Which? readers have cast their votes and only one Northern Ireland seaside town made the cut – and it might surprise you
Portstewart has been named Northern Ireland’s best seaside town, beating well-known coastal favourites to a place on the Which? list.
The County Derry town was the only Northern Ireland destination to feature among the best, ahead of Portrush, Newcastle and Ballycastle. Each year, Which? readers vote for their favourite coastal destinations across the UK. Bognor Regis finished bottom for the second year running, with visitors criticising high prices and its run-down condition. No Northern Ireland town appeared in the bottom 30, in a sign of how beautiful much of the County Antrim coast is.
The jewel in the extensive crown of NI’s coastline is Portstewart, and it has plenty to offer anyone planning a seaside trip. Its main draw is Portstewart Strand, a two-mile Blue Flag beach managed by the National Trust and backed by an extensive dune system. Visitors can drive onto the sand, a distinctive feature that can make beach days easier for families with young children or plenty of equipment. Swimming, surfing and paddleboarding are among the attractions, while the dunes offer another way to explore this stretch of the Causeway Coast.
“Another interesting walk takes you along the beach to lifebuoy station 10, and then into the sand dunes where you’ll discover a different world. On a windy day the dunes are a welcome haven! Carry on through the dunes and you come to the edge of the River Bann. Follow the river towards the sea and you arrive back at the beach by the Barmouth. Then trek back along the 2-mile beach for a well-deserved drink at Harry’s Shack,” writes Northern Ireland Holidays.
Beyond the beach, the Promenade retains its Victorian seafront character, with cafes, ice cream parlours and sweeping sea views. It becomes a lively meeting place during the summer months, with Morelli’s among its best-known stops. The long-established ice cream parlour has been serving residents and visitors on the Prom since the early 1900s.
Golfers can choose from three courses at Portstewart Golf Club, including a championship links course along the shoreline. Royal Portrush is also a short journey away. For arts and culture, Flowerfield Arts Centre hosts exhibitions and events throughout the year. Housed in a Victorian mansion, it was Northern Ireland’s first centre of its kind.
The Times Travel r ecently called Portstewart the best seaside town in the UK. The publication wrote: “The promenade is still delightful, beginning at the harbour, opposite the café/deli Born & Bread, and passing between the rocky shore and a busy strip of seafront shops. Yes, you’ll find a chippy, Sheila’s souvenir shop and two ice cream parlours (Morelli’s and Roughans: the latter was the first I’d seen selling Dubai Chocolate flavour), but there is also a shoe shop, a kitchenware store and a furniture retailer. And perhaps that’s the secret: this may be a seaside resort but the promenade is also a busy high street that’s not dependent on seasonal business to pay the bills.
“There’s a butcher and a baker, then a fork off the prom leads to the Crescent, where there’s an outdoor play area with a boating lake, paddling pools, a kart track, dancing fountains and a bandstand. There’s a candlestick maker somewhere too, I was told, but I couldn’t find it. If it’s there, then Portstewart truly has it all.”
Portstewart also makes a useful base for exploring the wider coastline, with the Giant’s Causeway, Carrick-a-Rede rope bridge, Dunluce Castle and Mussenden Temple all within reach. Nearby Game of Thrones filming locations have also drawn fans to the area for years.
The town faces strong competition from its coastal neighbours. Portrush, in County Antrim, sits on a rugged peninsula with three sweeping sandy beaches. Newcastle, in County Down, combines seaside walks with access to trails in the Mourne Mountains.
Ballycastle, also in County Antrim, is a historic market town with a Blue Flag beach and a traditional harbour, and regularly features among the best places to live.
But it was Portstewart that secured Northern Ireland’s place among the Which? favourites. Quieter than neighbouring Portrush, it offers a more relaxed base for visitors keen to explore the coast away from the busiest tourist spots.

You must be logged in to post a comment Login