The Coast is Calling … for Wellness Breaks!

It’s the 400th anniversary of Scarborough becoming Britain’s first seaside resort but also Eric Morecambe’s 100th anniversary and the Jurassic Coast’s 25th birthday – so expect a wave of big celebrations! 

On the North Yorkshire coast, in 2026 Scarborough marks the 400th anniversary of its designation as a spa town and Britain’s first seaside resort. The town's journey as a seaside spa resort began in 1626 with the accidental discovery of mineral spring waters by Mrs Thomasin Farrer, who stumbled upon natural springs bubbling beneath the cliff south of the town which were found to cure minor ailments.  

A wide range of celebrations are planned throughout the year including heritage installations at the site of the original spa, events, art installations and a 10-day festival in mid-July.  

Meanwhile, in Lancashire, Morecambe will celebrate comic legend Eric Morecambe’s 100th birthday (14 May 2026) and the seaside town he was born in and named himself after will celebrate with a series of events and commemorative activities.  

In Dorset, The Jurassic Coast marks its 25th anniversary as a UNESCO World Heritage Site this year. 95 miles long and running between Old Harry Rocks in Dorset and Exmouth in East Devon, it showcases 185 million years of geological history from the Triassic, Jurassic, and Cretaceous periods. Highlights along the route include fossil hunting favourite Lyme Regis, the iconic Durdle Door and Lulworth Cove, and the 18-mile-long Chesil Beach. If you’ve never been, this is the year! 

However, this is also the time for big audacious ambitions and if a healthier you tops the list, read on. 

One trend that shows no sign of slowing down is beachfront saunas. Wellness through heat exposure, cold immersion and connection – seaside saunas amplify the benefits of traditional sauna therapy, the combination of heat and sea air is believed to  enhance the experience and help to promote deep relaxation and reduce stress. 

Still on the Dorset coast, Saltwater Sauna now has three locations, at Avon Beach near Christchurch, on millionaire’s row Sandbanks and Lulworth Cove, one of the most iconic sites on the south coast.  And latest news is that this Spring it will open its flagship, a purpose-built community sauna at Boscombe, Bournemouth. Designed to host 30+ people at a time, the owners Arlene and Sam Glyn-Jones see this as a place for ‘warmth, conversation and restoration overlooking the sea’. 

Saltwater’s other locations offer beautiful wooden, Nordic saunas to accommodate between six and 10 people and feature shower and cold sea plunge with optional thermal leaf whisking experience and guided sauna rituals, guiding bathers into a ‘deeper sense of calm and restoration.’ 

In Kent’s White Cliffs Country, Steam Punk Sauna is a new venture set in Betteshanger Park, near Deal, it seats up to eight people with cold plunge pool.  The sauna and cold plunge at Whitemills Wake & Aqua Park near Sandwich offer open water sessions if sea conditions become too wild. 

A barrel sauna, electric sauna and cold-water plunge barrel feature at Sea Scrub Sauna on Margate Main Sands. While Walpole Bay is a community sauna which resembles a sea bathing machine, it is close to Walpole Bay Tidal Pool which covers four acres and is believed to be the biggest in the UK. If you’d rather stay on dry sand, relieve the stress and strains of daily life with a beach-front yoga or pilates class. From Balanced Body Wellness to Hunky Dory Fitness (Broadstairs), there’s a host of places to master the technique across the Isle. And little beats a sun salutation on the sands soaking up the sea views! 

On the East Yorkshire coast, Happy Seal Yoga offers a variety of classes to refresh body, mind and soul.  Take your pick from peaceful spots in Filey, Caton Bay, Sandsend, Whitby and Scarborough.  Or for surf and turf, have a go at Stand Up Paddleboard Yoga! 

Lingering sunsets, bird murmurations, seal-spotting and spas, whether an escape with a pal or Valentine’s Day surprise - ditch the chocolates and escape to the sea. 

Before we know it, we’ll be in February, which has to be an excuse for a romantic break – Valentines or not! So, plan a break from the central heating with a partner or friend. 

You’ll find beachside lodges, cabins and boutique inns near Saltfleet or Chapel St Leonards on the vast Lincolnshire coast, ideal for wide-open skies, wildlife and coastal walks. 

Head over to Donna Nook to spot grey seals, a host of wading birds and amazing starling murmurations. Or stroll along the sweeping, unspoilt sands of Anderby Creek. Spend another day walking the dunes and quiet paths of Gibraltar Point Nature Reserve and explore the shoreline around Huttoft. With its mudflats, salt and freshwater marshes, the Nature Reserve draws thousands of migrant and over-wintering birds. What’s more it has a great café. 

Not much tops an amazing sunset as a romantic gesture and in a recent social media survey Morecambe Bay topped the list of favourites. Switch on a head torch and head over to Hampsfell just above Grange-over-Sands for unbeatable views, stretching from Skiddaw in the north to Blackpool Tower in the south. 

For something less energetic, Arnside Prom offers a line-up of benches on the pier to enjoy the view plus a host of cosy pubs to retreat to after the sun has set. 

Cumbria’s coast has countless places to enjoy a great sunset, Whitehaven is a popular spot, but if you’re looking for scenic walks, head to St Bees. It’s best known as the start of the Coast to Coast Walk but has an absolutely stunning beach with miles of sands to wander when the tide is out, Hartley’s café is also handy for a warming hot chocolate. 

Spa break? Where else to go than Britain’s first seaside spa town - Scarborough! Check into the Aqua Spa at the Crown Spa Hotel, the town’s only four-star hotel. You’ll find four deluxe treatment rooms plus one double, mud rasuls, ice room, sauna, steam room and more. 

Panoramic views across Scarborough’s North Bay are every reason to relax at the Wellness Spa at Alpamare waterpark. Come here for Turkish baths, hot stone massage, steam baths, saunas and a full range of treatments. Better still, feeling fully rejuvenated, you’re on the edge of the North York Moors for stretching your legs in one of the most scenic Parks in the country. 

On the south coast, Brighton Pavilion is hosting a series of candlelight concerts, promising a multi-sensory experience to awe-inspiring music. Book tickets to hear romantic ballads ranging from Edith Piaf to Lady Gaga and The Righteous Brothers.  

Should you be doing Veganuary for January, there’s no shortage of choice on the coast! 

Brighton’s Curry Leaf has been voted one of the 12 top Indian restaurants in the UK. In addition to a wide range of authentic curries, they have the bonus of award-winning craft beers. Try Purezza for vegan pizza, Lost in the Lanes for all-day vegan breakfast, Burnt Orange for small tasting plates and Nostos in Hove for great Greek food. 

On the Kent coast, Thanet is stacked with vegan and vegetarian options. Margate alone has more than 20 venues. Choose from Thai at Pan Asian, Vietnamese at Thao Thao, plant-based burgers at the Greedy Cow and Japanese at Mori Mori. For fish and chips on the beach, Beach Buoys serves up battered Banana Blossom and chips! 

In Broadstairs there’s Spanish tapas at Albarino, gluten-free sharing plates at Fifteen Square Metres and breakfast and smoothies at Namaka. Vegan tofish fish ‘n’ chips makes it to the menu at Shakey Shakey Fish Bar in Ramsgate, there’s a wide choice of Italian at Alexandra Ristorante and great range too at Perico Lounge. 

The Isle of Wight cuts the food miles by using its excellent local produce. Try the Bay Vegan Deli and Coffee House in Sandown, Cantina in Ventnor for brunch or dinner, vegan burgers and chili at Off the Rails in Yarmouth, what’s more there’s a great dog’s menu and you can hire bikes here after your meal!