British Seaside
Vintage colour photos of British seaside towns and beaches from the 1950s to the 1980s, capturing coastal life and holiday culture during the post-war and late-20th-century decades. Taken on colour film, these images document resorts, promenades, beaches, and everyday activity along Britain’s coastline at a time when domestic seaside holidays were at their peak.
This collection includes views of seaside streets, piers, promenades, beaches, amusement arcades, shops, signage, crowds, and coastal scenery, reflecting the character of British seaside towns during the second half of the 20th century. From popular holiday resorts to quieter coastal communities, the photographs preserve a detailed visual record of seaside life before later changes in travel, tourism, and redevelopment reshaped many resorts.
All images are available as high-resolution, royalty-free digital downloads suitable for editorial, commercial, or personal use.
-

Royal Parade, Ramsgate, Kent 1963
-

Seaburn Beach, Sunderland 1964
-

Seaburn Beach, Sunderland 1964
-

Seafront and Marine Parade, Lyme Regis, Dorset 1959
-

Seafront paddling pool, Brighton 1950s
-

Seafront Paddling Pool, Brighton 1980s
-

Sennen Cove, Cornwall 1997
-

Shanklin beach, Isle of Wight 1961
-

Shanklin Esplanade, Isle of Wight 1964
-

Shanklin Esplanade, Isle of Wight, 1961
-

Shanklin Pier, Isle of Wight 1969
-

Shanklin, Isle of Wight 1964
-

Sidmouth beach, Devon 1982
-

Sidmouth beach, Devon 1982
-

Sidmouth beach, Devon 1982
-

Sidmouth, Devon 1971
-

Sidmouth, Devon 1977
-

South Bay, Scarborough 1986
-

South Bay, Scarborough, North Yorkshire, 1963
-

South Bay, Scarborough, North Yorkshire, 1963
-

South Bay, Scarborough, North Yorkshire, 1964
-

South Beach, Lowestoft 1970s
-

Southend-on-Sea Illuminations, Essex, 1963
-

Southend-on-Sea Illuminations, Essex, 1963
-

Southend-on-Sea Illuminations, Essex, 1963
-

Southend-on-Sea Illuminations, Essex, 1963
-

Southend-on-Sea Illuminations, Essex, 1963
-

Southend-on-Sea Illuminations, Essex, 1963
-

Southend-on-Sea Illuminations, Essex, 1963
-

Southend-on-Sea Pier, Essex, 1960s
-

St Ives Harbour and Townscape, Cornwall 1950s
-

Summerleaze Beach, Bude, Cornwall, 1960s
-

Tenby Harbour, Wales 1977
-

The Beach Club, Hayling Island 1972
-

The Bloater Depot, Great Yarmouth 1968
-

The Esplanade, Seaton, Devon 1959
-

The Rock Shop, Hastings 1980s
-

The Sun Deck, Margate, Kent 1971
-

Tolcarne Beach Crazy Golf, Newquay 1977
-

Tolcarne Beach, Newquay 1977
-

Ventnor, Isle of Wight 1960s
-

Ventnor, Isle of Wight 1961
-

Ventnor, Isle of Wight 1964
-

View from Blackpool Tower 1967
-

View from East Cliff Lift, Bournemouth 1956
-

View from the Grand Hotel, Llandudno 1971
-

Visitors at Alum Bay, Isle of Wight, 1964
-

Visitors at Babbacombe Clifftop, Devon, 1962
-

Volk’s Electric Railway, Brighton 1971
-

West Pier & Beach, Brighton 1971
-

West Pier and beach, Brighton, East Sussex, 1960s
-

West Pier Boating Lake, Brighton 1980s
-

West Pier, Brighton 1972
-

Weston Super Mare beach, Somerset 1967
