Known as the gateway to the Farne Islands, this humble Northumberland village offers unique access to wildlife and dune-filled beaches. It is also home to one of the best fish and chip spots in the UK.
This fishing village is home to a busy harbour and some of the best fish-and-chip takeaways in Northumberland. Tucked away in the region’s rugged coastline, it is often overshadowed by more well-known neighbouring destinations. But for travellers in the know, this village is worth a detour.
The village of Seahouses is just an hour’s drive from Newcastle city centre, just up the A1 and across the coast. But with destinations like Amble, Alnmouth, Craster and the famous filming location of Bamburgh not too far, travellers unjustly overlook this charming fishing town for beachier hotspots.
Seahouses certainly makes for a great base for exploring Northumberland’s coastline, and is considered a gateway to the Farne Islands nearby. Taking one of the convenient boat trips from Seahouses out to the island allows travellers to see puffins, grey seal colonies and a wealth of wildlife year round.
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The village now known as Seahouses was originally named North Sunderland and was about a mile inland from the sea. That was until a fishing community was established by the sea, consisting of small cottages or ‘sea houses’.
When the introduction of the railway brought more tourists by the sea, the entire community came to be known as Seahouses. That said, travellers will find that some village locals still differentiate between North Sunderland, which maintains its own character.
One of the distinguishing features of Seahouses is its stunning beaches. The two main beaches are located on the north and south of the village and harbour.
St. Aidan’s Dunes is on the north, offering a large sandy expanse that is also connected to the famous Bamburgh Beach. From here, travellers can enjoy incredible views of the Farne Islands and Bamburgh Castle.
A smaller beach can be found south of the village, which stretches from the Seahouses golf course to the village of Beadnell. Both beaches are popular with tourists and locals alike, though rock pool explorers may be more drawn to the north side.
The village has been gaining steady popularity since it was featured on BBC’s Villages by the Sea in 2024. It has also begun to stand out for its impressive offering of a classic British dish. The Times rated the Seahouses staple, Lewis’, as one of the best fish and chip shops in the country in both 2022 and 2023.
The Times’ critic Chris Haslam wrote in his review: “I asked 11 dog walkers on Beadnell and St Aidan’s beaches to nominate the best chippy in the district. Three of them turned out to be tourists, but among the remaining eight, opinion was split down the middle between Neptune and Lewis’s, 70m apart on Main Street, Seahouses.”
While Seahouses is certainly worth a trip in its own right, if you are in the area it is still including a trip to Bamburgh on your itinerary. The Northumberland town was named one of the best seaside towns in the UK four years in a row by consumer champion, Which.
Beating out 120 UK towns and villages for the top spot, Bamburgh’s unspoilt beaches and iconic castle make it a consistent staycation hub. Part of its appeal is that it is easy to access by train and plane given its proximity to Newcastle airport and the Chathill train station. The same goes for Seahouses.