The UK beach with an 138-year-old attraction voted the best in the country
A 150-YEAR-OLD seaside attraction has received two awards this year and has been named the best beach attraction in the country.
The UK has a rich history when it comes to seaside attractions and one built in the Victorian era is still attracting thousands of people every year, to this day.
Saltburn-by-the-Sea in North Yorkshire has a long stretch of sand and shingle beach that is popular with surfers and walkers, especially in the warm summer months.
One of the key features of Saltburn’s beach is its 138-year-old water-balanced cliff funicular which has been carrying people from the town down to the beach and back up again since it opened in 1884.
The cliff tramway is not only the oldest in Great Britain, but it’s also the best, according to members of the public.
The attraction was voted best seaside experience in the first ever Seaside Heritage Network Bucket and Spade List.
The inaugural top ten was voted for and announced at the Blackpool Winter Gardens earlier this month.
The Saltburn Cliff Tramway took top spot, beating the likes of Blackpool Tower, Morecambe‘s Winter Gardens and Dreamland in Margate.
Dr Kathryn Ferry of the Seaside Heritage Network said the tramway’s nostalgic elements helped secure it top place and that it could help change people’s perceptions about the UK seaside.
She said: “There’s a strong nostalgic element to these finalists but that’s no bad thing, it shows how embedded the seaside holiday and seaside resorts are within our island culture.
“Too often, these towns get a bad press but it’s time to change perceptions and celebrate the joy and entertainment the seaside has brought to generations of Britons.”
It’s not the only award the tramway has picked up this year either, with a TripAdvisor travellers’ choice award placing it among the top 10 per cent of listings on the site.
The review site hands out the Travellers’ Choice awards to accommodations, attractions and restaurants “that consistently earn great reviews from travellers”.
The tramway earned the accolade this year, with hundreds of five-star reviews putting it among the top ten per cent.
One wrote: “A must for anyone visiting Saltburn. It gives you a sense of heritage, amazing views and an experience you can only get in a handful of places across the UK.”
Another added: “Excellent little lift. So good to see Victorian engineering still working and maintained. A great piece of history and ideal way to get down to the pier.”
Deputy leader of Redcar and Cleveland Borough Council, Carrie Richardson, said: “Both awards are a clear recognition of the hard work and dedication of the team who provide a great experience for visitors and how highly regarded this charming seaside attraction is by locals and visitors to the area.”
Unsurprisingly, the tramway is the top thing to do in Saltburn, according to TripAdvisor, with the beach and the pier following close behind in second and third.
However, other places like the Saltburn Valley Gardens, Lockwood Beck and the Saltburn miniature railway show there are other attractions on offer for families and visitors.
Meanwhile, this £13million attraction is opening at a UK seaside town next year.
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