Cleethorpes is a busy seaside town that sits on the estuary of the River Humber. It rose in popularity as a holiday destination during the 1800s and continues to be popular with tourists looking for a seaside resort. There’s plenty to do both on the beach or in the town, so you won’t ever be bored.
History
Humans have occupied the area since approximately the 6th century–although there is evidence of human habitation dating back to the Neolithic and Bronze Age. It was first a fishing village. Its location by the mouth of the River Humber made it a perfect location.
However, in the 1800s coastal UK towns became popular holiday resorts for the emerging middle class. Cleethorpes became a seaside holiday location from the 1820s onward. It was considered the ideal place, with the unspoiled coastline, the pure air, and excellent waters for bathing. In the 1870s they built a pier, and a promenade followed in 1885 for holidaymakers.
Beach
The beach at Cleethorpes is famous, and was named the second best beach in the UK accessible by train by Trainline. There are lots of activities available to enjoy nearby, including kayaking, horse-riding, beachside cafes, and cosy English pubs for enjoying food.
Cleethorpes beach stretches for four and a half miles. It’s a golden sandy beach with football and cricket pitches for visitors, or even a donkey ride. There’s a crazy golf course too, and a train for enjoying the view.
Cleethorpes beach is packed full of adventure, making it the perfect location for a family day out.
Things To Do in Cleethorpes
The list of activities is endless. There’s plenty to see both indoor and outdoor. Whether it’s the cafes or pubs you’re wanting to enjoy, or something a bit more active, you’ll be able to find something to do.
- Enjoy fish and chips–one of the most classic British things to do by the seaside is to enjoy a good old bag of fish and chips lashed with salt and vinegar. Cleethorpes has famous seaside fish and chip shops where you can eat to your heart’s content.
- Take a ride on the Lollipop Road Train–this train links up the North Promenade to the leisure centre of Cleethorpes and is a spot where you can sit back and relax while enjoying the sights and sounds of the seaside. They awarded it a gold award from North East Lincolnshire Tourism Awards for the best attraction experience, so it’s not to be missed. It runs every half hour from the pier during the summer months.
- Visit The Jungle Zoo–one of the newest interactive zoo attractions in the UK. This is an excellent learning experience for children. It’s a small family zoo packed with birds, amphibians, insects, reptiles and more. They pride themselves on being as interactive as possible. Children are given the chance to get up close and personal with the animals. They are open every day from March–September, and on the weekends in October.
- Enjoy a trip on the Cleethorpes Coastal Railway–this has been rated the top tourist attraction in North East Lincolnshire for five years in a row. The Cleethorpes Coastal Railway takes you along three stops, from Kingsway to Humberston. There’s a giftshop, and in the middle shop there’s even a pub called The Signal Box where you can stop in for a pint of beer. They are open from April–October and hold regular annual events, making this an absolute must for visitors.
- Go for a dip at the leisure centre–Cleethorpes boasts a top-class leisure centre with a wave machine and aqua slide, which the kids will enjoy. It’s also a got a fitness and health suite for people who are looking to exercise or take a breather and relax in a sauna. The leisure centre is a family favourite spot, with excellent facilities to keep everyone entertained.
It’s easy to see why Cleethorpes remains such a popular holiday resort to this day. Even now the list of activities is endless, and if it’s bad weather, there’s still plenty going on indoors. When making a trip to Lincolnshire, this busy coastal town is not to be missed.
Pictures: GBC