out over the sea from the Bareca café, eating small plates of whitebait and crispy, rosemary-infused roast potatoes was one of the best things about our stay. Breakfast, with DIY pancake making, was also a delight.

Our verdict: For the target audience – hikers and surfers with big, friendly dogs – this is ideal.

This hotel was reviewed by an inspector for the July 2023 issue of 'Which? Travel' and fact checked in June 2025.

The Crown and Castle, Orford, Suffolk

Peak Price £220

Rating 3.5 stars

Book direct at The Crown and Castle

A recent refurbishment has introduced bright fabrics without sacrificing the bygone character of a red-brick building with creaky oak stairs. 

Choose Standard and Sea View rooms for architectural character plus castle and marsh views – but Garden rooms have more space. 

Dinner at the Modern British restaurant is also recommended.

This hotel was reviewed by an inspector for the July 2023 issue of 'Which? Travel' and fact checked in June 2025.

George and Heart House, Margate, Kent

Peak Price £290

Rating 3.5 stars

Book direct at George and Heart House

On first impression, the George & Heart House, located in Margate’s Old Town just minutes from the beachfront, looks a bit tumbledown. But we were seduced the moment we stepped inside. Original bar timbers, stained glass and the creaky sloping Georgian floorboards have been lovingly restored by owners Dan and Kelly, who rescued this Grade II listed 18th-century coaching inn from disrepair. Not all cracks have been papered over, though – we spotted a leak in the top-floor corridor.

Rooms Our earthy-tone, wood-panelled Snug – inspired by Margate’s beach huts – was the smallest of six rooms (individually styled by local artists). We shared a geometric-tiled bathroom with our neighbours (most rooms have private WCs located across the corridor), but with an outrageously large rainfall shower and sumptuous toiletries, we didn’t care one bit. All rooms have access to Reggie’s – a retro honesty bar named after Kelly’s grandad – and home to his renovated old drinks cabinet.

Food and drink With Kentish craft beers on tap, the menu of small plates and heartier mains also leans heavily on local ingredients, such as the melt-in-the mouth Canterbury Cobble cheese croquettas (£7.50). A continental breakfast buffet of fruit, croissants, ham and cheese is served in the welcoming Nook downstairs.

Our verdict You’ll forgive a few flaws as this arty one-of-a-kind bolthole is charming to its crooked core.

This hotel was reviewed by an inspector for the July 2023 issue of 'Which? Travel' and fact checked in June 2025.

The best beach hotel we’ve reviewed in Wales

Harbourmaster Hotel, Aberaeron

Peak Price £205

Rating 4.5 stars

Book directly at Harbourmaster Hotel

Back in 1811, when Aberaeron’s pretty port was completed, it was the harbour master’s job to keep a watchful eye over Cardigan Bay. His Regency-era house still stands on the harbour wall, decked in an imposing midnight blue, and today’s residents spend just as much time gazing out to sea – although they’re more likely to have a local gin cocktail in hand. The hotel feels homely and stylish in equal measure, with complimentary cake on arrival, a little harbour-view cwtch (alcove) for intimate dining and a light-filled café/bar that spills out onto the waterfront. 

Rooms Because of its prime position, nearly all the rooms have sea or harbour views. Our room, Martha Jane, was spacious, with a rolltop bath and west-facing terrace, which was perfect for watching the sun sink slowly into the Irish Sea. Inside you’ll find coastal-chic decor with beach hut panelling, nautical cage lights and even a porthole or two. 

Food and drink Inventive nibbles such as Welsh rarebit fritters and pickled walnut (£6) set the stage for some sensational seafood mains. We tried the special: a crisp-skinned baked hake in a mouth-watering coral butter, which was first class but reasonable at £16.50. Breakfast was just as imaginative, with signature homemade beans and perfectly poached eggs cooked to order.

Our verdict A relaxed seaside stay where the food is every bit as impressive as the views.

This hotel was reviewed by an inspector for the July 2023 issue of 'Which? Travel' and fact checked in June 2025.

The best beach hotel we’ve reviewed in Scotland

The Ship Inn, Fife

Peak price £295

Rating Four stars

Book direct at The Ship Inn

East Neuk’s charming fishing villages are a highlight on Fife’s Coastal Path, and many walkers rest and recharge in Elie. The ancient port, home to the welcoming Ship Inn (open since 1832), surrounds a sheltered bay with almost a mile of uninterrupted golden sand. The beer garden in the terrace above the sea wall offers the best vantage point.

Rooms Six rooms, named after British naval heroes, are decorated in sea green and duck-egg-blue hues. Our dog-friendly double, Sir Francis Drake, had a subtle seafaring theme, but alas no sea view. If that’s a priority, opt for a Captain room (£351) or the bay-windowed, top-floor Admiral Nelson (£384). Binoculars are provided.

Food and drink Book ahead if you want to nab a view, as tables beside the picture window get reserved first in the upstairs restaurant and breakfast room. Cullen skink (£12), a soup made with smoked haddock, potatoes and leeks, was one of the hearty starters on the menu when we visited. Mains included steelhead trout (£32) and Scottish wild mushroom stroganoff (£22). 

Our verdict A beautiful beachside bolthole, popular with locals, walkers and their sea dogs. Nautical and very nice.

This hotel was reviewed by an inspector for the July/Aug 2025 issue of 'Which? Travel'.  

How we review hotels

Unlike all other national UK travel magazines and newspaper travel sections, Which? Travel never accepts freebies. We pay wherever we stay.

All our hotel inspections take place anonymously. We book a standard double room online, just as you would, and we sample the hotel’s facilities, just as you would. We never let on that we are from Which?

That means no special treatment, no reviewer upgrades and no opportunity for the hotel to influence our verdict.

And no matter how badly the hotel fares, we always publish the review, warts and all.

Peak prices are based on the cheapest August weekend rate for a standard double room, based on two sharing, when we checked in June 2023. 

Our ratings

We use an overall star rating for the hotel based on what we think you should expect for the type of accommodation (B&B, luxury hotel etc) and price.

All our ratings strictly adhere to the following criteria:

• 0 stars – A dreadful hotel. We would not recommend staying here.
• 1 star – A sub-standard hotel we think is well below average in its category.
• 2 stars – An adequate hotel we think has room for improvement.
• 3 stars – A solid hotel that meets our expectations.
• 4 stars – An excellent hotel we think is above average in its category.
• 5 stars – An exceptional hotel we think is among the best of its type.