Summary

  • As it happened: A day looking at life in England's seaside resorts

Live Reporting

  1. Scarborough 'better than Dubai'

    Grace Parnell
    BBC Local Live, Scarborough

    I'm in Scarborough and I've Just met a lovely lady called Shahla - on holiday from Dubai!

    She says it's "amazing" here and the weather is a "relief" from Dubai because you can breathe.

    Shahla from dubai

    The nature and views are another draw, she tells me: "It's so green with lovely views. Dubai has sandy beaches, yes, but also tower blocks. We don't have this kind of nature."

    And she's the third person to tell me that she likes it here because of the buildings and architecture.

  2. Sunshine in Saltburn-by-the-Sea

    BBC Weather Watchers

    Tony Winward has sent in this great shot of people enjoying the beach at Saltburn-by-the-Sea, North Yorkshire.

    Saltburn-by-the-SeaBBC Weather Watchers/Tony Winward

    You can join Weather Watchers to share the weather where you are.     

  3. Time for lunch?

    BBC News England

    Nothing tastes quite as seasidey as fish and chips while overlooking the harbour.

    Here are some from a beachfront kiosk in Scarborough last week, so they're probably cold by now.

    fish and chips

  4. Pokemon Go(es) to the beach

    Lloyd Watson
    BBC News Online

    Is this Pokemon Go thing getting out of hand?

    What happened to writing your name in the sand?

    Someone here in Tynemouth has drawn a mobile phone with a game in progress...

    PokemonGo in the sand

  5. Weston-super-Mare: A town of two piers

    Ian Parker
    BBC News

    If you mention Weston pier to most people they might recall the town's Grand Pier making the headlines in July 2008 when it burnt down.

    But just a few miles from there stands Birnbeck Pier. It's Victorian, and the only one in Britain which links to an island.

    Sadly the Grade ll-listed structure has seen better days and it stands derelict today.

    Part of it has already fallen into the Bristol Channel.

    Pier fire 2008PA

    You can just see Birnbeck Pier in the top left of this photo

  6. When surfboards cost just £26

    Claire Hawke
    BBC Local Live

    Newquay is now famous for surfing but, back in the 1960s, the shops that are now ubiquitous with the sport were more unusual.

    Many shops specialising in fashion sprung up around the arrival of surfing

    As our vintage film from 1969 shows, there used to be just two surf shops in the town.

    Since then the industry has ballooned and Newquay has become synonymous with the sport which brings millions into the local economy.

  7. All quiet in Funland

    Marcus White
    BBC News

    The Funland roller coaster on Hayling Island has its first customers soon after the amusement park opens at 11:00 BST.

    Funland rollercoaster

    Many of the park's other rides are empty.

    Emma Spires from Horsham is visiting with her two children.

    "We love the funfair, the car boot sale and throwing stones on the beach", she said. "It's great for families."

  8. The view from Skegness Pier

    Dave Wade
    BBC Local Live

    Skegness pier
    Skeg pier

  9. Old penny arcades still drawing crowds

    Bronwyn Jones
    BBC News

    The traditional penny arcades are filling up in Southport with kids enjoying their summer holidays.

    family at arcade in Southport

    Maureen Walker, from Knotty Ash, has come for a day out with her family and says they love the scenery on the Sefton coastline but aren't so keen on the weather.

  10. 'An OK summer - but not fantastic', says arcade owner

    Jack Warren
    BBC Local Live

    There's nothing like a good British arcade is there? 

    I bumped into Warren Bailey who has been running the Gaiety Amusements in Clacton for 40 years.

    Warren Bailey

    "It's been an OK summer so far - but it hasn't been fantastic," Mr Bailey said.

    "This is meant to be our busiest six weeks, thankfully now there's demand during the winter for us to stay open, where as 30 years ago we'd have closed". 

    Amusements

  11. Newquay visitors not deterred by negative reports from the past

    Claire Hawke
    BBC Local Live

    The Fairhurst family from Doncaster, South Yorkshire, are regular visitors to Cornwall and love its beaches and wildlife.

    They say reports in the past of hen and stag dos descending on the town have not put them off.

    Negative reports in the past about Newquay have not put them off visiting

  12. Fine in Filey

    BBC Weather Watchers

    Filey in North Yorkshire is looking beautiful in this photograph sent in by BBC Weather Watcher rocki1.

    Filey, North YorkshireBBC Weather Watchers/rocki1

  13. Couple visiting Tynemouth for 'really beautiful' coastline

    Lloyd Watson
    BBC News Online

    Ken and Sue Eaton from Nottingham are here in Tynemouth for the first time on holiday.

    It's not their first time in the North East though,  they've been to Seahouses in the past too.

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  14. Donkeys on Skegness seafront

    Dave Wade
    BBC Local Live

    They're going to be very busy today judging by the crowds along the Prom...

    Donkey rides on Skegness's golden sands

  15. Where do people splash their holiday cash?

    Peter Sherlock
    BBC Data unit

    Which seaside towns are raking in the cash? 

    graph

    Scarborough is doing top trade - between 2013 and 2015 it pulled in nearly £300m.

    That's a lot of crabsticks and candy floss.

  16. The i360 tower: A 26-mile view of the coast

    BBC News England

    One of England's most famous seaside destinations, Brighton, is welcoming visitors to a new attraction today - the i360 viewing tower.

    i360 viewing towerPA

    The 531ft (161m) structure is said to be the world's thinnest tall building and stands on the site once occupied by the entrance to Brighton's ruined West Pier.  

  17. Catching Pokemon on the beach...

    Lloyd Watson
    BBC News Online

    This is Andy Evans, who's originally from Shrewsbury, but moved here 14 years ago.

    He's catching Pokemon before work later.

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  18. A historic look back at Clacton's famous coastline

    Clacton, the largest town the Essex "sunshine coast", has been a firm favourite for stay-at-home holidaymakers for decades, like these well-dressed families pictured down by the pier in 1925. 

    Holidaymakers on the beach at Clacton, Essex, circa 1925Getty Images

    Remember Clacton Bultin's? Built in 1936 this was the second of Billy Butlin's holiday camps - it proved popular until its closure in 1983. 

    Two holidaymakers riding a bicycle for two at Butlin's Holiday Camp in ClactonGetty Images

    ... and who can forget the infamous clash between Mods and Rockers in 1964.

    Mods on scooters at Clacton-On-Sea in EssexGetty Images

  19. Calm sea at Hornsea

    BBC Weather Watchers

    Thanks to BBC Weather Watcher Scooby Doo for this picture of Hornsea, in the East Riding of Yorkshire, this morning.

    HornseaBBC Weather Watchers/Scooby Doo

  20. Companies 'do not need to be in London' to be successful

    Claire Hawke
    BBC Local Live

    The picture often painted of seaside towns in decline is not one recognised by Newquay-based company, Crowdfunder UK.

    Jess Ratty, Crowdfunder UK

    Jess Ratty, head of public affairs, told me they had expanded from three members of staff to more than 40 in just three years.

    The company, which helps business start-ups and community groups, has raised £25m across the UK and £1m of that in Cornwall. When I asked Jess why they chose to base themselves in Newquay, she said "because we can"... "we don't need to be in central London".