Sitting at the junction of the River Mersey and the Irish Sea, Liverpool is a proud Maritime Mercantile city with a fascinating history. One of the world’s major trading centres in the 18th and 19th centuries, Liverpool’s geographical location made it the primary port for the movement of goods to and from North America.

Brighton has been a popular tourist destination for longer than you might expect; ever since the Regency period, visitors have flocked to the seaside city to party, shop, and enjoy the delights of the beach and sea air. And tourism has only continued to grow in recent years, with an estimated 11 million visitors to the city in 2018.

Brighton, with its famous pier and fabulous Royal Pavilion, is certainly the most well-known of the towns on the Sussex Coast, but some of its more unassuming neighbours are starting to make a name for themselves in their own right. Here, we have a look at the 5 towns that are leading the pack in the race to become the next hot destination by the sea.

Who doesn’t want to live near the water? From Discovery Bay in Hong Kong to Chelsea Harbour, London. The V&A Waterfront in Cape Town, or Malibu, California. There is an almost innate attraction to undulating waves and open expanses of water.

Say the name Brighton to any English person and, guaranteed, a smile will come to their face as they recall a weekend of fun and frivolity spent in the city at some point in their youth.