Conde Nast Traveller has released a list of the best seaside towns in England – and there are a few destinations on the list within a three-to-four-hour drive of BirminghamThis article contains affiliate links, we will receive a commission on any sales we generate from it. Learn moreScarborough beachScarborough’s beach is still a major attraction, but the town centre is less so(Image: Getty Images)

Brummies enjoyed their first taste of warm, sunny weather last month and hopefully, there will be more to come as summer draws near.

Many Brits will be planning a day at the beach when the next heatwave arrives, and Conde Nast Traveller has just published a list of the best seaside towns in England.

Birmingham may not have been blessed with sandy coastlines, but there are several destinations on the travel guide’s top 16 list that are within a three-to-four-hour drive from the city.

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As expected, Cornwall, Kent and Devon dominated the top spots, with Whitstable, known for its bohemian vibe and high street filled with cosy cafes and second-hand shops, being approximately three hours and 40 minutes away from Birmingham city centre.

Margate, with its quintessential British seaside charm, secured its place (just under four hours’ drive away), while Folkestone’s recent artistic makeover earned it the title of ‘one of the UK’s most vibrant seaside towns’ (a three hour and 45 minute journey).

Rye is slightly over four hours away by car, but this picturesque corner of East Sussex is quicker to reach from Brum by train (three hours).

Suffolk’s Heritage Coast, parts of which, like Covehithe, remain ‘delightfully off the beaten track’, and north Norfolk’s rugged coast between Blakeney and Cley can also be reached within four hours by car.

Scarborough, the nearest seaside resort to Birmingham that made the shortlist, was praised by Conde Nast for its stunning beauty. The Yorkshire gem ‘has a good claim to being the most beautiful seaside resort in England’, according to the travel magazine.

The publication highlighted its dramatic castle, maze-like old town and interesting architecture as key attractions. It also boasts award-winning beaches with perfect sand for building castles and stunning rock pools.

Brummies can reach Scarborough from the city centre within three hours and 20 minutes by car or train.

Here is the full list of top beaches according to Conde Nast Traveller:.

  • Whitstable, Kent.
  • Blakeney and the north Norfolk Coast.
  • Eastbourne and beyond.
  • Salcombe, Devon.
  • Scarborough, Yorkshire.
  • Suffolk Heritage Coast.
  • Falmouth, Cornwall.
  • Dungeness, Kent.
  • Margate, Kent.
  • Mousehole, Cornwall.
  • Rye, East Sussex.
  • Mawgan Porth, Cornwall.
  • Folkestone, Kent.
  • St Ives, Cornwall.
  • Mersea Island, Essex.
  • Portscatho, Cornwall.