Tiny English seaside town reveals huge plans to bring back beloved beach and promenade – and you can even sail to France

A PORT town in the UK has revealed huge plans to become a popular destination for holidaymakers.

Newhaven, in Sussex, is often overlooked by Brits heading to the nearby Brighton or Eastbourne.

This isn’t helped by the closure of the town’s only beach, West Beach, back in 2008 due to safety concerns.

And it could have even been home to the UK’s largest waterpark, following plans in 2012, although these were later shelved.

But new plans hope to revitalise the town, which was once a traditional seaside hotspot.

Local Lib Dem MP James MacCleary said his plans currently include reopening West Beach, a rare sandy beach in Sussex.

He told the : “The beach is a long-running saga – for me politically, and as a resident, I desperately want to get it reopened to the public.”

“We’re just a few steps away. Hopefully we can do that in the coming years.”

Along with the beach, the new plans also include a splash park, play area, outdoor gym and 296m2 restaurant.

Corinne Day, programme director at Newhaven Enterprise Zone (NEZ), said: “As the town’s reputation as a hub for industry, marine and creative businesses grows and it attracts more businesses to the commercial space it offers, having an updated town centre is just one of the factors that will build on its success as we look to transform Newhaven into a major contributor to the Sussex economy by 2030.”

Until then, there are a number of attractions and new additions that are brightening up the town.

This includes 15 huge murals across buildings in Newhaven, as part of the June Look Again Supergraphics Festival.

Now a permanent feature, the most famous is the rainbow Newhaven Cat Wall, which is one of the highest rated attractions in town.

There is also the Paradise Park kids attraction, with outdoor playgrounds, indoor soft play and ‘dinosaur safari’.

For adults there is the Newhaven Fort, a Victorian coastal fortress that has amazing views of the town.

Otherwise there are a number of pubs to visit include The Ark and The Hope Inn, both overlooking the River Ouse.

If you fancy staying, you have a few B&Bs to choose from as well as cheap rooms at the Premier Inn.

Trains to Newhaven take just over an hour from London, although you have to change at Lewes station.

And if you want to go further afield, Newhaven is also known for it’s connections to Europe.

Ferry services between the port town and and Dieppe in France are run by DFDS Seaways and takes around four hours.

While in Newhaven, it’s also worth exploring the nearby Eastbourne which was named one of Conde Nast’s ‘Best Places to Go’ in 2023.

It was even named one of the best towns for a day trip by Time Out as well.

Want to explore some other seaside towns? The Sun’s travel experts have revealed their favourite locations across the UK.