The 15 best seaside towns in the UK have been revealed. It has been an almost unbelievable British summer so far this year. We’ve had four heatwaves that have delivered dozens of days of scorching temperatures and dazzling sunshine.

A lot of hot weather means plenty of chances to head to the coast for cooling dips in the water and licks of 99s. The UK has many fantastic seaside towns up and down the UK, meaning the hardest part is choosing which one to go to.

The Express teamed up with locals across 15 popular holiday regions to get their top pick of the finest stretches of the British coast. They looked at factors including food and drink, activities, the beach and the cost of a day out, as well as which destinations have the best atmosphere and offer up a dose of childhood nostalgia. (Some also included those all-important fish and chips!).

You can check out the full list of the 15 below – and have your say by voting for your favourite!

Epic, sandy beaches stretching out for miles, boat-filled harbour edged by pastel-painted houses and cobbled streets with fish and chip shops with queues for days and brightly coloured bucket and spades dangling outside nostalgic tat shops you won’t be able to resist mooching around. Tenby pairs that glorious nostalgia and castle walls with flecks of modernity and contemporary comfort. You really can’t beat it.

It manages to balance everything people love about Cornwall in one place. There’s a lively harbour, beautiful beaches, a thriving food and drink scene and enough history and culture to keep you exploring long after the summer crowds have gone home. Unlike some destinations that feel geared almost entirely towards visitors, Falmouth remains a genuine working port with a vibrant year-round community, giving it an atmosphere that’s hard to replicate elsewhere.

Everyone who was anyone holidayed in Torquay, and by the 1960s and 1970s, it was bursting at the seams. Cheap flights to foreign climes changed the world of tourism, but Torquay has always stayed ahead of the game and continues to dominate the marketplace. It is a part of the English Riviera, along with neighbours Paignton and Brixham, and boasts bold new attractions and events for a new generation of tourists, from its airshow and waterfront big wheel to the UK’s first World Cup for stand-up paddleboarding, which recently drew huge crowds to the seafront.

Sandwiched between the more popular seaside resorts, you might forget about this hidden gem. But Clevedon is more than a stop on the way to Weston. On the contrary, it’s a more peaceful and relaxing alternative to the noisier, more crowded beaches. Clevedon is never overcrowded, only ever cheerful and well-attended. It has plenty of heritage and activities on offer, but no tourist traps. It’s a classic seaside town, but never a cliché.

It’s known as ‘the friendliest port’, and is Northumberland’s most active fishing town, which anyone strolling the harbour walk can immediately tell from the lobster pots stacked high and the fishing boats busily coming and going. This gives it a pleasingly industrious vibe as well as the picturesque prettiness and charm you’d expect from the lovely Northumberland coast.

It has all the tick list day out by the beach traditions which families crave, it’s brimming with history having a castle overlooking the town, there’s a town centre regeneration in its infancy which will benefit visitors and importantly locals, while it has a very special attraction which has boosted Scarborough’s economy in the shape of the summer concert season at Scarborough Open Air Theatre.

Southport is a seaside town that has found its groove again. A place steeped in history, often associated with childhood staycations, this Merseyside resort is undoubtedly on the up. With a charming Marine Lake, Parisian-style boulevards, and what feels like a thriving hospitality scene full of bustling bars and busy restaurants, the town is alive.

Portstewart, County Derry

Portstewart Strand is arguably one of Northern Ireland’s most well-renowned beaches. A two-mile stretch of golden sand with nature-rich dunes that is breathtaking to look at from any angle, you wouldn’t want to be anywhere else in the world on a sunny day. One of the few beaches in the country where you can drive your car on to during your visit, The Strand is owned and cared for by the National Trust.

Folkestone has seen something of a cultural renaissance in recent years, blossoming into arguably the most vibrant slice of coastline the county has to offer. With its bustling Harbour Arm, colourful Creative Quarter, award-winning restaurants and array of unique events, it’s little wonder the town has previously been dubbed the best place to live in the entire south east region.

This seaside town is a vibrant area full of character. It’s a popular summer destination for people who want to enjoy the sun and sea whilst avoiding huge crowds drawn to nearby Southend-on-Sea. Leigh’s Broadway is lined with independent shops, restaurants and coffee shops, creating the perfect place for an afternoon walk. The town also takes pride in its vibrant arts scene, featuring a collection of galleries.

There is clearly a reason that every year more than two million people visit the seaside town, enjoying its Blue Flag beach, amusement centres, funfair rides, and countless places to eat and drink. From ice-cream kiosks and cafes during the day to a thriving nightlife with plenty of restaurants and pubs across the town. The town is known for many things, like the Skegness Pleasure Beach, the Butlin’s holiday resort, and the iconic Skegness Raceway with its Skeg Vegas sign.

Wells-next-the-Sea, Norfolk

Wells is famous for its colourful beach huts and woodland, which overlook the vast sandy expanse of the beach. It’s a peaceful place to relax and unwind, fly a kite, walk the dog, or build some sandcastles. Dogs are allowed on the beach all year round, so even furry friends can join in on family beach trips. The water quality at Wells is rated as excellent, meaning it is safe to bathe in, or just have a little paddle if you would prefer.

The main event at Gullane is, without a doubt, its beach, and Gullane Bents definitely does not disappoint. Its car park has 650 spaces in total, so there should be no problem getting parked, and from here it is just a short walk down to the spectacular sandy beach and its mesmerising views out over the Firth of Forth.

Its legendary status as one of the best seaside resorts in the country is undeniable; not only does it have everything you could want from a coastal resort – beaches, piers, thrilling rides – but it has a generous smattering of unique features which set it apart. After all, you won’t find Blackpool Tower, the Illuminations, and Blackpool Tramway anywhere else.

The town is almost a throwback. It doesn’t have huge arcades and mega-promenades like many other British seaside towns. Visiting gives tourists and locals alike an incredible juxtaposition of golden sand, calm swimming, ice cream shops and fish and chips by the water, yards away from atmospheric cliffs where you can hunt for 200-million-year-old dinosaur fossils on the Jurassic Coast.