Small English seaside town that featured in huge Hollywood blockbuster has award-winning beach
A HUGE Hollywood blockbuster was filmed on a UK beach that some might not have heard of.
Located on the north Norfolk Coast, Wells-next-the-Sea is home to a sweeping sandy beach that’s backed by pine trees.
The seaside town, which has been described as ‘the jewel of the north Norfolk Coast’, dates as far back as the Domesday Book.
At that time, there were thought to be 180 clear spring wells in the Norfolk town.
Wells-next-the-Sea was originally a fishing port but started supplying malt to breweries from the 15th century onwards.
The Norfolk town had short-lived ties to commercial shipping before the vessels became too large.
Now, Wells-next-the-Sea is a popular spot with locals and visitors alike thanks to its picture-perfect beach.
Simply called Wells-next-the-Sea Beach or Wells Beach, an award-winning beach that’s home to a stretch of golden sand.
Backed by pine trees, the beach is home to a cluster of colourful beach huts, which remain popular with visitors.
At the beach, holidaymakers will be able to spot a Lifeboat Horse Sculpture, which is only visible by the changing tides.
The sculpture was created by artist Rachel Long and is a tribute to the horses that pulled the town’s lifeboat from the quay to Holkham Gap.
Visitors have raved about Wells Beach, with a 4.5/5 star rating on TripAdvisor.
One person wrote: “This is a beautiful beach in August. It is not as crowded as Old Orchard Beach, so there is plenty of room to sit and have your own space”.
Another person added: “Really nice beach, nice for walking along the shore”.
A third holidaymaker simply commented: “A beautifully clean stretch of beach”.
Other attractions nearby include Holkham Hall – a huge stately home complete with a museum, a walled garden and kid’s playground.
The sprawling estate even includes Holkham Beach where Shakespeare in love starring Gwyneth Paltrow, Joseph Fiennes and Judi Dench.
Accessed via Lady Anne’s Drive, the beach has been described as one of the country’s ‘most unspoilt stretches of sand’.
Wells-next-the-Sea sits within Holkham National Nature Reserve.
Stretching from Burnham Norton to Morston, the nature reserve covers 4,000 hectares.
Visitors can explore the nature reserve on a series of footpaths, with the core section from Wells to Holkham Bay, having the best wildlife habitats.
Another local attraction is the Wells & Walsingham Light Railway, a tiny red heritage train that runs between Wells and Walsingham.
Wells-next-the-Sea is a 70-minute drive from Norwich.
Sun Travel's favourite UK seaside towns
AS part of our Best Of British travel series, The Sun’s travel team have picked our favourite UK seaside towns, featuring everything from dolphin-spotting beaches to celeb-favourite fish and chip shops.
Tynemouth, North Tyneside – Ryan Gray, Travel Reporter
The North East is a much-overlooked part of the country for seaside towns, with Tynemouth standing out among the best of the ones on offer.
Longsands Beach is, in my opinion, the finest family beach in the UK with its mile-long expanse of shoreline blessed with perfect golden sands, a deep inky-blue sea home to both seals and dolphins, and fantastic child-friendly food and entertainment a stone’s throw away.
While some locals will be scattered across the sand, or out surfing in the fresh North Sea water, plenty will also be found in Crusoe’s, a wonderful little cafe right on the beach, serving everything from breakfast to booze, making it the perfect stop for seaside refreshments.
The beach is overlooked by the spectacular Tynemouth Priory and Castle, a 2,000-year-old Anglo-Saxon monastery, looked after by English Heritage.
Every summer, the atmospheric ruins of the priory host the Mouth of the Tyne music festival, with previous headliners including Sam Fender, Elbow, Billy Ocean and Martha Reeves & The Vandellas.
Just a stone’s throw from the priory is the town centre, where quaint bars and restaurants are found alongside classic fish and chip shops, like Marshalls, rumoured to have been named after Jimi Hendrix, when the musician is said to have visited the chippy for a fish supper after performing in Newcastle back in the 1967. An unofficial blue plaque in the window of the fast food spot commemorates his visit.
Any visit to Tynemouth should be made at the weekend, in order to take in Tynemouth Market, hosted in the town’s Victorian Metro station every Saturday and Sunday.
Trinkets, street food and collectibles can be found laid out across a number of stalls within the ornate surroundings either side of the platforms.
Mousehole, Cornwall – Sophie Swietochowski, Assistant Travel Editor
Cornwall is saturated with unspoilt coastlines, but, unlike many of the overcrowded spots, the village of Mousehole, on the far southern tip (just below Penzance), has somehow retained its chocolate box charm.
The small sandy bay is crammed with weathered fishing boats and backed by pokey cafes and airy art galleries where seaside-inspired works hang from the walls.
For impeccable views of a wild sea and homemade grub, head to Rock Pool Cafe which sits atop a craggy cliff.
Order a hot chocolate which is somewhat of a DIY experience, delivered to you on a board with a mug of piping hot milk and a tub of shaved chocolate shards in white, milk or dark to melt into the milk.
There are some impressive coastal walks – but be warned it can be hilly.
You can read more of our favourite seaside towns, here.
Another Victorian seaside town is Frinton-on-Sea in Essex, which was loved by royals and even visited by Winston Churchill.
Or there is Matlock Bath, a ‘seaside’ town that isn’t on the beach – and we sent a reporter down to explore.