Boy and girl (8-10) playing on beach, girl pouring water into hole

Planning a beach holiday this year? Perhaps you’re contemplating sunny Spain, or a cruise to the Caribbean, but there’s no need to go so far afield. Why not save some money – and help to beat global warming – by holidaying in East Anglia? We have some of the best beaches right here, whatever type of holiday you’re looking for…

Best for… swimming

Three Shells Beach at Southend On Sea in Essex has a Quality Coastal Award for cleanliness, and is a Blue Flag winner, so the water won’t disappoint – and the small beach is valeted daily by the local trade association. There are also showers for rinsing off after a dip, and a children’s play area. There are plenty of other attractions nearby, too, such as arcades, mini golf, and a Sea Life Adventure Centre, and close by is Southend pier.

Visit essextouristguide.com/essex-beaches

Best for… wildlife

Fancy yourself as the next David Attenborough? The beach at Blakeney in Norfolk is covered with salt marshes, vegetated shingle, fresh water grazing sites, reedbeds and sand dunes - perfect habitats for a huge variety of wildlife and a great place for spotting them. The beach is protected by the National Trust and is an internationally important breeding area for sea-bird colonies. There’s a breeding and haul-out site for grey and common seals at Blakeney Point – boat trips visit from the harbour in the medieval village of Blakeney, which has plenty of restaurants, tearooms, inns and pubs to visit. And right next door is the RSPB reserve at Cley next the Sea.

Visit blakeneyonline.co.uk

Best for… sand castles

One of the most important parts of a beachside holiday is the ability to make sensational sandcastles, and Lowestoft, in Suffolk is perfect, with soft, sandy beaches, considered to be among the best in Europe. At the town’s north end there’s a peaceful spot with fine sand, cliffs and sand dunes, and the award-winning South Beach is hugely popular with families. When the children get bored of building sandcastles, they can enjoy the variety of entertainment along South Pier and Claremont Pier, visit the seafront gardens or even go rollerskating.

Visit visit-sunrisecoast.co.uk

Best for… families

One ever-present worry for parents on the beach is that the children might get lost among the numerous people, games and fun. At West Beach, Clacton-on-Sea in Essex, young children are provided with coloured coded wrist bands to help reunite them with parents if they should get lost. In 2010 the scheme helped bring 89 missing children back to their relieved parents. The beach is mostly sandy, and other attractions in the area include Clacton pier with fairground and a theatre providing traditional seaside entertainment. Over the August bank holiday there’s even an air show.

Visit clacton-on-sea-essex.co.uk

Best for… surfing

You don’t have to go all the way to Cornwall to get on your board - Cromer in Norfolk is one of the best beaches for surfing and surf lessons in East Anglia, with excellent wind conditions and protection provided by the pier. The water is good for swimming, too. Additional attractions at Cromer include shops, pubs and restaurants and the traditional pier with Pavilion Theatre. Boats are launched from the harbour and can also be seen bringing in the renowned Cromer crabs.

Visit visitnorfolk.co.uk/explore-norfolk/cromer

Best for… a traditional beach holiday

Southwold in Suffolk is the exact image of a traditional English beach town, with working lighthouse, brightly painted beach houses, lots of independent shops, pubs, restaurants and tearooms, an award winning pier, and a busy harbour. It’s the ideal destination for anyone looking to experience a truly traditional English summer. There is (of course) a lovely sand and shingle beach with the water quality deemed ‘excellent’ by the Good Beach Guide 2011.

Visit exploresouthwold.co.uk

Best for… dogs

Tired of looking turning up at the beach with your faithful four-legged friend, only to be greeted by signs saying, ‘No dogs allowed’ or ‘Keep dogs on leads from 1 May to 30 September’? If so, head for Wells Next The Sea where Fido can roam free all year round. You must keep your dog on a lead in the car park, for obvious reasons, but once the vast beach is reached, or the pine wood forest between car park and beach, they may run to their heart’s content. Other features of the beach include sand dunes and beach huts. There’s a small café and toilets in the car park, you can go crabbing on the harbour and in the town there’s fish and chips and various local shops.

Visit wells-guide.co.uk