Saltburn-by-the-Sea, a charming Victorian seaside town in North Yorkshire, has been crowned the UK's top summer holiday destination by Trainline, with passenger bookings soaring by 133% for the opening week of the school holidays. The town offers a long pier, sandy beach, and surprisingly affordable accommodation, making it an attractive option for families.
Trainline's top UK holiday hotspots
Trainline analysed its booking data to identify UK locations with the largest spike in customer bookings for the first week of the school holidays that are easily accessible by rail. Saltburn-by-the-Sea led the list, followed by Ilkley (West Yorkshire) with a 120% uplift, Didcot Parkway (Oxfordshire) at 116%, Morecambe (Lancashire) at 114%, Arundel (West Sussex) at 113%, St Erth (Cornwall) at 102%, Bolton (Greater Manchester) at 85%, and Warwick (Warwickshire) at 70%.
Attractions and affordability
Saltburn is known for its wide sandy beach, Victorian Pier, and Valley Gardens with a tearoom. The pier, extending 600ft from the shore, opened in 1869 and is Yorkshire's only remaining pleasure pier. Visitors can walk along the pier for free and enjoy amusement arcades. The Saltburn Cliff Tramway, the oldest water-balanced funicular railway in the UK, offers rides with spectacular views. A single adult ticket costs £1.10, children's fares are 60p, and toddlers under three ride free.
Dining and accommodation
The Seaview Restaurant is recommended for fresh fish with sea views, while Oscar's Fish & Chips along the promenade is praised as 'the best' for classic British fish and chips. Accommodation is affordable, with a family of four able to book a weekend stay for as little as £126 per night, according to Booking.com.
Getting there
Saltburn train station is a 10-minute walk from the beach. From London, take an LNER service from King's Cross to Darlington (2 hours 30 minutes), then a direct 56-minute train to Saltburn. Driving takes about five hours via the M1 and A1.
Sajjad Motamed, UK Country Manager at Trainline, said: 'Summer adventures start long before families reach their destination. Our booking data shows families are making the most of Britain's brilliant rail-connected attractions this summer.'
