England's Most Charming Seaside Towns Aren't Where You Think

"Head to Blackpool or Scarborough, you will be rewarded with sugar-rush arcades and wall-to-wall crowds. Head a little further down the myriad B-roads and lanes, however, and you'll find a coastline that's wilder, moodier, and edged with big skies and salt-bitten charm."

"From traditional fishing villages and faded Victorian resorts, to Royal Society for the Protection of Birds (RSPB) reserves, deserted coves, and teetering cliffs, the charm of the coastal North can be found in the allure of the bracing walks, excellent seafood, and prices that make Brighton seem positively larcenous in comparison."

"From the wide dunes that fan out from the north of the tidy center of this North Eastern fishing village, you'll spot the vast, elongated battlements of Bamburgh Castle in the distance. It's a gorgeous view at dusk, but there's plenty of humble appeal to the village itself, still a working harbor first and seaside resort second."

"Down at the bijou harbor, fishing boats bob alongside tour vessels heading out to the Farne Islands; you're likely to spot gray seals on route and puffins, kittiwakes, and eider ducks when you alight. But there's pleasure in staying put in town too, preferably eating fish and chips at Lewis' Seafood Restaurant and watching the light shift over the North Sea."

Northern England’s seaside experience varies by location, with major resorts like Blackpool and Scarborough delivering crowded arcades and lively energy. Further along smaller roads and lanes, the coastline becomes wilder and moodier, marked by big skies, salt-bitten charm, deserted coves, teetering cliffs, and bracing walks. Coastal towns and villages across Northumberland to Cumbria include traditional fishing communities, faded Victorian resorts, and RSPB reserves. Prices are described as more reasonable than in Brighton. Seahouses in Northumberland is presented as a working harbor with views of Bamburgh Castle, opportunities to see seals and seabirds, and seafood such as fish and chips. Swallow Fish is highlighted as a traditional smokehouse operating since 1843.

Read at Conde Nast Traveler