Let's Go to the Beach! 让我们到海边去

Most visitors to the UK come here expecting the rain andmiserable weatherfor which the country is famous.
However, when summer finally does arrive, the British people like nothing more than packing theirtrunksandswimming costumesand heading for the coast.

The UK is, after all, an island, and with 12,400km of coastline to explore any visitor to the UK will bespoilt for choice.

Here are some of the more famousresortsthat you could expect to visit on a trip to Britain.

Blackpool, in the north-west of England, is the most visited resort¹ in the UK. Each year around 6.5 to 7 million people come to enjoy the miles ofsandy beaches, the 158m Blackpool Tower and the 11km-long Golden Mile, where there are entertainments, pubs,ice rinksand even a zoo. A firm family favourite, it has also become a popular destination forstag and hen parties.

At the other end of the country on the south coast you can find Brighton. Until 1786, Brighton was asleepy village. Then the future king George IV decided² to build a residence³ there, and over the years Brighton grew into the large, cosmopolitan⁴ centre it is now.

Apart from the beaches, Brighton is famous for itspier. On the pier⁵ there are theatres, entertainments and restaurants. Brighton is also fantastic for shopping.

If you fancy⁶ travelling a little further, why not go to Cornwall in the far south west of the UK? South Cornwall offers miles of sandy beaches and beautifulscenery. The climate here is warmer than the rest of Britain and you can even findpalm trees.

For a bit more excitement, go to north Cornwall. The scenery here is more dramatic⁷, and the beaches are famous for their powerfulwaves. As a result, North Cornwall has become the home of Britishsurfing.

Oneword of warningthough, if you are using the roads in the UK onbank holidaysor during school holidays, you can expect longtraffic jamson themotorways. It might be better to take the train.