Whether your group loves history, art, walking or simply a classic seaside day out, Britain and Ireland’s coastline has something for everyone. Here are some of the best places to consider for your group.
Bamburgh, Northumberland
Featured in numerous films, such as Indiana Jones and the Dial of Destiny, Bamburgh Beach was voted the world’s third best ‘One of a Kind beach’ in the 2026 TripAdvisor Travellers’ Choice Awards.
Towering 150 feet above the sands is majestic Bamburgh Castle. Groups can tour 14 staterooms, including the magnificent King’s Hall, and visit the Armstrong & Aviation Museum telling the story of Victorian inventor and castle owner William Armstrong. Running until 1st November is the indoor sculpture exhibition Tails & Tales, featuring quirky animals created by artist Mandy Bryson.
St Michael’s Mount, Cornwall
Recently featured on BBC Two’s Digging for Britain, St Michael’s Mount is an intriguing destination. The TV archaeologists uncovered evidence linking the Mount to the semi-mythical island of Ictis, long associated with Cornwall’s Bronze Age tin trade.
Your members won’t need to dig deep to uncover the island’s history. Start at the harbour-front visitor centre before walking across the causeway at low tide or taking a boat to the island topped by a medieval castle and surrounded by terraced gardens. It is a National Trust site, and GTOs can book tickets online.
Hastings, East Sussex
Overlooked by the ruins of Britain’s first Norman castle, Hastings is packed with diverse attractions. Browse through quirky small shops in the narrow streets of the old town before strolling along the seafront that’s home to Europe’s largest beach-launched fishing fleet.
Hastings Contemporary hosts a year-round programme of modern art exhibitions, while a visit to Smugglers Adventures, housed in a labyrinth of caverns, recounts the history of local bootleggers. Don’t leave without taking a ride on the East Hill Lift, the UK’s steepest funicular railway. On clear days you can see France.
Burnham-on-Sea, Somerset
With a seven-mile stretch of sandy beach, one of the longest in Europe, Burnham-on-Sea is a quintessential traditional seaside resort which grew out of a small fishing village. Conveniently located close to the M5, it has two particularly fascinating landmarks.
At low tide you can walk to the nine-legged wooden lighthouse that was built in 1832 and is still in use. Burnham-on-Sea’s other architectural claim to fame is Britain’s shortest pier. Measuring just 117 feet, it was Europe’s first concrete structure of its kind when it was built between 1911 and 1914.
Gower Peninsula, Wales
Outdoor-loving groups will be attracted to the stunning 19-mile peninsula starting at the pretty town of Mumbles and stretching westwards. Designated as the UK’s first Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty in 1956, the coastline of sandy beaches is fringed by limestone cliffs.
It’s home to some of the most beautiful sections of the Wales Coast Path, making it popular with walkers. When you’ve worked up an appetite in the fresh air, tuck into local specialities such as Penclawdd, Gower Salt Marsh Lamb and laverbread which, despite the name, is actually cooked seaweed.
Cromer, Norfolk
This traditional seaside resort is famous for Cromer Pier. The Pavilion Theatre stages the UK’s only remaining traditional end of the pier variety show, which is performed each summer and winter. Take a look at Artspace on the Prom, a modern gallery inside an Art Deco building.
Cromer Museum includes galleries dedicated to the work of pioneering Norfolk photographer Olive Edis, who photographed everyone from local fishermen to royalty and was the first British woman appointed as an official war photographer. Be sure to try Cromer crabs, celebrated for their delicate flavour.
Essex Sunshine Coast
Head to the vibrant seaside town of Clacton-on-Sea which boasts award-winning beaches, thrills of the fair at Clacton Pier as well as a varied programme of events such as the free-to-attend Clacton Airshow. Further up the coastline is the beautiful Frinton-on-Sea with its Victorian-style beach huts and Art Deco Round House.
Make sure you take a stroll down Connaught Avenue, known as the ‘Bond Street of East Anglia’. Walton-on-the-Naze has the character of an early Victorian seaside resort, its pier one of the longest in the UK. If you’re feeling energetic, climb the Naze Tower, an 86ft Georgian landmark offering incredible views.
Whitehaven, Cumbria
Whitehaven built its prosperity on the coal industry, with seams dug miles under the Irish Sea, and was once the UK’s third largest port with trade links around the world. It has a wealth of Georgian architecture and was home to US president George Washington’s grandmother, Mildred Gale, who is buried in St Nicholas Gardens.
This rich history can be explored at the Beacon Museum, which covers everything from Roman history to maritime heritage, while The Rum Story explores Whitehaven’s role in the rum trade and depicts life in the 18th century.
Ireland
The island of Ireland boasts rugged coastline and sweeping beaches that provide countless options. Discover Viking history in Wexford and book a group tour at Hook Lighthouse, the oldest intact operational lighthouse, which is an hour away.
Explore the lunar-like limestone landscapes and Cliffs of Moher in County Clare, or walk along Dog’s Bay, Galway, where glittering white sands are made up of crushed seashells. A dramatic Northern Ireland highlight is Antrim’s UNESCO-listed Giant’s Causeway, made up of thousands of basalt columns created by volcanic activity millions of years ago.
Margate, Kent
This year marks the 15th anniversary of the opening of the Turner Contemporary. The striking seafront art gallery is named after namesake artist JMW Turner, a frequent visitor to the resort, who described the skies as “the loveliest in Europe”. Group packages include tours and creative sessions.
For family groups, and the young at heart, The Wonderworks by Hornby Hobbies is an immersive experience inspired by the UK’s best-known hobby brands, including Hornby, Scalextric and Airfix. There’s more nostalgia at Dreamland, one of the country’s oldest surviving amusement parks, with its vintage rides.
Deal, Kent
This charming and historic town is famous for having three castles built by Henry VIII to defend against invasion. Still standing are Deal Castle, one of England’s finest and best-preserved Tudor artillery fortresses, and Walmer Castle, which has been transformed into an elegant stately home with beautiful gardens.
Deal Timeball Tower, now a museum, is a unique building used for maritime timekeeping and signalling. Make sure you’re there at 1pm to watch the mast-mounted ball drop (from April to September there are also hourly drops from 9am to 5pm).
Wyre, Lancashire
Boasting more than 16 kilometres of beautiful coastline, Wyre is a great shout for coach groups. Including the towns of Poulton-le-Fylde, Thornton-Cleveleys, Fleetwood and Garstang, there’s something for every interest. All four of its beaches proudly display the Seaside Award flag, marking them among the best in the country.
The coastline starts in the seaside town of Cleveleys, inviting groups to take part in classic beach pastimes like sandcastle building, kite flying or simply walking along the shore. The coastline takes you all the way across the Wyre Estuary to Knott End-on-Sea, a quaint village with shops, cafes and the starting point of a picturesque five-mile circular walk.
Bournemouth, Dorset
With seven glorious miles of coastline, there’s always plenty to see and do in Bournemouth. Take a walk through the stunning Grade II listed Victorian gardens and then stroll along the pier where information panels take you through the history of the resort, which grew from uninhabited heathland.
The Russell-Cotes Art Gallery & Museum on the East Cliff was the home of Victorian collectors and travel enthusiasts, Sir Merton and Lady Annie Russell-Cotes, and also offers panoramic views. Explore marine ecosystems at the Oceanarium, where there are feeding sessions and an underwater tunnel.
