The UK's best beaches: Norfolk, Cornwall, Blackpool and Northumberland

If you’re looking for something a little bit quieter than Brighton beach this summer - somewhere to really relax and get away from the world - then read on because we have a UK beach to suit everyone. Sure, the scorching hot weather may be over (thank goodness). But there's nothing better than heading out on the last few days of summer to enjoy the sunsets and light evenings before winter sets in.

For those seeking solace, pack your bags and head to Holkham Beach in Norfolk. The sand stretches for three miles and is backed by a pine forest making it the perfect secluded getaway. This is one of the few beaches in the country that welcomes horses and dog onto its sandy terrain. If you’re not then no worries, there's plenty of room to keep your distance. If it's good enough for the Queen to walk her corgis, it's worth checking out.

For those who are looking to get a bit of an adrenaline buzz, Fistral Beach in Cornwall may be what you are looking for. Home to the famous Boardmasters Festival, it is well known for it’s brilliant waves and it attracts surfers of all abilities all year round. With its own highly recommended surf school it doesn’t even matter if you aren’t sure about surfing because they are on hand to help you with group and private lessons on offer. Of course if giving the sport a go isn’t quite your thing, timing your visit in with the festival in August means you can enjoy the excitement and adrenaline buzz of simply watching the surfing competition unfold across the beach.

I don’t think it is possible for Blackpool to be excluded from this list. The beach is lined with rollercoasters, arcades, ice cream stalls and of course the donkeys offering rides across the sand. Blackpool is one of the few beaches that has continued to offer a really old-fashioned British holiday.

Sometimes though we are all just looking for something really different, something a little bit haunting and yet still breathtakingly beautiful. If this is the case for you, Holy Island in Northumberland really is the place to head to. If you’re in a reflective mood it is ideal as the beach is cut off from the mainland twice a day due to the tide, leaving you feeling as though you are in another world. The island hosts a vast array of wildlife including grey seals and rare birds, Lindisfarne castle juts out at the tip of the island and the stunning ruins of Lindisfarne Priory still stand and stretch up towards the sky; giving you plenty to explore.

So really it is up to you! Whether you are looking for a quiet getaway, a weekend of surfing, a really British holiday or the opportunity to step into another world all together; England really does have an option for you. And as no place in England is further than two hours away from a beach, chances are there must be something close by for you that you haven’t even considered before.

By Shannon Clark