The best cheap British beach resorts – where to travel for a budget staycation break
We've rounded up the best value staycations in the UK, based on how much you'll spend when you get there, as well as accommodation.
Last summer Sun Online Travel looked at how much visitors spent on beach essentials at the most popular seaside resorts in Britain.
These included the best prices for parking, a pint of beer, fish and chips and an ice cream.
Using the price information, we then worked out the best value UK seaside towns.
We've now found budget-friendly accommodation for when you get there too, so you can spend as little as possible and still get that summer break.
The UK's most affordable beaches have come in as Portbello, Eyemouth, Barmouth, Llandudno, Tenby, Bournemouth and Skegness, according to what you'll spend on the day.
Read on for our picks of where to stay – and then get booking
Portobello
Sandy Portobello is particularly good value for those living in Edinburgh as it's just a few miles from the city centre and it costs nothing at all to park a car.
Don't work up too much of a thirst sunbathing though – the local pub's cheapest pint of lager was also the most expensive in Scotland.
The Seaside Award-winning beach draws large crowds in good weather and, along with the promenade, hosts a number of popular events, including the annual Big Beach Busk, international volleyball competitions and triathlon events.
Stay at this quaint cottage just 20 minutes drive from the beach in the seaside village of Cockenzie from just £68pp for a week.
The characterful and unique ground floor cottage is part of 17th century Cockenzie House and Gardens, just a thirty minute drive from Edinburgh.
The house and gardens show exhibitions, with a traditional tea room and studio space for local artists who have refurbished some of the furniture used in Mercat Cottage.
Or stay for a long weekend at Magdalene – a two-bedroom apartment in Portobello that is just a 15-minute walk to the beach.
Booking.com also has a variety of on-budget options and so does Sykes Cottages.
Eyemouth
The second best value seaside town is also in Scotland, close to the borders and just eight miles from Berwick-upon-Tweed.
It's another place with the added bonus of free parking, and you'll get a cheap pint there too for £3 a pop.
There's a wide sandy beach which are surrounded by high cliffs and in the summer it's also a good spot for fishing as well as diving at the St Abbs and Eyemouth Voluntary Marine Reserve.
Eyemouth also has an 18-hole golf course, which is £30 for a round or £45 for the day in the week.
Stay at Rose Cottage in Hutton, seven miles from Eyemouth, for £84pp for a week in June based on five sharing.
The cottage is set on a 400-acre estate and has nearby walks as well as three colourful bedrooms and an outdoor picnic bench.
Or stay at the Home Arms Guesthouse in Eyemouth, which is just a minute from the beach.
The guesthouse offers breakfast included and comes in at £37.50pp for a twin in June.
Booking.com also has a variety of options for stays in Eyemouth and so does Sykes Cottages.
Barmouth
The Welsh town of Barmouth is a brilliant holiday town with activity options including walking, cycling and donkey rides.
The long, sandy beach has trampolines, crabbing, candy floss and amusement arcades, as well as walks across Barmouth Bridge, where you can see views of the Mawddach estuary.
A pint and parking will cost you £3 each – which is a lot cheaper than the rest of the UK.
Stay at Heulwen cottage for £98pp for a week in June, based on six sharing.
This traditional end-of-terrace cottage is on a quiet road and is just a short walk from the beach. It also has hill and mountain views.
There's a patio where you can eat dinner outside, as well as three bedrooms and a well-equipped kitchen.
Stay at Leamington House Hotel in Barmouth for £32.50pp for a double in June, including breakfast.
Booking.com also has a range of on-budget stays in Barmouth and so does Sykes Cottages.
Llandudno
Llandudno is one of Wales' most famous seaside towns and its largest – as well as one of its most reasonably priced.
Parking comes in cheap here at £2.50 per day, while a pint will only set you back by £3.50.
The beach itself is two miles long and made up from sand, shingle and rock, and there's a Grade II listed pier – the longest in Wales – as well as a pretty Victorian promenade of shops.
The town has a three-day Victorian carnival, this year taking place on May 5, with a funfair taking place in town.
You can also visit nearby Conwy Castle, a medieval fortress with eight huge towers and epic views out across the sea.
Stay at Bwthyn Y Wennol in Dolwen, which is a 22 minute drive from Llandudno for £104pp for a week, based on four sharing.
This converted stables is just behind a farm and has lots of character, including exposed beams and stable doors.
There's a golf course four miles away and you're also close to the Welsh Mountain Zoo and Snowdonia National Park.
Another option is the Llandudno Hotel for £19.50pp based on two sharing a standard twin with breakfast included in June.
Booking.com has more options for stays in the area and so does Sykes Cottages.
Tenby
The walled seaside town of Tenby is another Welsh stunner which won't break the bank for a holiday.
You'll get an ice cream for £1.90 – and parking is cheap too at £4 per day.
The town has pretty multi-coloured houses around a sandy bay as well as cobbled streets.
The town is a good spot for a day cruise to nearby Caldey Island, which is where monks live – you can even buy the shortbread, chocolate and perfume that they make.
Stay at Hweulwen Lodge in Llanteg, a 20 minute drive from Tenby for £80pp for a week based on six sharing in June.
This whitewashed split-level cottage has a lawn and a picnic table and inside you'll find Velux windows, which let in natural light from above.
You can also stay at Little Red Rooster Rest which comes in at £34.20pp per night based on two sharing a double.
Booking.com has more options of places to stay in Tenby and so does Sykes Cottages.
Bournemouth
The Dorset town is one of the UK's most popular – and we can see why as it has seven miles of sandy beaches.
There are four blue flag beaches at Bournemouth including Alum Chine, Durley Chine, Southbourne and Fisherman's Walk.
The town also has a pier with arcade games, rides and ice creams.
Away from the beach, Bournemouth Gardens are worth a visit in summer, the gardens Bourne Stream and have a Victorian bandstand – plenty of Instagram opportunities there.
Bournemouth proved to be England's best value beach.
A pint of lager at a seafront pub in Bournemouth will only set tourists back £3.25, which is not to be sniffed at, and four hours of parking costs from as little as £4.
Stay at Rowan Cottage in Barton-on-Sea, a 30 minute drive from Bournemouth for £100.50pp for a week based on six sharing in June.
It has a patio and a garden for enjoying the sunshine and is also three quarters of a mile from a shingle beach at Barton-on-Sea.
You can also get a ferry to the Isle of Wight from nearby Lymington for a day out.
If you fancy a hotel instead, stay at The Ravensbourne Hotel for £21.50pp per night based on two sharing a double, with breakfast included.
Booking.com also has plenty more options for hotels and so does Sykes Cottages.
Skegness
Head down to Skeggy and you'll find a long sandy beach with a Blue Flag award – while the resort's Central Beach has a Quality Coast Award for cleanliness.
Kids will also love the Fairy Dell paddling pool, where they can paddle in clean filtered water.
The town also has a golf centre, a cinema, an aquarium and a seal sanctuary where injured and sick seals are nursed back to health.
It's also just £3 to park for the day in Skegness and £3.50 for a pint.
Stay at 11 The Drift in Heacham for £97.60pp for a week based on six sharing in June.
It's decorated in tasteful fashion and is close by to a playground that children will love to visit.
There's a wood-burning fire for the evenings as well as a barbecue and patio for when the weather is decent.
If you want to stay closer to town then stay at Sunnyside Lets for £21.50pp based on two sharing a double or twin room.
Booking.com has many more options for accommodation too and so does Sykes Cottages.
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