Most Seaside towns have been there for centuries but were usually developed during the Victorian era when visiting the ocean became fashionable. Therefore seaside towns tend to have the same general characteristics. A promenade backed by rows of Victorian houses which often serve as hotels or guest houses. Very rarely will you find the area cluttered with souvenir shops and food stands. There may be a few such stands on the promenade during the summer selling candy floss (cotton candy) and vans selling fresh shellfish (a delicacy in seaside towns in Britain, vans usually offer small paper dishes with fresh winkles, whelks or cockles. Cockles are a type of clam with ridged shells. Winkles and whelks are like small marine snails and are considered great delicacies, pickled jars of these items will be found everywhere.)

Many towns will also have a pier. These were very popular in Victorian times but due to difficulty in maintaining them have often been demolished in recent years. Blackpool was the most famous for its pier, which was the longest in the country (I am not sure if it’s still in operation at present). Many towns still have them but often they are only small stubby items having been shortened or demolished all together due to the huge funding needed to keep them safe. If they are still operational they usually contain restaurants, amusement arcades, and food stalls, sometimes souvenir stands too. In most large seaside towns which are known seaside resorts this is where you will find the fortune teller the palm reader and other such seaside amusements. However the view of the shoreline from such structures can still be delightful.

Most seaside towns have lights strung all along the downtown promenade area and they whole area looks delightful at night, strolling in the early evening is often a popular pastime especially with lovers.

The town center where the major shops are often located some distance from the beach front, in small towns this is not very far but in larger towns it can be a few miles. Most British people do not consider this too far to walk and will often walk from their homes several miles away to the beach carrying all the items that they need, small children will walk too. Very little modern development of the seafront has occurred in most towns since the Victorian buildings are well built and add to the charm. The British don’t suffer from the desire to tear everything down and build new like many American town seem to. Parking can therefore be a problem if you wish to visit the beach in town. Parking for the town is usually easy in the many pay and display lots, but it could be a walk to the beach.

THE PROMENADE

In most towns a road will run along the beach front and in the town center a promenade will stretch between the shore and the road. This is rather like what Americans would call a boardwalk but it is usually asphalt or concrete for durability. Almost every seaside town will have one, and they can range in length from a few hundred yards in tiny villages to several miles in larger towns.

These are considered the center of the town activities. People jog, skate and walk along these promenades at all times of the year. It’s what the British do. They stroll along taking the air and admiring the view. In summer the promenade will be crowded with people, it’s the place to be seen. Young people wear their new clothes, or latest creative punk costumes. Older people just stroll and watch the others. There may be entertainers and there is sure to be a Punch and Judy show, which has delighted seaside goers since Victorian times. These will usually be located on the beach a little way from the promenade so that people can sit on the sand in front of the kiosk and watch or they can lean over the promenade rail and watch from above. All promenades will be higher than the beach so you can look down upon it. Often there will be other forms of entertainment, maybe a sand sculpture or such like.

Promenades will not be crowded with souveneer shacks or food stands, but will often have small shelters so you can sit in the shade or out of the wind to admire the town or the beach. They are spacious areas which border the town like a Christmas garland. For food you need to cross the road to the shops and hotels on the town side of the road. The beach is left unspoiled for the people. Promenades are never empty no matter what time of year there will always be someone there If you visit in November you will still see a lot of people walking the promenade although not as many as in summer, then the locals breath a sigh of relief and have the place to themselves and a few determined visitors.