Cleethorpes

Cleethorpes is a proper seaside town, and its places to stay tell you exactly what kind of holiday you're in for. Small, family-run guesthouses like Brookfield Guesthouse, Ginnies Guesthouse and Jedburgh Guest House sit within easy reach of the front, offering the kind of unfussy comfort that's kept generations of visitors coming back. Add in a boutique option such as Cloves Boutique Bed & Breakfast for something a bit different, and Haven Cleethorpes Beach Holiday Park for those who want self-catering and a full site of activities on their doorstep, and you get a town set up for every kind of seaside stay, from a quiet weekend to a full family holiday.

That range suits the town itself, which is built around its beach and the simple pleasures that go with it. Cleethorpes Beach is the obvious draw, backed by traditional attractions like the Cleethorpes Boating Lake and the narrow-gauge Cleethorpes Coast Light Railway, which has been carrying visitors along the seafront for years. For rainy days or evenings, there's Cleethorpes Ten Pin Bowling and the Cleethorpes Leisure Centre, while families with younger children tend to gravitate towards The Magical Castle and Hunt Fun Cleethorpes.

There's an element of gentle adventure too, with the Cleethorpes Mystery Treasure Trail giving visitors a reason to explore the town beyond the seafront itself. It's the sort of place where a day can be filled without much planning: a walk along the beach, a go on the light railway, a game of bowling, and you've covered most of what a classic seaside break should involve.

Altogether, Cleethorpes works well as a base for a traditional British seaside holiday, with enough choice in both beds and meals to suit couples, families and larger groups alike, all within walking distance of the beach that gives the town its character.