Cottages in Bridlington

Table of Contents

• At a glance: What should you know about renting a cottage in Bridlington?
• Cottages in Bridlington: find your perfect retreat
• Exploring Bridlington: our top recommendations
• Activities: What are the top things to do and see in Bridlington?

• Cottages for every group: Choose between snug boltholes for two and roomy family cottages, with gardens, log burners and sea views scattered across the town and the surrounding countryside.
• Where to base yourself: The Old Town suits history lovers, the harbour and North Beach suit families, and Sewerby and Flamborough suit walkers wanting quiet lanes.
• Kitchens worth using: Self-catering makes the most of local produce, from harbour-landed crab and lobster to Yorkshire cheeses, bread and vegetables sold on the market.
• Seasons at the coast: Summer brings the busiest beaches, while spring and autumn offer quieter sands, lower prices and superb seabird watching.
• Days out on the doorstep: Golden beaches, Sewerby Hall, the Bayle Museum, Flamborough Head and the cliffs at Bempton are all within a short drive.

Cottages in Bridlington range from whitewashed fishermen's cottages in the Old Town to converted farm buildings in the lanes towards Flamborough, and most sleep between two and eight guests. Whichever you choose, you get your own front door and a kitchen to cook in.

Most cottages here come well equipped for a self-catering holiday by the sea:

• Fully fitted kitchens with a dishwasher and washing machine for longer stays
• Enclosed gardens, patios and barbecues for long summer evenings
• Wood burners or open fires for autumn and winter breaks
• Wi-Fi and smart televisions, handy on a rainy afternoon
• Pet-friendly cottages, welcome after a walk along the beach

Parking is often included, which makes exploring the wider Yorkshire coast far easier.

What are the best areas to stay in Bridlington?

For a first visit, the Old Town and the harbour are the easiest bases, putting independent shops, fishmongers and the promenade within walking distance. The table below details areas for specific interests:

What do our guests say?

Guests who book a cottage in Bridlington tend to talk about the same things: the space to spread out after a day on the sand, the value of cooking with fish bought at the harbour that morning, and how quickly the town empties of day trippers in the evening. Families praise enclosed gardens and the short walk to the beach, while couples highlight quiet lanes, wood burners and sea views. Ratings on the Yorkshire coast are consistently strong, with many cottages sitting comfortably above 9.0+.

Bridlington sits on the Holderness Coast of the East Riding of Yorkshire, wrapped around a working harbour between long sandy beaches and the chalk headland of Flamborough.

🥗Where to eat in Bridlington?

Bridlington is one of the country's busiest shellfish ports, so the kitchens here lean on what comes off the boats and out of the surrounding farmland. Below is a table of five well-regarded places hand-picked by our travel experts, chosen with slow, farm-to-table travellers in mind.

⭐Our guests' recommendation: Our guest traveller Emma, who stayed a fortnight in a cottage near the Old Town, recommends buying crab and lobster straight from the harbour stalls in Bridlington: it costs a fraction of a restaurant plate and turns a cottage kitchen into the best table in town.

1. Swim and stroll on North Beach
2. Buy the catch at Bridlington Harbour
3. Wander the Old Town
4. Explore Sewerby Hall and Gardens
5. Walk out to Flamborough Head
6. Watch the seabirds at Bempton Cliffs
7. Shop the market and load up the cottage kitchen

1. Swim and stroll on North Beach

   North Beach is the town's showpiece: a long sweep of clean golden sand backed by the promenade, with gentle water for paddling and space for sandcastles even in August. Walk south towards the harbour for ice-cream stalls and cafés, or north towards Sewerby for quieter sand and rock pools at low tide. It is an easy walk from most cottages in town, and a fine place to end the day with fish and chips eaten on the sea wall while the light goes.

2. Buy the catch at Bridlington Harbour

   The harbour is the heart of Bridlington and one of Europe's biggest lobster ports. Colourful boats unload through the morning, and stalls along the quay sell crab, lobster and whatever else has come in. Buy a dressed crab for lunch, watch the gulls work the pontoons, or take a short boat trip along the coast. For self-caterers it is the single best reason to book a cottage here rather than a room: a fifteen-minute walk turns into a very good dinner.

3. Wander the Old Town

   A mile inland, the Old Town on High Street feels like a different place entirely: Georgian frontages, 17th-century cottages, antique shops, delis and small bakeries. The Bayle Museum, set in a 12th-century gatehouse, tells the town's story through artefacts and interactive displays, and entry is free. It is a good rainy morning, and a better afternoon if you are shopping for supper. Browse other holiday cottages and lettings around town if you want to stay in this quieter quarter.

4. Explore Sewerby Hall and Gardens

   Just north of town, Sewerby Hall is a Georgian country house set in clifftop parkland with restored rooms, an art gallery and formal walled gardens. There is a small zoo popular with children, a café for tea and cake, and a clifftop terrace with a long view back over Bridlington Bay. Come on a weekday for peace and quiet; the walk along the coast from the harbour takes about an hour and makes an excellent morning out.

5. Walk out to Flamborough Head

   Flamborough Head is where the chalk of the Yorkshire Wolds meets the North Sea in arches, stacks and hidden coves. Walk the headland path past the old and new lighthouses, drop down to Thornwick Bay or North Landing, and time it for low tide to explore the caves. Bring boots and a windproof jacket in any season. The wider Yorkshire coast and countryside opens up from here if you fancy a longer drive.

6. Watch the seabirds at Bempton Cliffs

   A short drive north, Bempton Cliffs rise 100 metres from the sea and host hundreds of thousands of nesting seabirds between March and October. Viewing platforms put you close to gannets, kittiwakes, razorbills and, from April to July, puffins. It is one of the most spectacular wildlife sights in England and needs nothing more than a coat and a pair of binoculars. Continue up the coast afterwards to Whitby for the abbey and the harbour.

7. Shop the market and load up the cottage kitchen

   Bridlington's market runs on King Street through the summer months, from Friday to Sunday, alongside the town's fishmongers, butchers and greengrocers. Pick up Yorkshire cheese, bread, seasonal vegetables and shellfish, then cook something slow back at the cottage. It is the cheapest and most enjoyable way to eat here. For a countryside version of the same idea, the Yorkshire Dales offer farm shops and dairies well worth the drive inland.