All eyes are on the UK's coastline this summer, as Brits look for more affordable holidays, and the opening of the King Charles III Coastal Path has allowed for the entire coasts of the UK to be walkable - and therefore easily explorable.
With this in mind, Brits are in search of the hotspots to uncover, with beautiful beaches to bask in the sun and hidden gem activities, cafes, shops and landmarks to add to their explorer lists.
Ranking at number one on Time Out's list of the best UK seaside towns to visit in 2026 is this underrated Welsh location in Pembrokshire, known as Saundersfoot. Beating the likes of St Ives, Folkestone and Brighton, it's clear the seaside destination is having a real moment in the spotlight this summer.
Nestled between the two beloved neighbouring towns of Tenby and Armoth, the town is loved for its huge stretch of sand and bustling harbour, offering the ideal escape from city life.
Around a two-hour drive away from Cardiff and even closer to Swansea, it doesn't require a long journey for those wanting to take a break from the chaos of the cities and enter a state of calm.
Saundersfoot has what TimeOut described as "one of the most gorgeous beaches of any British seaside resort". It's a stunning stretch of sand, with a Blue Flag status sitting directly in front of the village and so acts as the real hub and meetup spot for visitors and tourists alike.
What most people don't know, however, is that away from the popular spot, a short stroll east is a more peaceful spot, framed by rock pools and luscious green headlands. The old tramway in the town runs along the top of the beach and offers a series of tunnels towards Saundersfoot.
Writing about Saundersfoot beach, a visitor shared on TripAdvisor: "Lovely beach to walk on, very clean and close to the town with shops and cafes literally just a street over. It's also very close to the harbour, so it's nice to see the boats."
Another shared: "When the tide is out, this is dog heaven! I've seen sea cucumbers, muscles, jelly fish and razor clams on the beach, loads of walking space, really quiet and a massive area to walk in."
The harbour was first granted permission to be built in 1829, allowing for the export of coal from mines across Wales, and it has only gone on to grow from there.
Now it acts as the real heart of the town and a venue which hosts a number of outdoor events such as concerts and markets and a site where numerous businesses operate. Visitors can expect to see the harbour accommodating private moorings, pleasure boats for seasonal tourism, and small fishing charters.
Visitors have dubbed it as "The best location in Saundersfoot", and others have even opted to stay in one of the rooms on the water available through Harbour Stays.
A review claimed: "On the way from Swansea to Tenby we made a short stopover at Saundersfoot Harbour. The small port is quite beautiful and worth seeing."
With a number of traditional pubs, the town has a certain buzz to it in the summer months, alongside a load of bistros, restaurants and cafes adding to the atmosphere. Along the harbour is Mamgu’s Welshcakes, which got its own shout-out from TimeOut, offering traditional bakes that are a fan favourite with visitors, enjoyed with panoramic sea views.
Although ranked as the number one restaurant on TripAdvisor, The Royal Oak is the perfect place to relax with a beer and some live music on a weekend. Established in 1837, this traditional pub is steeped in Welsh history and serves up an array of tasty pub grub and fresh seafood by the sea itself.
Although as far as seafood goes, The Stone Crab is a firm stronghold in the coastal town with hundreds of rave reviews.
One of them states: "To be brief: this is the best restaurant in Saundersfoot, the best fish restaurant in Wales (probably) and the one restaurant which I would like to pick up and move a lot closer to home. You can order anything and know it will be perfectly cooked and served."
