Under 2 Hours From York Is England's Coastal Town With Beaches, Victorian Charm, And Ocean Views

The word "Saltburn" might put you in mind of director Emerald Fennell's 2023 comedy-thriller film, but long before Barry Keoghan and Jacob Elordi were roaming around a palatial estate onscreen, there was another Saltburn on the scene: namely, northern England's adorable coastal town that's been referred to by Country Living as "Yorkshire's answer to St. Ives." Like its Cornish counterpart, Saltburn-by-the-Sea (commonly referred to simply as Saltburn) boasts gorgeous stretches of  coastline and Victorian seaside charm. 

The town dates back to the 1700s, when it was a fishing village notorious for smugglers. Later, in the Victorian era, it became a popular beach destination for train travelers. Today, Saltburn retains traces of its historic past with a contemporary cultural scene (not to mention the beaches and sea views), making it well worth a visit.

Getting here is easy: Saltburn is just under 90 minutes by car from York. And if you're arriving by rail, it's not much longer. The TransPennine Express train takes you there in under two hours. From London, it's under three and a half hours by rail. This offbeat seaside hamlet makes for a feasible getaway from the Big Smoke and an accessible add-on to your next trip to the United Kingdom. Once you arrive at this North Yorkshire escape, choose from hotels and inns to sweet holiday cottage rentals. But before you travel across the pond, make sure you're aware of Rick Steves' list of big ways Brexit impacts your United Kingdom vacation.

Much like Scarborough, Saltburn is a beautiful seaside town with beaches. With a mix of sand and shingle, the Seaside Award-winning Saltburn Beach runs from the neighboring coastal town of Redcar to the Ship Inn pub in Saltburn. Visitors praise this clean, family-friendly beach. You won't want to miss the beach's iconic landmark: a striking 200-meter pier dating back to the Victorian era. In the other direction, the town sits atop dramatic cliffs,  giving a cinematic character no matter where you're facing. 

Take a walk (or a dog walk, but know before you go that during the months of May through September, certain marked areas of the beach are designated as dog-free zones) along the beach's scenic expanse, hunt for fossils, opt for a hair-raising dip in the perennially chilly North Sea, or simply sit on the beach and relax. 

Or, if you're feeling adventurous, Saltburn Beach has multiple year-round surf breaks for beginner and more advanced surfers. Want a lesson to brush up on your skills? Head to the Saltburn Surf School to rent a board and learn to boogie board, windsurf, and surf ski.

Besides the historic pier, a Grade II listed structure built in 1869 and the Yorkshire coast's only pier still standing today, Saltburn offers other charming Victorian relics. The Saltburn Cliff Tramway, which was built in 1884 in order to link the town of Saltburn with the pier and beach at the bottom of the cliffside. To this day, an excursion on the tramway is a practical journey to get you down to the promenade and pier from the heart of town — but this funicular is also a fun and unique experience that offers a dose of living history, as the tramway's carriages' elaborate Victorian-era aesthetic has been preserved. 

And you won't want to skip the Italian Gardens, a scenic Victorian-era garden that's at its best in the warmer months when it becomes verdant and full of blooms. This serene, carefully maintained site lies within the larger Saltburn Valley Gardens. Built in 1860 by the Saltburn Improvement Company,it boasts walking paths, thoughtfully designed landscaping, ornamental touches, and sea views. 

This public park was Troublingly, these charming historic gardens have fallen into disrepair in recent years, the Guardian reports — with the Saltburn Valley Gardens appearing on an at-risk register from Historic England. Nevertheless, one recent Google Reviewer notes that the Italian Gardens remain a "peaceful place to walk." If you're eager to continue your U.K. travels to another coastal town with beaches and a quaint pier, head to Eastbourne, situated between Portsmouth and Margate on England's south coast.