A Scottish seaside town has been named among the best in the UK by holidaymakers.
Nestled on the east coast north of Edinburgh, St Andrews in Fife is known as the cradle of golf and is also home to a beautiful castle and Scotland’s oldest university. Thanks to the new Which? survey.
Consumer Champion polled more than 4,700 people about their experiences of UK cities in the past year, asking their views on a range of criteria including the quality of beaches, food and drink options, tourist attractions and value for money.
The survey results spotlight coastal gems from all four countries, with Bamburgh in Northumberland taking first place, Portmeirion, Gwynedd in second place. It was followed by a Scottish name that received a destination score of 82 percent.
The “wonderfully picturesque” Scottish city was awarded five stars in a number of categories including tourist attractions, waterfront, beaches and scenery, as well as four stars for shopping and food and drink.
Some of the tourist spots in St Andrews include The Old Course, also known as The Grand Old Lady, and is believed to be one of the oldest golf courses in the world. Historical accounts state that the sport was first played on links in the 15th century.
On a nearby promontory you’ll find the ruins of St Andrews Castle, including its medieval battle dungeon. In addition, St Andrews is home to the prestigious university of the same name. First opened in 1413, it is considered the third oldest tertiary institution in the English-speaking world, after Oxford and Cambridge.
Loved by visitors for its ‘wild’ and ‘beautiful’ beach backed by an impressive castle, Bamburgh has topped the Consumer Champion survey for the fourth year running, achieving an impressive destination score of 86 per cent.
Visitors were impressed by the “magnificent” and “completely unspoiled” beach, as well as the “dramatic” views of the castle. One visitor raved that the town was “probably the most impressive in the British Isles” and awarded Bamburgh a full five stars for its beach, waterfront, scenery, tourist attractions and tranquillity.
Visitors also enjoyed exploring the village which, although small, boasts a handful of well-rated pubs, restaurants and cafes.
In second place with a score of 83 per cent was the Italian-Welsh village of Portmeirion, which received a full five-star rating for its “idyllic” scenery, seafront, tourist attractions and parking, and four stars for its beaches.
Those looking to extend their trip to the “beautiful” city can choose from a range of accommodation options including self-catering cottages and even a castle-style hotel.
At the other end of the table, Bangor, Gwynedd in Wales came last with a target score of 42 per cent, followed by Mablethorpe, Lincolnshire with a score of 46 per cent. Despite receiving lower scores than their competitors, travelers found plenty to recommend in these seaside resorts.
Several visitors commented on Bangor’s “wonderful pier”, noting that although the town has suffered from the closure of shops in the town centre, it has some “really good restaurants” and “excellent amenities”. They also recommended it as a base for exploring the local area, including Snowdonia National Park.
Rory Boland, editor of Which? Travel, said: “From wild, unspoilt stretches of remote coastline to charming traditional spade and spade resorts, Britain’s seaside towns offer something for everyone.
“While you may have your favorite seaside spot, this year’s survey shows that it’s worth looking beyond this summer’s most famous resorts to the less visited hidden gems in every corner of the UK.”
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