England’s most ‘underrated’ seaside town is the best place in the UK to visit this summer | Travel News | Travel

Many people have already booked their big holiday for the year, but it is never too late to have fun this summer and travel somewhere spectacular. 

St Leonards on Sea is a charming coastal town in East Sussex, England known for its picturesque seafront which features a walkway that has breathtaking views of the English Channel. 

It is also known for its architecture spanning from its elegant Regency buildings to distinctive 1930s Art Deco structures as the town was founded by James Burton, a prominent architect and builder. 

What makes it such a stunning place to visit is that there are many iconic buildings worth taking a photo of as well as sculptures and beautifully landscaped gardens where you can find a peaceful place to relax to enjoy your surroundings. 

This gorgeous town has recently been named one of the “best-underrated trips to take in the UK this summer” by CN Traveller as well as the best place to have a “buckets-and-spade seaside” holiday. 

They said: “St Leonards on Sea has its own offbeat (and relatively affordable) foodie scene. Head to the colourful huts on the beach for fish baps and ice cream from Goat Ledge.” 

St Leonards on Sea has a very rich food scene where there are many restaurants to suit anyone’s taste, from simple fish and chips to fine dining. 

Some great places to eat are the town’s two friendly pubs The Marina Fountain, known for its tasty Sunday roasts, and The Crown, known for its simple pub classics on the menu. 

Another place to note is The Royal, a prominent place to eat in the town is known for its down-to-earth atmosphere and incredible food without any fuss. 

Anyone who loves food should also visit Hesit, the colourful indoor food market housed in a former bank building where you can sample local street food and seafood. 

St Leonards on Sea is also known for having a vibrant artist community where you can spot many art installations and murals around town, with one of the most famous being Sir David Attenborough at the local community art centre.  

There are also many interesting local art galleries to choose from such as the Lucy Bell Gallery, which showcases local photography about the area, as well as the Stella Dore Gallery, which works with graffiti artists to hold colourful exhibitions and is responsible for many of the local artworks in town.

Visitors are also encouraged to add a love lock to one interactive artwork on the prom near the beach as a simple way to remember their time in this pretty town. 

After a long day of exploring St Leonards on Sea then you should watch the sunset at the Warrior Square Gardens, which is directly opposite the beach and contains a rose garden as well as a famous statue of Queen Victoria looking out into the sea. 

St Leonards on Sea is often forgotten about due to being right next to the more popular Hastings but many travellers have praised this little town and highly recommend a visit in reviews.  

One person wrote: “Stumbled across this hidden gem while travelling to Hasting and loved it. Fab atmosphere with a cool vibe.”

Another user said: “I really enjoyed my stay at St Leonards on Sea. People were lovely and so was the food, a great location not far from the sea, would visit again.”

Someone else wrote: “Great place to have a quiet day out at the beach.”