What’s new on England's coast for 2024?

Join locals in a walking festival, star gaze with the experts or cool off in the sea on the King Charles III England Coast Path – whatever you plan, have fun outdoors! 

Blackpool: New entertainment venue on Blackpool’s seafront – opening March
Blackpool’s seafront Showtown is a brand new all-singing, all-dancing entertainment museum showcasing the dancers, comedians and entertainers who’ve showered the resort in glittering showbiz glory. Tickets are on sale now, opening date is 15 March 2024. 

Nearby Liverpool boasts the opening of BOXPARK, the first outside London. Expect world-class street food, an inspiring range of drinks and an eclectic line up of events, including sports screenings, parties and art and culture. Opening date tbc.

Cumbria: New coastal activity centre – opening late Summer 2024  
The Edge will be a new multi-purpose activity centre opening in Whitehaven in late Summer 2024, with opportunities for you to get out on the water, explore bike and hike trails and immerse yourself in the stunning scenery. 

North Yorkshire: Dark Skies Festival in February and Autumn  
Not much beats the thrill of dark sky gazing: head to the North York Moors National Park where the night skies are mesmerising. Its Dark Skies Festival in February and October-November are the perfect tonic for a winter’s night. New this year is a permanent Constellation Rubbing Trail at Danby Lodge National, happening on 22 November. Explore the grounds at this drop-in event, find constellation rubbing plaques and discover 10 different hidden constellations! 

Plymouth: New electronic music event in May, 200th anniversary of The Royal Navy and exciting arts and culture events  
Plymouth sees the arrival of a new electronic music event: ALIVE will draw together some of the world’s biggest dance artists on stage at the Home Park Stadium, 25 May 2024. Marking a new era for electronic music in the south west, ALIVE will feature some of the biggest DJs and artists, and low-cost tickets will be available to make this major new festival affordable for all. 

2024 is also the 200th anniversary of The Royal Navy at Devonport, Plymouth. Its Heritage Centre is to reopen on 20 March after a shiny new refurbishment. Explore the relationship of Devonport with the Royal Navy, Dockyard and the people of this waterfront city. 

The Box in Plymouth has also unveiled an ambitious programme for 2024 with a focus on climate change. Visit Planet Ocean, works by JMW Turner and major collaborations with the National Portrait Gallery and National Gallery. 

Whether for half-term entertainment, a romantic escape or longer exploratory break, from immersive experiences to checking into an eco-hotel, the coast has it covered.

Isle of Wight: Walking Festival 25th anniversary in Spring & Autumn and Albion Hotel refurbishment 
Spring 2024 marks the 25th anniversary of the Isle of Wight’s Walking Festival, from 11th to 19th May. Run by volunteers, this is a great opportunity to meet the locals and join other visitors; in 2016 a speed-dating walk resulted in numerous weddings and babies! And if you can’t make it in spring, there’s another walking festival in autumn. 

If you’re planning a visit to the Isle, The Albion Hotel at Freshwater is undergoing a multi-million pound refurbishment following new ownership, expected to open in May.  

Thanet: New Lancaster flight experience in Margate, and the 10th anniversary of the Ramsgate Tunnels  
Margate offers a unique new Lancaster experience at the Spitfire and Hurricane Memorial Museum, Manston. Book a 30-minute ‘flight’ and sit with an instructor in a replica Avro Lancaster cockpit, fire-up four Merlin engines, the roaring sound pumped into the cockpit on this simulated flight, the only fully functioning Lancaster cockpit that can be flown as a simulator. Flights can be booked from early 2024. 

2024 is also the 10th anniversary of the reopening of the Ramsgate Tunnels. To celebrate, a wave of events is planned for the year including the History month of May, volunteer talks using the Tunnel’s archives in June, and Explorer Tours running year-round. 

West Sussex: New Coast Path sections opening, walking itineraries and cold water swims  
The Coast Path in West Sussex has taken another step forward, this largely open coastal plain route takes in wide beaches, seaside resorts and nature reserves teeming with birds. To make walking easier, Experience West Sussex have highlighted a number of walks of different lengths, including Pier to Pier from Bognor Regis to Littlehampton (approx 2.5 hours), and Estuary Southwick to Arun Rivermouth (approx. 6 hours).  

If you fancy a sea dip while on this new Coast Path stretch, winter sea dips can be had with Bluetits Chill Swimmers in Worthing, Littlehampton, Bognor Regis, Selsey and Bracklesham Bay. To warm up, head to Horsebox saunas available at The Nomadic Sauna, Kingston Beach, Southwick and Fire Salt and Sea Saunas on Worthing beach. 

Looking for a cool coastal stay while exploring this new Coast Path stretch? 

Try the new Eco Sleep Hotel in Worthing, powered entirely by electricity with online concierge and light and heating sensors to conserve energy.  Alternatively, check-out the cool East Beach Guest House, Littlehampton, Beachhut Hotel Felpham or The Coast Yard – Selsey.  

National roll-out of the King Charles III Coast Path 
Throughout 2024, new sections of the King Charles III Coast Path will be rolled out. One of the newest is the 33-mile path from Gretna to Allonby in Cumbria, revealing new stretches of this remote and beautiful north west coast for the first time.