We Do Like to Be Beside the Seaside: Regeneration Sparks New Life into Rundown Seaside Towns

A bucket and spade, the crunch in your sandwiches from the sand, having to lick your ice cream so it doesn’t drip all down your hand and narrowly missing out on that soft toy that you’ve paid over the odds for at the arcades. There is something quite unique about a trip to the seaside.

Or at least there was in the 60s and 70s when people flocked to the seaside like migratory birds for their annual holidays. Since then British seasides have become derelict, rundown and abandoned as holiday destinations. As people started going on cheap all-inclusive package holidays to Spain and other European destinations where the sun was guaranteed for less than the cost of a visit the seaside.

In recent years however seaside towns around the coastline have started a renaissance to silence the critics and attract people to their shores once more.

Interactive Map: Looking at the UK’s Best Seaside Towns

The UK has a lot of fantastic seaside resorts all over the country, and the best thing is that they are mostly very different for a variety of reasons. This map shows what we feel are the UK’s best seaside towns/ resorts and the ones we think are worth a visit.

Video: A Focus on Margate’s Regeneration: From Rundown to Retro Paradise

This video focuses on Margate’s regeneration in recent years as a result of the Turner Contemporary and Dreamland. Sir Roger Gale MP for North Thanet speaks and there is a look back at Margate in the 1970’s before the package holiday boom.

Audio: The effect of Broadchurch and how West Dorset made the most of it.

It can take any number of things to spark a rise in the popularity of a seaside town. A famous resident? A new attraction? Or even an ITV television series. In 2013 it was just that that led to an increase in the number of people travelling to West Bay and the rest of West Dorset – the location picked to film the hit show Broadchurch.

Dreamland Review

In our first blog post about Margate Dreamland was shut and we said we would put out another piece specifically about Dreamland when it reopened in December so here is that piece.

Growing up in Margate Dreamland has always been there in one form or another for me whether it was open, closed, burnt down or standing. I never got to see Dreamland when it was at its best back when it had animals, more rides and less regulations but I, as well as most other people are more than happy that it has been regenerated and reopened. Seeing the Scenic Railway burnt down and left to rot for so many years really was tragic and here’s to hoping it never ends up that way again.

Postcard from… Historic Falmouth

With over 400 miles of coastline Cornwall likely has more seaside towns than anywhere else in the country. With stunning views, hundreds of beaches and great people it is no wonder that Cornwall is possibly the most popular destination in the UK for people enjoying a “staycation”. For this reason we thought it’d be a good idea to see what all the fuss is about.

Celebrating New Year’s Eve Cornwall style.

Most people will not immediately think of Cornwall as a place to celebrate New Year’s Eve. They instead think of Cornwall as a place to visit during the summer months when you can grab a surf board and go surfing, or at least try.

Cornwall really is a place worth visiting all year round though and New Year’s Eve is no exception to this with great celebrations taking place around the county. A trio of seaside towns really stand out as places worth spending your New Year’s Eve.

5 things that make Bournemouth the perfect seaside town to visit this Xmas

Thousands of people will be visiting Bournemouth this festive season to experience the large array of things it has to offer. The only way it might not be perfect is if you want peace and quiet because thousands of people will be travelling to Bournemouth this winter.

Below are 5 things to do in Bournemouth this year to get you in the Christmas spirit.

A Look Back in Time

A look back in time at pictures from Margate throughout the years, The photos actually come from my Nan, who has lived in Margate for over 50 years now after moving there from Birmingham. This is also where the old 1970’s footage for the video also came from so take that as your creative attribution.

Postcard from… Retro Margate

A weekend trip to Margate? Why would you go there? – is the question some people will ask. We took a trip down to the South East coast to see how Margate’s recent revival had left it and if it is worth revisiting now.

A brief history of Margate’s demise and re-emergence

Margate is dubbed as the original seaside resort and during the 60s and 70s it attracted thousands of peoplelike Del Boy and Rodney (during Only Fools and Horses 1989 Christmas special) every weekend from London and further afield. Blessed with miles of golden sands, amusements and other activities the town offered city people a break from city life.

While it got to enjoy the highs though it has had to suffer the lowest of lows. A few tragic events meant that a joyeous seaside town became almost deserted of holiday maker in just a few years. Following this the town had a continued spell of misfortune making it worse and worse. Its’ fortunes have turned though and since the end of the 00’s Margate has began to rise again. A brief history of these events follows.

Postcard from… Windy Weymouth

Another part of the country and another totally different seaside town.

Weymouth is quiet, tranquil and not entirely set up for tourism, instead just down the road Bournemouth is better equipped for this, yet this is part of its’ charm.

Weymouth is set on the world heritage Jurassic Coast and gives you the chance to see some truly stunning rock formations if you don’t mind travelling further afield. The Durdle Door, Lulworth Cove, The Isle of Portland and Chesil Beach are all worth seeing along the coastline.