A WEEKEND IN CLEETHORPES
onkey rides, ice-creams under the pier, fish and chips and a sandy beach; since the dawn of British sea-bathing in the early 1800s, Cleethorpes has offered holidaymakers a timeless escape from the urban grind. Situated on the estuary of the River Humber, Cleethorpes sits between Hull and Skegness on Lincolnshire’s north-east coast, and originally sprang to life as a fishing village in the early 6th century. Today, Cleethorpes is on the crest of an exciting new wave. Its pristine Blue Flag sands and modern seaside amenities saw it clinch number two in the UK’s best beaches last year as ranked by Trainline; Cleethorpes’ salt-licked train station – surrounded by little kiosks selling hot doughnuts, coffee and seaside rock – sits just a few steps from the prom and Victorian pier. Meanwhile, a major plan for rejuvenation led by the designer Wayne Hemingway could see the addition of a new-look marketplace, a skate park and even beach-front camping huts to the resort, offering visitors even more reason to come and dip a toe into the North Sea waters.
