Former poet laureate Sir John Betjeman described the Grade- I listed pier as ‘the most beautiful pier in England’This article contains affiliate links, we will receive a commission on any sales we generate from it. Learn more
Visitors at Clevedon in North Somerset enjoy the sunshine by the pier(Image: PA)
A West Country beach has been hailed as a ‘genuine Victorian treasure’ after being named among the UK’s best.
The Telegraph has compiled an extensive list of the best beaches to visit, and Clevedon is at number seven.
Clevedon boasts a sand-and-pebble beach and grassy promenade, complete with a bandstand, arcades and ice-cream vendors.
The Telegraph states that while Somerset boasts some truly stunning beaches, such as the miles-long soft, blonde sand of Brean Down and the quaint beauty of Layde Bay, Clevedon offers the best overall experience.
It features a lengthy sand-and-pebble beach, backed by a grassy promenade complete with a bandstand, arcades and ice cream vendors.
Visitors have taken to TripAdvisor to share their experiences. John B, who rated the beach five out of five, called the beach ‘a genuine Victorian treasure’.
He added: “What is most incredible about Clevedon Pier is that is hasn’t been commercialised.
“Good on the local people who worked tirelessly for almost two decades to raise the money to rebuild it after its collapse during stress testing in 1970.
People enjoy the warm weather on the Victorian Pier at Clevedon, North Somerset(Image: PA)
“After a long campaign supported by Sir John Betjeman, who described Clevedon as “the most beautiful pier in England”, it finally reopened in 1989. The Toll House at the entrance is a lovely place and has some interesting items for sale. Well worth a visit, particularly to watch the sun set on a good day.”
1970 Dorris said the beach was ‘a must’, adding: “A lovely walk to blow the cobwebs away and see clevedon from another perspective. Also if One Direction like it…”
Indeed, in 2014 Simon Cowell’s X Factor boyband filmed the music video for the track ‘You and I’ on the town’s pier.
The pier is a particular draw for history buffs. The northern part of the town boasts one of the UK’s oldest piers, constructed in 1869, it stretches 310m into the Bristol Channel and features a café in its pagoda. A 1,020ft leg grounds teh structure into the Severn Estuary.
This pier benefited from a recent resurrection after a partial collapse in 1970 led to its destruction, and its full restoration was not completed until 1989.
The second is that, it was orginally built as a jump off point for paddle steamers, and 156 years later, has roughly the same purpose – each summer, it welcomes the PS Waverley, launched in 1946, and the MV Balmoral , 1949.
Inland, Hill Road is renowned for its trendy independent businesses such as Vintage and Vine bar and bottleshop, and Books on the Hill. At Clevedon’s southern end, you’ll find the expansive Marine Lake, a 15,000 square metre tidal infinity pool where visitors can swim, crab, canoe or SUP free of charge (though donations are welcomed).