Oh, we do like to be beside the seaside! We all remember having a paddle and building sandcastles as a child - we’re getting all nostalgic at the thought! But what makes the best seaside? The guys at Day Out With The Kids “beach-combed” the UK for answers - and here they are!

They asked over 2,000 families to share their favourite seaside towns and what they love most about the coast, both as an adult and from what they remember as a kid! We then gathered data to scientifically decide the best seaside towns in the UK, in 2019.

Two of the main towns which make up The English Riviera have been named in the top 10 seaside resorts for families to visit, according to Day Out With The Kids. Torquay was named number 3 on the list and Paignton was named number 8.

Devon comes out on top

Torquay & Paignton named in the top 10 for the best UK seaside destination for families, according to a new study. It turns out we really do like to be beside the seaside, especially in Paignton, which has been named in the list of the UK’s best seaside towns for families in a new study.

With trips to the seaside a childhood highlight for many generations, researchers used a variety of factors including number of beaches, average temperature, family friendliness, cost of an ice cream and number of Instagram hashtags to score Britain’s best loved coastal resorts - with Paignton finishing in eight place.

Devon boasted the highest number of towns in the top 50, with it’s eight resorts narrowly beating Cornwall, which has seven in the list.

As well as revealing the best seaside destinations in the country, the study by dayoutwiththekids.co.uk also revealed the key elements making up the ideal seaside holiday, with a survey of over 2,000 people.

Beaches were most important with 85 percent of the nation saying clean, sandy beaches are key to an unforgettable ideal UK beach holiday. Child-friendly places to grab a bite to eat and great fish and chips were both considered equally important too (70 percent).

There are plenty of activities to keep us busy at the seaside too, with building sandcastles topping the list of the best seaside pastimes (78 percent), followed by scoffing fish and chips (75 percent) and collecting shells and stones (73 percent).

Having an ice cream on the beach (72 percent), tucking into a picnic (65 percent) and simply listening to the sound of the sea (65 percent) were also on the list of the nation’s favourite seaside activities.

Paignton also offers a large number of fish and chips shops nearby, giving families a choice of delicious seaside treats and comfort food - perfect for a family dinner after a long day at the beach.

Lisa O’Keeffe, Senior Brand & Content Manager at dayoutwiththekids.co.uk, said:

“Going to the seaside is a staple part of British childhood, and as the research shows, it’s still a firm favourite for families. UK seaside resorts have benefitted hugely from the rise in staycations in recent years, and as the trend continues to grow, it’s really exciting to see all the towns on this list really embracing family visitors and improving their offer.

We’re delighted to award Paignton with gold status this year along with Torquay, which are both really cementing Devon’s status as a fantastic family destination.”

You can read the full article on the Day Out With The Kids website here.