Visit to the Seaside Varies Significantly in Britain
The British seaside, with its rich history and cultural significance, has long been a cherished leisure destination for the nation. Tracing its roots back to the 17th century, Scarborough is often recognised as the UK's first seaside resort, thanks to the discovery of healing acidic spa waters in 1626. This marked the beginning of a tradition that would last for centuries, drawing in people seeking relaxation, health benefits, and entertainment.
Over nearly 300 years, British seaside towns evolved into key leisure spots, offering a unique blend of relaxation, recreation, and community. Today, organisations like Historic England continue to preserve and celebrate this heritage, inviting public memories and accounts of seaside experiences.
One defining feature of many British seaside towns is their Victorian architecture, which reflects their growth during the 19th century when seaside holidays became accessible to the upper and middle classes. St. Leonards-on-Sea near Hastings, developed as a resort for the upper-class Londoners, showcases a "masterclass in Victorian architecture." Promenades, piers, and ornamental gardens, built to support the leisure culture of the times, contribute to the distinctive visual identity of seaside towns.
Beyond their historical significance, British seaside towns embody the quintessential British beach town atmosphere. Hastings, for instance, offers a blend of history, arts, and a vibrant local culture that continues to attract visitors. The seaside has also influenced British popular culture, with events, music, and community traditions reflecting coastal life.
The British seaside represents social history, tracing changes in class, health beliefs, and recreation from elite beginnings at spa towns to more democratized seaside holidays accessible to broader society in the Victorian and later periods. Seaside resorts competed with each other to attract tourists by building facilities such as lidos, pavilions, bandstands, and distinctive roof shapes.
In the contemporary landscape, the British seaside continues to captivate, offering a prime site for people-watching and observing the intimacies of everyday human interactions, as photographer Sophie Green's ongoing project "Beachology" attests. Art has also played a significant role in attracting visitors looking for cultural experiences alongside their beach visits, with galleries like Tate Gallery, St Ives, Turner Contemporary, and Hastings Contemporary opening in coastal regions.
Kathryn Ferry's new book, "Twentieth Century Seaside Architecture: Pools, Piers and Pleasure Around Britain's Coast," explores how societal and cultural attitudes interacted with the architecture of the British seaside. Meanwhile, Karen Shepherdson, a researcher, has founded the South East Archive of Seaside Photography, focusing on 'walkies' - images made of people walking down the promenade that were captured by a commercial photographer and printed onto a postcard.
Despite challenges such as the decline and collapse of seaside tourism in some towns, leading to long-term inequalities, the British seaside remains a vital part of the nation's cultural identity. From its origins as a health spa destination to its role in shaping British cultural identity, the British seaside's history, architecture, and cultural significance collectively demonstrate its lasting significance in the UK’s historical and cultural landscape.
Art and lifestyle intertwine at British seaside towns, with galleries like Tate Gallery, St Ives, Turner Contemporary, and Hastings Contemporary adding cultural experiences to beach visits, attracting art enthusiasts alongside sunbathers. These coastal communities, steeped in history, also offer outdoor living, with picturesque promenades, piers, and home-and-garden landscapes that echo the distinctive Victorian style of the 19th century.
