Nearest beach/seaside to Stafford?

db

db

#chaplife
it's ms. db's birthday on monday, and given the lovely weather we're having at the mo i'd like to take the opportunity to take her to do one of her favourite things (hurf durf) - have fish 'n' chips by the seaside..

i've never been a big fan of the seaside - i have nothing at all against it, i just never give it a thought, and as a result i have no idea which places are close to us/easy to get to/etc..

so.. as i say, we've got the day off on monday, and would like to pop to the seaside for a stroll along the promenade and some fish 'n' chips by the sea..

essential criteria are:

  • quick to drive to, as we will just be popping there and back for a nice lazy day, so don't want to be pushed for time or stuck in a car all day.
  • fish 'n' chips.
  • ice cream.

things that would be nice but aren't deal breakers:

  • penny arcade (she loves those tuppenny falls things).
  • as few kids as possible (i'm conscious that the little brats/darlings have just broken up for summer).
  • some nice history/buildings/architecture for us to look at.

things we defo don't want:

  • somewhere that takes hours to drive to.
  • somewhere packed full of kids.


can i get some recommendations, please?

fanks :keke:
 
Withnail

Withnail

Well-Known Forumite
Mr. wmrcomputers recommends Wallasey -

http://www.staffordforum.com/xf/ind...acts-about-your-day.11163/page-64#post-190636

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Llandudno would be perfect, but further.
 
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Entropy

Entropy

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unfortunately.....as we reside in middle earth....it's going to be a drive......circa 2hrs at least...

Options that I can think of are

1) Barmouth
2) Rhyl
3) Llandudno/Colwyn Bay
4) Southport
5) The Vegas of the North - Blackpool


However, if you fancy a bit further afield.....Bournemouth is about a 3hr 20min drive (M6, M42, M40, A34, M3, M27, A 31 then the A348)
Though anywhere with a stretch of sand or body of water will be rammed this weekend.

Also, with the schools kicking out today, the roads will be chaos....so unless you're planning on leaving at stupid o'clock tomorrow morning?
 
My Name is URL

My Name is URL

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Yes as above, pretty much the worst location in the UK to get to the beach / seaside from.

Up the M6 to the NW coast is quickest (subject to M6 traffic) but IMHO Barmouth is nicer just a shame about the shitty roads to get there - get stuck behind a tractor or lorry and you're screwed.
 
wildwood

wildwood

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Barmouth - Lovely beach

Blackpool - Total shit hole - but a nice beach. Went there a few weeks back and had a thoroughly good time.
 
Entropy

Entropy

Well-Known Forumite
The drive to Barmouth can be quite nice, depending on which way you go to/from there....

Plus, if you want to...there's also Shell Island just up the road from there.....bit of porous spotting at sunset?
 
tek-monkey

tek-monkey

wanna see my snake?
I love north wales, but its a bit of a trek. Had some very nice chips at Rhos on Sea last year, just near Llandudno. Of course Llandudno itself is great too, but the drive isn't necessarily.
 
H

Hetairoi

Well-Known Forumite
LLanduno or Colwyn Bay would be recommendations, motorway and dual carriageway all the way!

LLandudno is 111 miles and will take two hours according to the AA route planner and has a nice beach, pier and lots of nice Victorian/Edwardian buildings.

There is the Great Orme near by which is worth a visit and if you want medieval then Conway is next door.

There is only one place for fish and chips and that is Enoch's near Lanndudno Junction station, a little way out of Llandudno itself but well worth the trip!

Colwyn Bay is 103 miles and will take 1hr and 49mins nad is a lot quieter than LLandudno, nice prom, pier and beach with lots of little kiosks to get food, drink and ice cream.

Have a nice day!
 
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db

db

#chaplife
Entropy said:
Also, with the schools kicking out today, the roads will be chaos....so unless you're planning on leaving at stupid o'clock tomorrow morning?
Click to expand...

i'm planning on going monday, as per the OP, so i'm hoping it won't be too busy.. although i realise it's the school holidays, so i'm probably being a bit optimistic :(

Hetairoi said:
LLanduno or Colwyn Bay would be recommendations, motorway and dual carriageway all the way!
Click to expand...

i like the sound of this! i'm not fussed about the actual beach - obviously it would be nice to have a nice beach to look at, but we won't be taking towels or anything.. i just want somewhere nice to walk along with fish 'n' chips, sit somewhere nice in the sun (outside a nice bar or cafe, for example), get an ice cream, maybe play some penny arcades, then come home..

so far, llandudno is sounding like the right fit! thanks for all the suggestions though, keep 'em coming :)

Hetairoi said:
Colwyn Bay is 103 miles and will take 1hr and 49mins nad is a lot quieter than LLandudno, nice prom, pier and beach with lots of little kiosks to get food, drink and ice cream.
Click to expand...

...that being said, this sounds lovely as well.. i like the idea of quiet, ~100 miles, pier, and food & drink options!

Hetairoi said:
Have a nice day!
Click to expand...


well, thanks to you lot i will, hopefully :D:up:
 
db

db

#chaplife
tek-monkey said:
Is driving a necessity? Can do Llandudno on the train in about 2 1/2 hour, and can have a drink ;)
Click to expand...

yes..

  • i hate public transport as it means mixing with the proles.
  • driving has air conditioning.

that being said, last time i got the train was to that there london last year, and it wasn't as bad as i thought it would be.. tethered my ipad to my phone the whole way and had a jolly old time looking up places to visit at our destination, planning routes, etc..

hmm, can't hurt to have a look - thanks for the suggestion!
 
tek-monkey

tek-monkey

wanna see my snake?
Doesn't the A55 completely cut the town of Colwyn Bay off from the sea front? Or am I thinking of somewhere else?
 
Sk84goal

Sk84goal

Well-Known Forumite
My Vote would go for Llandudno too!

Do the pier, Nice Ice cream place half way along, I prefer the arcade at the end as it has older machines and a nicer feel.
take the tram to to the top of the great Orme.
If your feeling brave on the way back leave the tram at the halfway station and walk down to happy valley and have a go on the tobogan or ski tubes at the ski centre followed by the STEEP! walk back down to Llandudno.

If you do not want to drive to Enochs(I always do because they are that good! but L Junction itself is pretty crap) then the Fish and chip shop by the tram station is the best alternative.

On the way home keep to the coast road and travel through Rhos and along the Prom at Colwn Bay looking out for an old Citroen H van It serves the best tea / coffee and homemade cakes in the area, the chocolate brownies are fantastic. He generally posts his location on twitter and facebook https://www.facebook.com/providero or https://twitter.com/Providero

Have a great day!
 
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