Skegness

The Wash stretches endlessly beyond the caravan parks and amusement arcades, a vast expanse of mudflats and channels that's properly wild once you escape the seafront chaos. This is classic British seaside - bucket and spade territory where donkey rides still happen and the smell of chips mingles with salt air.

Skegness divides opinion sharply. Love it or loathe it, the town's unapologetically brash approach to seaside fun hasn't changed much in decades. The golden sands are genuinely decent when the tide's in, though midweek in shoulder season you'll have them largely to yourself. Beyond the main drag, things quieten down fast.

Venture inland and the Lincolnshire countryside opens up properly. Batemans Brewery in nearby Wainfleet is worth the short drive - proper traditional ales and a good brewery tour. The medieval market town of Wainfleet itself feels like stepping back a century or two, with All Saints Church and the old Wainfleet Library adding some historical weight to your visit.

For something completely different, Virley House Country Park offers peaceful walking trails through wetlands that feel miles from the seafront madness. The nature reserve attracts serious birdwatchers, especially during migration seasons.

Getting here couldn't be easier - the A52 runs straight from the A1, and both Havenhouse and Wainfleet stations serve the area if you're coming by rail. Staying at one of the holiday parks nearby puts you right in the thick of things for the full Skegness experience, while still offering easy escapes into the surprisingly lovely Lincolnshire countryside when you need a breather from the seaside shenanigans.