TripAdvisor names Northumberland coastal village one of UK's fastest growing destinations

A Northumberland coastal village has been named one of the UK's fastest growing domestic travel destinations this spring.

TripAdvisor's first Travel Index of 2023 uses a combination of demand and sentiment data with the aim of revealing Brits' attitudes to travel over the next three months and where they're heading off to. And a fair few are hitting the Northumberland Coast with Seahouses being named one of the fastest growing destinations, with nine of the ten based in northern England.

Set in the Northumberland Coast AONB, Seahouses is the gateway to the Farne Islands with boat trips leaving from the town's harbour to admire the wildlife off the rugged isles a few miles off the coast. It's also thought to have one of the best fish and chip shops in the country, while the UK's favourite seaside village Bamburgh and Beadnell lie within walking distance to the north and south respectively.

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Jane Dixon, who runs Ranger Jane's Beach School in Seahouses and has been nominated for the VisitEngland Tourism Superstar Award for her seashore safaris, holidayed in the region from the age of 15 before moving to the village in 2010. And she says moving north for an outdoor lifestyle is the best thing she ever did.

Jane said: "The new staycation holidays when travel abroad was restricted in the pandemic have spread the word of how fantastic the village of Seahouses really is, you can find peace and quiet, walk on the beaches ending with a pub lunch, or play arcade games.

Tourists enjoy fish and chips and ice creams on the benches by Seahouses Harbour (Daniel Hall/Newcastle Chronicle)

"My husband drives a boat for Bill Shields boats from Easter to Halloween and I still go out with him at every opportunity. We have amazing, local and empty beaches, quality takeaway fish and chips, top seafood from local suppliers and the local pubs welcome everyone, including residents, tourists and their dogs.

"The local offerings of outdoor activities including kite surfing, paddle boarding, local surf lessons, yoga on the beach and the local accommodation is brilliant with camping, glamping, caravan sites, camping pods and even designer huts in the woods and boutique hotels."

Jane Dixon, who runs Ranger Jane's Beach School (Jane Dixon)

The TripAdvisor index shows that as lighter evenings and warmer weather draws in, Brits are planning both at home and abroad, with 71% planning trips - an increase of 17% on the same period last year. It also represents an increase of 11% on the Winter season, which started in December 2022 and finished at the close of February.

Despite the cost of living crisis in the UK, almost 45% of Brits intend to travel more than they did last year and 43% plan to spend more on their biggest trips this year. The cost of living crisis also affects what Brits are prioritising in their trip, with 69% saying that affordability is the most important factor.

10 Fastest Growing Domestic Destinations

1. Gosforth, Lake District, Cumbria
2. Ingoldmells, Skegness Lincolnshire
3. Borrowdale, Lake District, Cumbria
4. St. Peter Port, Guernsey, Channel Islands
5. Bowness-on-Windermere, Lake District, Cumbria
6. Seahouses, Northumberland
7. Douglas, Isle of Man
8. Keswick, Lake District, Cumbria
9. Bridlington, Yorkshire
10. Skipton, North Yorkshire

Where are you planning to travel this spring? Let us know!

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