‘Hidden gem’ crowned the UK’s top budget-friendly beach to visit this summer

When the weather plays ball – as it has in recent weeks – a UK-based summer break seems like a far more attractive prospect than usual.

And if you’re thinking about booking a holiday close to home, you may want to consider Gorleston-on-Sea.

In a recent study looking at Europe’s top budget-friendly beaches, it won out as the best in the UK, beating popular destinations like Weymouth, Bournemouth and Woolacoombe.

Data analysts from Omio looked at a range of factors to create the ranking, from visitor reviews and average summer temperatures to the current prices of essentials from sun lounger hire to a pint of beer.

At £2.50 a scoop, Gorleston-on-Sea has the cheapest ice cream of all the seaside resorts listed, alongside the most affordable hotel rooms at £104 a night on average.

When it comes to beer, the Norfolk spot was outdone on price by Ayr’s purse-friendly £3.90 pints — but at £5, it’s still cheaper than the national average here, and a lot less eye-watering than the £6.40 you’d pay in St Andrew’s.

Plus, with 18°C seas and 17°C, it’ll almost feel like you’re in the Med, just without the faff of flying.

Good value aside, here’s what else you can expect from a trip to Gorleston-on-Sea.

Things to do in Gorleston-on-Sea

As you’ve probably gathered by now, the main draw of Gorleston is its proximity to the sea. Its unspoiled beach is comprised a golden sandy bay stretching two miles along the coast up towards Great Yarmouth.

You can happily spend the day soaking up the sun in front of its quaint beach huts – and on Sundays, you might catch live music in the bandstand.

However, if you like a more action-packed itinerary, there’s also the option for windsurfing, surfing, kite flying or body-boarding.

Just behind the promenade, you’ll find all the seaside trappings you’d expect, from shops, amusements, restaurants and pubs to a classic pitch and putt golf course and an Edwardian theatre hosting shows and dances throughout the year.

There’s plenty more to keep the family busy too: head to the model yacht pond or splashpad to cool down, take in the views along the cliffside trim-trail, or go seal-spotting on one of the regular boat trips leaving from nearby Lowestoft.

Also nearby in Great Yarmouth is the Sea Life centre, with over 1,500 sea creatures, including Humboldt penguins, and interactive activities like a rockpool experience, quizzes and animal feeding.

How to get to Gorleston-on-Sea

Depending on where you are in the country, driving might be your best bet, allowing you to explore the local area while you’re there. From London, the drive takes less than three hours, while it’s around four hours from Sheffield or five-and-a-half hours from Newcastle.

Alternatively, you can take a train to Norwich, then on to Great Yarmouth, reaching Gorleston via taxi or local bus. This journey, from London Liverpool Street, typically takes under three hours, and single tickets are available for just £13 when booked in advance.

What visitors say

On Tripadvisor, Gorleston-on-Sea beach boasts an impressive 4.7 average rating, with thousands of ‘excellent’ or ‘very good’ reviews.

Niki H is among those who gave it five stars, hailing it ‘absolutely beautiful’ and commenting: ‘The views were amazing. So clean. Totally recommend… We loved it and will definitely return.’

Another user, jin_dru, felt similarly, writing: ‘Hidden gem, I don’t want to share it. So quiet. Large beach and hardly a soul to be seen. Just me and my dogs. About a mile and a half of wide sandy beach. One end has the Pier Hotel, Pavilion Theatre, amusement arcade, fish and chips and ices. The other end is a world away. Perfect peace and friendly dog walkers who stop to chat.’

Ross McCafferty, deputy opinion editor here at Metro, is a fan too — despite the fact he normally hates the beach.

‘On my visit last July, in the early evening of a blisteringly hot day, the sand dunes of Britain’s best beach were almost empty, and even a short walk over a ridge makes it feel like you’ve almost got it entirely to yourself,’ he says.

‘That privacy and the fine white sand are obviously the key selling points, with the beach clearly sneaking under the radar of better known Norfolk seaside resorts like Great Yarmouth, Hemsby, or Caister.

‘Gorleston itself, which looked to me slightly bleak and industrial, wasn’t exactly reminiscent of a riviera, so perhaps that’s another reason the beach is such a hidden gem. But if it keeps the crowds away, that’s not a bad thing!’

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