A survey of 3,872 Which? members conducted between January and March has ranked Bamburgh as the country’s top seaside destination for the fifth year running, with the Northumberland town praised for its “spectacular stretch of coastline.”

Firm family favourites in the south such as Margate, Southend, Clacton, and Brighton were less well reviewed however, while Bognor Regis was ranked last after achieving just 36 percent in its overall destination score.

“The best seaside towns in the UK all got five stars for either their beaches, seafront or scenery,” reported Which? “Only one of them, Bamburgh, got the full five-star ratings for all three – plus peace and quiet.” 

“It also clinched an outstanding 84 percent overall destination score – higher than anywhere else. Visitors loved the spectacular views of Bamburgh Castle, which stands guard on a rocky outcrop above miles of sand and windswept dunes.”

Elsewhere, Brighton scored just 61 percent in the table, Margate and Barry Island both scored 56 percent, and Southend and Clacton scored 43 and 42 percent respectively, however Bognor was at the bottom after receiving just one star for its seafront, food and drink, tourist attractions, scenery, shopping, parking, peace and quiet and value for money.

“It was described as ‘dirty’, ‘run down’, ‘depressing’ and as ‘a seaside town that’s forgotten it’s next to the sea,’” added Which? “However, some visitors had a more positive view. One said they loved the ‘lights along the pier at night’. More than one visitor said that, with investment, it could recover its glory days.”

One wonders what a survey of the general public will find – the visitor numbers to Brighton, Margate, Southend and Barry Island  likely dwarf those of Bamburgh suggesting that public opinion still considers them the crowd pleasers.