Coinciding with the social media launch of our “My Coast has the Most…” campaign, here VisitEngland highlights the country’s latest coastal news…
Cool Off on the Coast
World’s biggest slip and slide: Giant Slip and Slide, Cornwall
Now with seven lanes (making it the biggest slip and slide in the world!) Cornwall’s Giant Slip and Slide delivers a thrilling outdoor experience just 15 minutes from Newquay and Padstow. Visitors can race down multiple supersized slides before battling it out in the water pistol park making it an ideal group or family activity to cool off on warm summer days..
Wildlife adventure: Swim and snorkel the Farne Islands, Northumberland
May – September 2026
Experience one of England’s most spectacular marine environments with a guided swim and snorkelling adventure around the Farne Islands. Just off the Northumberland coast, these nutrient-rich waters are home to grey seals, seabirds and diverse marine life, offering a chance to explore beneath the surface alongside expert guides. Suitable for confident swimmers, this experience combines wildlife encounters with dramatic coastal scenery.
UK’s largest outdoor waterpark: Splashdown Quaywest in Paignton, Devon
Overlooking Goodrington Sands beach in Paignton is Splashdown Quaywest, the UK’s largest outdoor waterpark, which has officially reopened its doors for the 2026 summer season. Enjoy high-adrenaline flumes and an interactive water play zone for all ages, before heading to Goodrington Sands with activities including crazy golf and bumper cars.
New coastal wellness experience: Slomo Wellbeing, Isle of Wight
The Isle of Wight’s wellness scene continues to grow with the launch of Slomo Wellbeing at The Point in Bembridge. Blending coastal calm with Scandinavian-inspired rituals, the experience features wood-fired Nordic saunas, a six-person ice bath and sea-view relaxation spaces – part of a wider trend embracing outdoor recovery, sea swimming and immersive nature-based wellbeing.
New lakeside lido: Silverlake Spa, Warmwell, Dorset
Opening summer 2026
A new open-air lido is set to launch at Silverlake’s nature retreat in Dorset, offering a tranquil waterside wellness experience in the heart of the countryside. The 25-metre heated outdoor pool will be complemented by a cold plunge, sauna, treatment rooms and a lakeside restaurant, alongside access to water sports on the surrounding lakes — blending relaxation and active escapes in one scenic setting.
Summer savings
Great British Summer Savings on Days Out
25 June – 1 September 2026
Families can make their budgets stretch further this summer with more affordable days out thanks to the Government’s Great British Summer Savings initiative. The scheme sees VAT temporarily reduced from 20% to 5% on a wide range of family-friendly activities, from theme parks and zoos to cinemas, museums and children’s meals, where businesses are able to pass on the savings. Major attractions have committed to taking part including Cornwall’s Eden Project and Hampshire’s Paultons Park on the south coast. Regional attractions are joining in across the country too, including SEA LIFE centres (Brighton, Great Yarmouth, Scarborough and Weymouth) and Crealy Theme Park (Devon), with some venues layering on additional offers and incentives alongside the VAT reduction.
Coastal Events and Experiences
England’s Weird and Wonderful Summer Seaside Spectacles
From sea shanty festivals to mermaid parades, summer offers up plenty of eccentric gatherings along England’s coastline. In Kent, Folkestone’s Most Wuthering Heights Day Ever (26 July) transforms the harbour into a sea of red dresses as hundreds perform Kate Bush’s iconic choreography in unison. Along the Somerset coast, the Portishead Sea Shanty Festival (17 – 18 July) and Weston-Super-Mare Sea Shanty & Folk Festival (31 July – 2 August) will see maritime music spill out across harbours, pubs and promenades with free performances. In the Tees Valley, Saltburn Promenade will host free Shanties on the Shore evenings throughout summer (17 & 31 July & 4 August) whilst East Yorkshire leans into seaside surrealism with Bridlington’s BridMas Day (5 August 2026) giving the beachfront a festive makeover complete with Christmas-themed entertainment. In East Sussex, Brighton’s March of the Mermaids (4 July) brings a glittering parade of mermaids, pirates and sea creatures along the seafront in a costume‑filled procession, whilst the Chap Olympiad (18 July) in Lewes offers a tongue‑in‑cheek “sporting” spectacle where tweed clad competitors take on absurd challenges like umbrella jousting and cucumber sandwich discus.
Ocean Scilly Festival 2026, Isles of Scilly, Cornwall
22 – 30 August 2026
Now in its third year, Ocean Scilly festival invites visitors to experience the Isles of Scilly from the shoreline, on the water and beneath the waves. The festival will offer up a varied programme of events, talks and experiences celebrating the islands’ rich maritime heritage, wildlife and connection to the sea. New to Ocean Scilly Festival this year is the St Mary’s Water Carnival (22 August), a much-loved free community event which has not taken place for many years. The carnival has been scheduled for the first day of Ocean Scilly 2026, bringing with it a day of raft racing, nautical themed fancy dress, live entertainment and local food stalls.
FREE performing arts festival: Southbank Centre’s A Poet in Every Port, Nationwide
Summer 2026
2026 marks 75 years of the Royal Festival Hall, the first chapter in the Southbank Centre’s story. Outside London, a national outreach programme will bring anniversary events to more than 40 UK towns and cities: highlights include a touring poetry library in ten coastal locations. A Poet in Every Port will see the National Poetry Library hit the road, bringing year-round performances and workshops to seaside towns including Penzance, Cornwall (6 – 7 July), Blackpool, Lancashire (25 –26 July) and South Shields, South Tyneside (18 – 19 Sept).
FREE for spectators: 200th anniversary of Cowes Week, Isle of Wight
1 – 7 August 2026
The world’s most famous sailing regatta will celebrate its bicentenary this year, with the Solent set to host an unmissable mix of competition and pageantry. Highlights will include a Parade of Sail, anniversary races such as the Bicentenary Gold Cup, and a Revival Day featuring classic yachts. Ashore, Cowes will buzz with live music concerts for the first time ever, as well as street entertainers, a new 1826 Stage at Northwood House, pop-up attractions and the Bicentenary Exhibition, telling the story of Cowes Week’s remarkable 200-year journey. Fireworks and a Red Arrows flypast will complete the festival atmosphere.
Southport Year of Culture: Southport 2026, Merseyside
Throughout the year
Southport 2026 marks the town’s first ever Year of Culture, a year-long celebration championing its annual events with additional art installations, shows and festivals. Southport’s summer events include Southport Flower Show, the UK’s largest independent flower show (20 – 23 August); Southport Air Show 2026 (29 – 30 August) featuring Red Arrows’ aerobatic displays; and The 154th Open at Royal Birkdale (12 – 19 July) which will see the world’s best golfers return for another chapter in sport’s original championship. Looking ahead, the town will host new family-friendly literature festival Books Alive! (24 – 31 October) with author workshops and literary-themed fun.
FREE events: Portsmouth 100: centenary of the city of Portsmouth, Hampshire
Throughout 2026
Portsmouth will celebrate a century of its city status this year, with a full calendar of events, a new sculpture trail and community events. Designed to put the city’s local talents in the spotlight, the programme will include the free Pride of Portsmouth lion trail (July and August), a colourful city-wide trail of lion sculptures designed by artists and local community groups.
FREE music and seafood festival: Scarborough Seafest, North Yorkshire
17 – 19 July 2026
Scarborough is celebrating a landmark year in 2026, as it marks 400 years since the discovery of its spa waters which helped establish the town as one of England’s first seaside resorts. Throughout the year, the town will host numerous events including Scarborough Seafest, a free maritime weekend extravaganza with live music, street performers, art exhibitions, chef demos and food stalls. This summer will also see the Scarborough 400 Giant Deckchair Trail (27 June – 31 August) – a storytelling experience running throughout town, taking in major North and South Bay landmarks, each one marked with an oversized deckchair.
Anniversary event: The Big Jurassic Birthday Bash, The Etches Collection in Kimmeridge, Dorset
22 August 2026
The Etches Collection celebrates its 10th anniversary with a one-day festival in the coastal village of Kimmeridge. Set on Dorset’s Jurassic Coast, the event will feature hands-on activities, world-famous fossils and interactive experiences, alongside the striking backdrop of “Big Sara” — the UK’s largest Allosaur on display. Coinciding with the 25th anniversaries of both the Jurassic Coast UNESCO World Heritage Site and the nearby Wild Seas Centre, 2026 marks a landmark year for the region.
Coastal culture: Between the Tides Festival, Kirkleatham, Tees Valley
22 – 23 August 2026
Just inland from the coast, Between the Tides is a family-friendly festival celebrating creativity inspired by the sea and surrounding landscapes. Expect outdoor theatre, contemporary circus, puppetry and storytelling, alongside interactive activities and live music, with a mix of free and ticketed performances across the weekend.
FREE urban arts festival: Southend City Jam, Southend-on-Sea, Essex
28 – 30 August 2026
Southend-on-Sea’s flagship urban arts festival returns this summer, transforming the city centre into a vibrant open-air gallery as internationally renowned and emerging street artists create bold, large-scale murals live across multiple locations. Visitors can watch artworks take shape in real time, alongside a programme of family-friendly activities, while exploring Southend’s growing collection of public art, independent businesses and cultural attractions.
Coastal Walks and Rambles
New access being unlocked: King Charles III England Coast Path, Nationwide
Now open and continuing to expand, the King Charles III England Coast Path is the world’s longest managed coastal walking route, stretching 2,700 miles along England’s shoreline. Connecting newly opened sections with existing trails, the path offers access to some of the country’s most varied coastal landscapes – from salt marshes and sandy bays to dramatic cliffs and historic seaside towns. Around 80% of the route is already accessible, with final sections, particularly along the Cumbrian coast and around Morecambe Bay, continuing to open in phases through 2026. Find inspiration for coastal escapes along the King Charles III Coast Path with VisitBritain’s guide.
FREE: New self-guided walks on the Mulgrave Estate, North Yorkshire
Three new waymarked routes have launched in North Yorkshire, opening up access to a swathe of land owned by Mulgrave Estate which runs inland from the coast at Sandsend near Whitby. The self-guided trails are largely made up of new concessionary paths through beautiful and varied landscapes, providing coastal and valley views across the Mulgrave Estate, as well as linking up with the Esk Valley Walk and the King Charles III England Coast Path.
Free: Ramble Worldwide 80th anniversary taster guided walks, East Sussex
11 & 16 August 2026
To celebrate its 80th birthday, Ramble Worldwide is hosting a series of free taster guided walks across England, including a scenic seaside ramble in East Sussex. Beginning at Eastbourne Pier, this 6km walk following a stretch of the King Charles III England Coast Path takes in dramatic sea views, the iconic cliffs of Beachy Head and the striking white cliffs along the South Downs coastline.
FREE: Coastal Wellbeing Walks, Norfolk
Select Tuesdays, throughout 2026
Join free wellbeing walks along Holkham Beach and Wells Beach on the third Tuesday of each month for a dose of fresh air and good conversation. Each 90-minute walk will be a circular route covering a mixture of terrains. Dogs are welcome and there is no need to book ahead – just turn up at the designated location for a 10am start.
New guided walks: Southampton heritage walks from a local’s perspective, Hampshire
To celebrate its 50th anniversary, the Southampton Tourist Guides Association has launched two new 90-minute guided walking tours. Where Journeys Begin discovers Southampton’s medieval past, bringing the city’s historic landmarks and evolving waterfront alive through storytelling, while Then & Now: 1976–2026 offers a nostalgic look at the shops, cafés and streets, exploring how the High Street has transformed in just one generation. The new tours are priced at £11pp and add to the association’s extensive range of themed and classic guided walks of the city.
Coastal Attractions
New family experience: Steve Backshall X The Historic Dockyard Chatham, Kent
11 July – 31 August 2026
Steve Backshall’s Awesome Oceans Family Trail will take families on an action-packed journey across the world’s oceans combining adventure, exploration and conservation in one unforgettable day out at The Historic Dockyard Chatham. Designed to inspire the next generation, the self-led trail will feature hands-on activities, storytelling and challenges alongside the internationally acclaimed Ocean Photographer of the Year exhibition, presented in the UK for the first time by the publishers of Oceanographic Magazine. Throughout the adventure, Steve Backshall’s voice, storytelling and passion for wildlife conservation will guide families as they complete their mission to become official “Ocean Guardians”.
Museum reopening: Hull’s Maritime Museum, East Yorkshire
8 August 2026
Hull has undergone an ambitious five-year £30 million transformation to become Yorkshire’s maritime city, honouring its 800 years of seafaring history. As part of the project, Hull’s refurbished Maritime Museum will open this summer featuring new galleries and visitor facilities. Expect an exciting array of exhibits, from ship models to maritime art to a 40-foot whale skeleton. In recognition of the extensive cultural project, National Geographic has named Hull one of its Best Places in the World to Travel to in 2026.
Dockyard Museum reopening: Brunel’s SS Great Britain, Bristol
July 2026
The SS Great Britain, Bristol’s top-voted visitor attraction (TripAdvisor 2025), will unveil a £1m redevelopment of its Dockyard Museum this summer, which sits at the entrance of the ship. The new immersive design will explore the lives and journeys of more than 30,000 passengers and crew who travelled on the pioneering SS Great Britain between 1845 and 1886, via original artefacts and interactive exhibits.
Summer family experience: Dinosaurs Return to the Eden Project, Cornwall
25 July – 6 September 2026
The Eden Project marks its 25th anniversary with the return of its much-loved dinosaur experience, transforming its Cornwall site into a prehistoric playground for the summer holidays. Featuring one of the UK’s largest collections of animatronic dinosaurs – including a 40‑foot Tyrannosaurus rex – the immersive trail winds through the Rainforest Biome alongside interactive activities and hands-on learning. The experience also includes the Olivier Award-winning Dinosaur World Live show, running daily and included with admission, with reduced ticket prices over the summer offering added value for families.
Coastal Cuisine
New coastal restaurant: MOR in Carbis Bay, Cornwall
Opening 25 July 2026
Tom Sellers, the chef behind London’s two-Michelin-star Restaurant Story, is writing a new chapter at Cornwall’s Carbis Bay Hotel and Estate with MOR. Named using the Cornish word for ‘sea’, MOR promises beach views alongside menus shaped by the ocean and Cornwall’s finest produce, including ingredients from the restaurant’s own kitchen garden. Dishes will include Cornish crab with steamed milk buns and nori-wrapped mackerel escabeche with English wasabi and young ginger. It’s not Sellers’ first time making waves at Carbis Bay; his successful pop-up Story by the Sea was here in 2019 too.
New lakeside fish & chip restaurant: Trenchers, Bowness-on-Windermere, Cumbria
Opening July 2026
Award-winning Whitby institution Trenchers is bringing its celebrated take on Britain’s best-loved coastal dish to the shores of Lake Windermere. Set right on the lakeside in Bowness, the new £1m restaurant will serve sustainably sourced fish and hand-cut chips with panoramic views across the water – a classic seaside staple reimagined for the Lake District.
New seafood festival: Fleetwood Food, Drink and Fish Festival, Lancashire
14 – 16 August 2026
A brand-new celebration is arriving at the historic Fleetwood Market this summer, close to the sandy beaches on the coast of the Irish Sea. The three-day Fleetwood Food, Drink and Fish Festival will offer a variety of stalls showcasing local artisan produce and the very best of Fleetwood’s famous seafood. Plus, there will be live music, walkabout characters and plenty of family friendly entertainment.
Seasonal island dining: The Cellar at RT Café Grill, Isle of Wight
Tucked beneath RT Café Grill in Ryde, The Cellar offers an intimate new dining experience from Robert Thompson, the UK’s youngest ever Michelin-starred chef. Expect a more refined, chef-led setting showcasing seasonal island produce, with a focus on flavour-driven tasting menus that celebrate the Isle of Wight’s growing food scene.
FREE coastal food festival: Seaham Food Festival, Durham
1 – 2 August 2026
One of the UK’s biggest free food festivals, Seaham Food Festival returns to the Durham Heritage Coast with a packed weekend of street food traders, regional producers and live entertainment. Visitors can enjoy cookery demonstrations from top chefs, alongside family-friendly entertainment set against the scenic seafront backdrop.
New coastal vineyard dining: Summer Takeover Series at Rathfinny Wine Estate, East Sussex
15, 22 & 29 August 2026
Just a few miles from the Sussex coast near the Seven Sisters cliffs, Rathfinny Wine Estate will host a special summer takeover from London fine dining favourites Orrery by Pierre Minotti and Bluebird. Across three Saturdays in August, guests can enjoy exclusive seven-course tasting menus paired with Rathfinny’s award-winning sparkling wines, celebrating produce shaped by the estate’s coastal location. By day, the Bluebird by the Sea food truck will serve relaxed dishes, including lobster rolls, against sweeping vineyard views reaching towards the coast.
Coastal and Waterside Escapes
Legendary beach breaks: 90th anniversary of Butlin’s, Sussex, Somerset and Lincolnshire
Throughout 2026
Happy birthday to Butlin’s, which will blow out 90 candles this year – with congratulations also in order for the iconic holiday company receiving VisitEngland’s 2026 Outstanding Contribution to Tourism Award in June. To celebrate, expect a full calendar of family entertainment and adult-only Big Weekenders across Butlin’s three coastal holiday resorts, Bognor Regis in West Sussex, Minehead in Somerset and Skegness in Lincolnshire. All summer, street dance superstars Diversity will perform their new and exclusive show Time Capsule, celebrating pop culture’s most memorable moments. Throughout the year hit TV series The Masked Singer Live will take to the stage, and Maximum Pro Wrestling will present a wrestling show with celebrity guests and edge-of-your-seat drama galore. 2026 also sees 15 different Big Weekender break types spanning country and pop music royalty to decade-themed Weekenders from 60s to the 2000s and more.
New stylish seaside stays: THE NICI Newquay, Cornwall and THE NICI New Forest, Hampshire
Opened 15 June 2026
On Cornwall’s north coast, THE NICI Newquay is now open featuring 82 stylishly refurbished guest rooms and suites inspired by the Amalfi Coast. The hotel’s indoor spa and pool facilities will be arriving later this summer, while the outdoor pool and Tucker Rocks beachside restaurant are currently scheduled to open in 2027. Meanwhile on England’s south coast, THE NICI New Forest – inspired by The Hamptons – is set within 23 acres of landscaped grounds, with far-reaching views across the Solent. THE NICI New Forest’s indoor pool and wellness facilities will open on 20 July, and the outdoor pool opens from 1 August, offering the perfect setting to relax and soak up the coastal surroundings.
New luxury lakeside hotel: Fairmont Cheshire The Mere, Cheshire
July 2026
Cheshire will welcome a new five-star resort to its hotel scene with the opening of Fairmont Cheshire The Mere this summer. Set beside the tranquil waters of The Mere Lake within 157 acres of Cheshire parkland, the former Mere Hotel in Knutsford has undergone a £50m renovation, transforming the property into an elite golf, dining and leisure destination. The new hotel will feature more than 100 bedrooms, a new golf pavilion and a celebrity-backed restaurant – Gordon Ramsay at The Mere. It will be the brand’s fourth hotel in the UK.
Children Stay Free this Summer: Lympstone Manor, Devon
Available Summer 2026
Lympstone Manor has introduced a new family-focused Shepherd’s Hut escape for summer 2026, with children staying free when sharing with adults. Set within woodland beside the estate vineyard, the dog and family-friendly huts feature bunk beds with stargazing skylights, private terraces and firepits for toasting marshmallows. Families can enjoy the outdoor pool, tennis courts, bird watching and coastal adventures on the Exe Estuary, from paddleboarding to sailing, alongside easy access to Exmouth Beach and the Jurassic Coast. Babysitting is also available for guests wanting to try Michael Caines’ Michelin-starred Lympstone Manor restaurant.
Award-winning floating lodges: Clawford Lakes Resort and Spa, Devon
VisitEngland’s Camping, Glamping and Holiday Park of the Year 2026 Clawford Lakes Resort and Spa is a 98-acre wildlife haven located within a picturesque valley. Less than half an hour from the Cornish seaside resort of Bude, accommodation options range from luxury cocoons to floating lodges and lake pods with expansive views over the valleys and lakes of Devon. The lakeside setting, close to two National Parks, provides a base for guests to enjoy fishing, paddleboarding and wildlife spotting. Four-legged friends are also welcome, with dogs staying at the resort for free.