The “postcard in photos” village on the North Yorkshire coast is crowned one of the most hidden gems in England, and it's easy to see why.
Located nine miles north of Whitby between Sandsend and Staithes, Runswick Bay surprised visitors with its “separate” bay, “gorgeous” beaches and “amazing views,” York Press reports.
The charming village on the edge of the North Sea has received a 4.5 out of five ratings on TripAdvisor and is now recognized by outdoor specialist Miribe in the latest travel roundup.
Experts have used Reddit, Tiktok and Travel Riction tips to bring together a list of the UK's top hidden gems and have checked TripAdvisor ratings to highlight the best bunch.
Sam Chadwick, blog author and outdoor enthusiast at Millets, said: “In recent years, we have discovered the benefits of spending time outdoors, as hotspots like Mam Tor and Scafell Pike have become more popular.
And Runswick Bay certainly fits the bill.
Described on the official website as “a photopostcard North Yorkshire coastal village boasting a mile of secluded bays and gorgeous beaches,” the area is popular with fossil hunters, walkers, and even those who want to find dolphins and seals in the waves.
Its sandy beach forms part of the famous coastal road, Cleveland Way. The bay itself is ideal for building sand castles and exploring the rock pool at low tide. Meanwhile, in the tide, the pier offers a great platform for crabs.
“Seals, dolphins and whales are all found in waters. They are great for fishing, especially cod and mackerel,” adds the website.
Visitors have left over 400 passionate reviews on TripAdvisor, many praised and praised the “relaxed” beachfront cafe.
One reviewer wrote: “We walked here from Stays. A lovely walk (straight to the location) with great views.
Another addition: “Absolutely amazing! Worth a walk along the beach, a bit of fossil picking, glass spotting, shell collection. Nice ice cream.”
The third comment stated: “We're here for Easter weekend. We visited a lovely modern cafe on the beachfront, delicious cakes and light chews and drinks. I'm sure the lovely staff and lots of seats will be busy, but we welcome the dog while welcoming us as it's perfectly positioned to have some delicious slices of cake. We previously found some very nice fossils.”
One guest revealed that after seeing the village at the BBC's sea, they were encouraged to visit.
“Archeologist Ben Robinson came here from his program “Sea Village” so he had to come here, and he was not wrong, a beautiful house. I found most of what he showed in his program.
Is there free parking at Runswick Bay?
According to a cottage on the Yorkshire coast, “There are two main parking lots in Runswick Bay.”
“The closest parking lot to the beach is billed throughout spring and summer, but you'll be in right away as there are only 80 spaces. Put your zip code TS13 5HT in Satnaf.
They add: “In busy times, there is a second car park on the top of the hill, a little way from the beach, and it charges for 6 pounds 24 hours a day with over 100 spaces.
Please note that parking fees may vary.
