14 of the UK's Finest Beaches for Beach Huts

An icon of the British seaside experience, Beach huts offer a colourful and cozy base from which to enjoy a day at the beach. From the traditional glorified shed on the beach to more modern and luxurious options, the UK boasts some of the best beach huts anywhere, each providing a unique way to enjoy the shore. 

Here's a guide to some of the top beach hut experiences across the nation.

Mudeford Sandbank, Dorset

We'll start with the Mayfair of beach hut postcodes. Mudeford is home to the most expensive beach huts anywhere in the UK. One of Dorset's best beaches, this unspoilt sandy peninsula stretches for around 200 metres towards Christchurch.

If you like the sound of owning a slice of beachfront here you're going to need to have rather deep pockets. Even back in 2021 beach huts were going on the market for well over half a million pounds. Yes, the same price as the average 6 bedroom house for what could be described as a glorified shed!

To be fair the beach huts are quite nice. Measuring around 3 by 5 metres many of the huts have a mezzanine level and can sleep up to six people.

Given there are around 350 huts here you could be forgiven for not realising you were in the midst of some of the UK's most prime real estate.

Wells-next-the-Sea, Norfolk

The beach huts on Norfolk's Wells-next-the-Sea beach are somewhat iconic. Set on stilts and painted in a variety of colours, some with and some without stripes, each hut is unique.

Backed by pine forest and looking out over the sands of one of Norfolk's best beaches these beach huts are particularly idyllic. Given the figures mentioned above you are probably thinking they might be a touch out of your price range. But there's good news - you can hire many of the huts by the day.

Available for single day or multi-day hire between March and the end of October each hut is suitable for up to six people. They come equipped with indoor and outdoor chairs and tables, windbreaks and a selection of beach toys, all for around £65 a day. 

Abersoch, Gwynedd

The sheltered, sandy beach at Abersoch is one of the most popular on the Llyn Peninsula. Known for its safe bathing, sailing scene and the annual jazz festival there are plenty of reasons to visit. To top it off Abersoch beach is a regular recipient of a Blue Flag award.

One of the most recognisable features of the beach here is the row of colourful beach huts which run along the back of the northern end of the beach. Many of these date back to the 1920s when they were used as changing huts to preserve one's modesty. These days the huts are used more as a base for family beach days.

Back in the 1970s you could pick up one of the huts for around £2,500. More recently one of the huts was put on the market for 100 times that price! Quite an ask considering there is no water or electricity. 

Probably the most likely way the rest of us are going to enjoy one of the Abersoch beach huts is by renting one. Many of the huts are available to hire by the day or week.

Mersea Island, Essex

^{Photo: Paul Roberts}

The beach huts at Mersea Island beach are said to be the most instagrammed in the UK. Given their old world charm and pastel-coloured appeal I'm not going to argue with this.

Located on the Essex coast only a few miles from Colchester, it is pretty easy to get to Mersea Island most of the time. The island is connected to the mainland via a road - The Strood. However, on spring high tides the road becomes submerged, effectively cutting the island off.

Provided you safely make it across the Strood you will be rewarded with a sandy beach caressed by the calm, clear sea and backed by a colourful array of literally hundreds of beach huts.

West Mersea is the main stretch of beach on the island and has long been a fairly low-key beach town. You'll find all the traditional necessities close to hand; a cafe, bar and several places to sample the famous local oysters.

To go all out on your traditional beach day why not hire out one of Mersea Island's beach huts. Quite a few are available to hire for the day and come well equipped with seating for up to eight people.

Porthgwidden Beach, St Ives, Cornwall

St Ives is West Cornwall's premiere holiday town and home to a number of beautiful sandy beaches. Less well-known among these, tucked away behind the rugged headland known as "the Island", is Porthgwidden. This sandy little beach is something of a sun trap and is sheltered from the prevailing westerly winds.

Now, beach huts aren't quite as common in Cornwall as some other places. This is probably because anything not made of solid granite doesn't tend to last the winter! However, several of St Ives' beautiful beaches do have beach huts, but not the traditional wooden shed variety. 

The huts at Porthgwidden are a two-storey concrete affair, built into the hillside behind. Officially branded as "beach pods" the spaces are rented out by the week. You can choose whether to have Balcony (upstairs) or Terrace (downstairs) - the former are a bit pricier, presumably because you get your own private patio too.

Attached to the block of beach huts is the top notch Porthgwidden beach cafe providing tasty take-outs and fine dining.

Lyme Regis, Dorset

The pretty town of Lyme Regis ticks all the boxes on the traditional seaside front. This includes a row of pastel coloured wooden beach huts along the main beach. Owned by the Council, these can be rented by the day or the week.

Nice as these huts are, they don't quite match up to the ones a five minute walk along the coast at Monmouth beach. The beach huts here are privately owned and you can actually stay in them (unlike those on the main beach). Featuring mezzanine bedrooms, kitchens and bathrooms these TARDIS-like huts have buckets of charm.

To top it off Monmouth beach is a fantastic spot for fossil hunting. The shore here is littered with rocks containing ammonites and other ancient sea creatures.

West Wittering, Chichester

^{Photo: Ian Capper}

This popular sandy strip is backed by the rolling countryside of the South Downs and looks out over the shallow waters of the Solent. The beach and much of the land around has been privately owned since the 1950s. At the time Butlins were looking to set up a holiday camp on West Sussex's finest beach so a group of locals clubbed together to buy the land to protect it from development.

Today the only notable development are the 161 wooden beach huts that run along the back of the beach. Much sought after, these huts sell for in excess of £100,000. Quite a price considering the huts must not exceed 12x8 feet in size.

If you fancy the idea of renting a beach hut at West Wittering it is possible, but so loved are they by their owners that only a couple are available.

Cromer, Norfolk

The charming little seaside town of Cromer is one of the gems of the Norfolk coast. A popular holiday resort since Victorian times the town is not short on traditional seaside credentials. 

The most obvious feature along Cromer's beachfront is the wonderfully preserved pier. Beyond is a backdrop of winding, olde-worlde streets, all overlooked by the tower of St Peter and St Paul's church - the tallest in Norfolk.

Additional charm comes in the shape of a colourful row of wooden beach huts at either end of the beach. These are owned by North Norfolk District Council and can be rented out by the week or even the year. 

Saunton Sands, North Devon

^{Photo: Kmtextor}

Saunton Sands is a beach so big you could land a large plane on it - and they have done, more than once! Stretching for over 3 miles the expanse of sand is truly vast when the tide goes out.

Much of the length of the beach is backed by the extensive dunes of Braunton Burrows with any crowd rapidly thinning out as you head south. The northern corner is where it's at though, with the surf life-saving club and cafe.

Here you will also find a row of brightly-coloured beach huts which make the ideal base for a day's activities on the beach. The huts are available for hire during the summer, along with deckchairs and windbreaks. 

Boscombe beach, Bournemouth

^{Photo: Henry Burrows}

The stretch of beach between Bournemouth and Boscombe is possibly the most popular in the whole UK. During the summer thousands flock here from far and wide for the seven-mile string of Blue Flag beaches.

Boscombe is a fair bit quieter than Bournemouth's central beach and a touch more laid back, making it ideal for families. There are plenty of facilities close at hand and even a good-sized pier.

To make your day at Boscombe even more enjoyable there are a good number of beach huts along the promenade either side of the pier. Some of these are owned by the council who rent them out for months at a go but a few are available to rent by the day.

You will find that the majority of beach huts don't allow overnight stays, and frankly would be a little on the small side anyway. If you do fancy an overnight stay though, the answer lies just east of the pier; the Bournemouth Beach Lodges are basically oversized beach huts fitted out with kitchens, bathrooms and beds. Set just far enough back from the promenade these "beach pods" offer the perfect stay for beach-lovers.

Southwold Beach, East Suffolk

Regarded as one of the UK's finest seaside towns, Southwold is everything you would expect. A Victorian pier, quirky shops and a lovely stretch of sand and shingle. Of course, no respectable seaside town would be complete without a few beach huts, and Southwold comes up trumps here.

Situated along the promenade that stretches from Southwold Pier to Gun Hill, the beach huts face the North Sea, offering stunning views and handy base for a day at this popular beach.

These traditional wooden huts have often passed down through generations, but on occasion have sold for eye watering sums of money. The pride among their owners can be seen at the annual Southwold Beach Hut Owners Association competition, where owners decorate their huts. This not only includes the vibrant paintwork but the interiors which are personalised to create a homely, comfy space. 

Whilst most of Southwold's beach huts are used by their owners, a handful are available for rent, usually by the day or by the week.

Tankerton Beach, Kent

Just around the corner from Whitstable is the quieter, more laid back beach of Tankerton. Whilst the beach here might play second fiddle to its more bustling neighbour, the same can't be said about its beach huts. Such a great spot, there isn't just one row of huts, but four on the gently sloping grass bank.

Whitstable does have one claim over Tankerton in the beach hut stakes though. It was home to the beach hut owned by artist Tracey Emin which itself became a piece of art when it was bought by the Saatchi Gallery for £75,000 back in 2000. The hut was destroyed in a warehouse fire a few years later.

The beach huts in Tankerton ooze traditional charm and there is an immense amount of pride put into their upkeep. Quite iconic, they are something of a photographer's favourite. Along with frequent stunning sunsets and sunrises Tankerton's beach huts are highly instagrammable. 

Sutton on Sea, Lincolnshire

The low-key seaside town of Sutton-on-Sea lies on a somewhat overlooked stretch of the Lincolnshire coast. Although it is neighbouring Mablethorpe beach which attracts the crowds the stretch of sand at Sutton on Sea is more than equal.

The Blue Flag beach here features around half a mile of golden sand and there are is no shortage of traditional seaside charm. In keeping with this you won't be surprised to find a string of colourful wooden beach huts lining the beachfront.

Sometimes referred to as "beach chalets" the huts at Sutton on Sea appear to be something of a bargain compared to other locations. One was recently listed on Rightmove for a meer £28,000 - not too bad for prime beachfront property!

For those looking to just spend a day at the beach you can rent a hut for a very reasonable £20.