Seaside Resorts

Seaside resorts are linear settlements that are found along the coastline by the sea.

Tourism is the main industry because people like visiting the seaside to:
  • play on the beach;
  • breathe in the fresh sea air;
  • swim in the sea;
  • walk along the promenade or pier;
  • enjoy amusements such as fun fairs or Punch and Judy puppet shows.
Many seaside resorts in the UK developed during the Victorian period when people working in factories were given holidays and the building of the railways made it easy for them to travel to the coast. Popular seaside resorts include:
  • Blackpool on the Flyde Coast which is famous for: the Blackpool Tower, the historic trams running along the seafront and the Pleasure Beach theme park.
Blackpool tower from central pier ferris wheel
  • Llandudno in north Wales which is famous for its: attractive buildings, wide promenade and Victorian pier.
  • Scarborough in North Yorkshire which is famous for its: castle, spring water and two bays, either side of the headland.
Scarborough Harbour and Castle - geograph.org.uk - 387204
  • St Ives in Cornwall which is famous for its: pretty harbour, artists' galleries and four beaches.
  • Southwold in Suffolk which is famous for its: tall lighthouse, old brewery and Victorian pier with coin-operated novelty machines on it.
  • Brighton on the south coast which is famous for its: Royal Pavilion palace, old Electric railway and The Lanes shopping area.
Brighton - Escullera
  • Aberystwyth in Wales which is famous for its: cliff railway, Camera obscura and arts centre.
Aberystwyth seafront - geograph.org.uk - 243595

Most seaside resorts make their money in the summer season when the weather is nicer and children are off school. Many put on special events to encourage visitors to stay, such as: theatre variety performances, Victorian-themed weekends, music festivals and flower shows.

Jersey Battle of the Flowers 2012

The Royal National Lifeboat Institution (RNLI) also put lifeguards on beaches to help keep people safe by the sea.


Lots of seaside hotels close during the winter months because it is too: cold, dark and windy. Some resorts like Blackpool and Great Yarmouth have illumination shows though to try and keep visitors coming.