Underrated and beautiful seaside town that boasts the UK's cheapest parking

Picture of people on Hornsea beach
-Credit: (Image: Peter Harbour)


A trip to the seaside is the perfect way to spend a sunny day - but new data shows Brits driving to the coast could be paying huge amounts for the pleasure.

Motorscancar has revealed a list of the cheapest - and the most expensive - parking at seaside spots around the country. The data shows that one of the UK's most popular destinations, Brighton, charges a whopping £24.21 for an eight-hour stay in their car park. Newquay and Falmouth are not far behind, charging an average of £12 to beach goers arriving by car.

However, there are many places with great seaside locations in the country that don't charge an arm and a leg for parking. Hornsea in East Yorkshire is home to a pretty sandy beach and plenty of attractions and amusements, perfect for a family day out. It tops the list for inexpensive charges, with an average fee of just £1.98 for a full eight hours of parking.

Fife, in Scotland, came in at a close second, asking for an average of only £2.27 if you want to leave your car their for the day while you explore the local fishing villages and beauty spots. Northern Ireland's Portrush is known for its breath-taking beaches and good surfing swell and takes third place, charging £3.47 for eight hours.

Oliver Thompson, head of vehicle intelligence at Motorscan, said: "Brighton's staggering average parking fee of £24.21 tops the charts, highlighting the financial strain families may face when planning beach outings. On the contrary, Hornsea emerges as a beacon of affordability, offering seaside parking at just £1.98 on average." Here are the top 10 cheapest seaside parking spots."

Seaside towns with the cheapest parking

  1. Hornsea

  2. Fife

  3. Portrush

  4. Morecambe

  5. Bridlington

  6. Burnham-on-Sea

  7. Dover

  8. Tenby

  9. Colwyn Bay

  10. Filey