Golden Sands Beach Mablethorpe

The beach at Mablethorpe stretches for miles - proper golden sand that's genuinely worth the trip if you're staying anywhere along this stretch of Lincolnshire coast. It's the kind of place where you can actually find space to lay a towel, even in summer, which is rarer than you'd think on the East Coast.

What you get is straightforward: a wide, gently sloping beach that's excellent for families with young children. The sand is firm, the water relatively warm for the North Sea, and there's a decent promenade running alongside with the usual seaside fare - fish and chips, arcades, ice cream vans. It's not fancy, but it's honest.

If you're staying at Haven Golden Sands Holiday Park just up the road, you're basically on the doorstep - under half a mile away. Families with kids will get a solid day out here without needing to venture far. The beach works well for paddling, building sandcastles, or just sprawling out with a book. Walkers might find the flat terrain a touch dull after a while, though heading north along the sands towards Sutton-on-Sea does offer a decent ramble.

There's no admission charge - it's a public beach - so you're only paying for parking and refreshments. Best visited when the weather's settled rather than on a grey, blustery day when the appeal fades fast. Allow half a day minimum if you've got children, longer if you want a proper seaside session. Combined with the nearby caravan parks, this works as a solid base for a traditional English beach holiday.