AS part of our Best Of British travel series, The Sun’s travel team have picked our favourite UK seaside towns, featuring everything from dolphin-spotting beaches to celeb-favourite fish and chip shops.

Tynemouth, North Tyneside – Ryan Gray, Travel Reporter

The North East is a much-overlooked part of the country for seaside towns, with Tynemouth standing out among the best of the ones on offer.

Longsands Beach is, in my opinion, the finest family beach in the UK with its mile-long expanse of shoreline blessed with perfect golden sands, a deep inky-blue sea home to both seals and dolphins, and fantastic child-friendly food and entertainment a stone’s throw away.

While some locals will be scattered across the sand, or out surfing in the fresh North Sea water, plenty will also be found in Crusoe’s, a wonderful little cafe right on the beach, serving everything from breakfast to booze, making it the perfect stop for seaside refreshments.

The beach is overlooked by the spectacular Tynemouth Priory and Castle, a 2,000-year-old Anglo-Saxon monastery, looked after by English Heritage.

Every summer, the atmospheric ruins of the priory host the Mouth of the Tyne music festival, with previous headliners including Sam Fender, Elbow, Billy Ocean and Martha Reeves & The Vandellas.

Just a stone’s throw from the priory is the town centre, where quaint bars and restaurants are found alongside classic fish and chip shops, like Marshalls, rumoured to have been named after Jimi Hendrix, when the musician is said to have visited the chippy for a fish supper after performing in Newcastle back in the 1967. An unofficial blue plaque in the window of the fast food spot commemorates his visit.

Any visit to Tynemouth should be made at the weekend, in order to take in Tynemouth Market, hosted in the town’s Victorian Metro station every Saturday and Sunday. 

Trinkets, street food and collectibles can be found laid out across a number of stalls within the ornate surroundings either side of the platforms. 

Mousehole, Cornwall – Sophie Swietochowski, Assistant Travel Editor

Cornwall is saturated with unspoilt coastlines, but, unlike many of the overcrowded spots, the village of Mousehole, on the far southern tip (just below Penzance), has somehow retained its chocolate box charm.

The small sandy bay is crammed with weathered fishing boats and backed by pokey cafes and airy art galleries where seaside-inspired works hang from the walls.

For impeccable views of a wild sea and homemade grub, head to Rock Pool Cafe which sits atop a craggy cliff.

Order a hot chocolate which is somewhat of a DIY experience, delivered to you on a board with a mug of piping hot milk and a tub of shaved chocolate shards in white, milk or dark to melt into the milk.

There are some impressive coastal walks – but be warned it can be hilly.

You can read more of our favourite seaside towns, here.