Bridlington South Beach

The beach at Bridlington's southern end is a proper working seaside - nothing fancy, just long stretches of sand backed by the sort of Victorian promenade that reminds you why people fell in love with British coastal towns in the first place. You get the full package here: traditional amusement arcades, fish and chips that actually taste of something, and enough space to find a quiet spot even in July.

It's the kind of beach that suits families with young kids brilliantly. The sand is firm and wide, the water shelves gently, and there's enough going on along the front to keep teenagers from getting bored - ice cream vans, a funfair, seaside shops selling the sort of tat nobody needs but everyone buys. Walkers will appreciate the seafront path that runs the length of the bay; on a clear day you can see right along the coast towards Filey.

If you're staying at South Shore Holiday Park or South Cliff just up the road, you're minutes away on foot. The slightly further parks - Haven Thornwick Bay or Parkdean Resorts Barmston Beach - make decent bases for exploring this stretch of the Yorkshire coast too. Allow a full afternoon minimum if you've got kids; adults after a brisk walk and a coffee might manage an hour.

The promenade gets properly rammed in school holidays and decent weather weekends. Come out of season and it's considerably more peaceful, though the water won't be inviting. No admission charge - it's a public beach - and parking nearby is straightforward.