The UK’s best (and worst) seaside towns for food and drink have been named by Which?

It’s August, which means the summer holidays are in full swing and people are taking staycations all over the country. But when choosing a UK holiday spot, it’s important to go somewhere that has a few decent restaurants – eating delicious food is the best part of a holiday, after all. Thankfully, Which? has just named the UK’s best seaside towns for food and drink. Read on to find out what they are. 

Almost 5,000 Which? members gave the publication their reviews of Britain’s best and worst seaside towns. They gave ratings for beaches, tourist attractions, food and drink and more. 

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St Andrews in Scotland was rated the UK’s best beach town for eats by Which? voters. The Scottish seaside town scored 82 percent for its overall destination score. Voters gave it five stars for beaches, seafront and tourist attractions and four stars for food. Which? highlighted restaurants The Grange Inn, a 17th-century farmhouse with superb views, and The Seafood Ristorante, a joint where you can munch on hand-dived scallops while seated in a glass box that juts out over the shorefront.

The second best rated seaside spot was Tynemouth near Newcastle, scoring 81 percent overall. If you’re going to the area, you’re going to want to eat at the famous and well-reviewed Riley’s Fish Shack, which is known for its impressive fresh catches. 

In the third spot was St Davids in Wales, which scored 80 percent overall. Foodies are recommended to try welshcakes at MamGu, and moules marinières or fish pie at The Bishops pub. 

Other spots in the top 20 included Fowey in Cornwall, Deal in Kent, and Lyme Regis in Dorset. 

The 20 best seaside villages for food and drink in the UK

1. St Andrews
2. Tynemouth
3. St Davids
4. Dartmouth
5. Southwold
6. Llandudno
7. Aldeburgh
8. Lyme Regis
9. Whitby
10. Portstewart
11. Aberaeron
12. Deal
13. Lytham St Annes
14. North Berwick
15. Amble
16. Lymington
17. Fowey
18. Whitstable
19. Padstow
20. Brighton

You can read Which?’s full ranking and methodology on the official website here.

These are the best restaurants in the UK according to the National Restaurant Awards.