Sutton on Sea

The North Sea breeze carries more than salt here - it brings a proper sense of freedom. Sutton on Sea sits along Lincolnshire's coast with an honesty that's refreshing. No pretentious promenades or gaudy arcades, just a genuine seaside town where the beach stretches for miles and the pace drops to something civilised.

Sutton-on-Sea Beach delivers exactly what you'd want from the east coast: expansive sands perfect for long walks and proper space to breathe. The Seaview Colonnade offers shelter when the wind picks up, which it often does. For families with young ones, Maple Leaf Splash Pool provides indoor swimming when the sea feels too bracing.

Venture slightly inland and you'll find some cracking nature spots. Sandilands National Trust protects important coastal habitat - it's a lovely spot for birdwatching without the crowds you'd get further south. The Sandilands Pit Nature Reserve offers more wildlife watching, whilst Huttoft Bank Pit draws anglers and walkers alike.

Mablethorpe lies just three miles north, easily reached by car or the coastal bus service. The town connects to the wider county via the A52, making it accessible from Lincoln in about an hour.

Staying at one of the nearby parks makes perfect sense for exploring this stretch of coast. You're within easy reach of both the quieter northern beaches and the livelier attractions around Mablethorpe, but based somewhere with genuine character rather than commercial overdevelopment.