Burnham-on-Sea

Nine miles of sand stretch along this Somerset seaside town where donkey rides still happen and deck chairs cost £2 for the afternoon. Burnham-on-Sea feels properly old-fashioned - the kind of place where fish and chips are wrapped in paper and ice cream vans play the same tune they did forty years ago.

The seafront's big draw is that remarkable lighthouse. Burnham-on-Sea Low Lighthouse stands right on the beach - a squat, white tower that's been guiding ships since 1832. It's the only lighthouse in Britain built on stilts, designed to stay above the shifting Somerset tides. Worth the walk along the sand just to see it up close.

Inland from the promenade, the town centre feels sleepy midweek but comes alive during summer weekends. The Burnham Driftwood Shop on the high street showcases local artists working with materials washed up by the Severn's fierce tides - everything from sculptures to jewellery made from sea glass. For a proper break from the seaside bustle, Winchester Road Park offers quiet walking paths through well-maintained gardens.

Burnham sits where the River Parrett meets the Bristol Channel, creating those vast mudflats that stretch toward Wales on clear days. The M5 runs just inland, making this an easy drive from Bristol or the Midlands - about ninety minutes from Birmingham.

Staying at one of the nearby holiday parks makes perfect sense here. Haven Burnham-on-Sea Holiday Village puts you within walking distance of the beach, while Sandy Glade Holiday Park offers a slightly more secluded base. The town's compact enough that everything's within easy reach, whether you're after traditional seaside fun or just want somewhere quiet to watch those spectacular Somerset sunsets over the channel.