The summer holidays are officially upon us. The kids have broken up and the sun has, well, occasionally got its hat on.

Even if the weather isn't tropical, it's always worth a visit to the beach and with the British pound plummeting, why not stay in the UK and avoid that horrible visit to the airport.

From North to South, Jenni Falconer gives us a run-down of the best British beach destinations.

BEDRUTHAN STEPS, CORNWALL: The Bedruthan Steps Hotel is a family-friendly 4 star hotel with fantastic facilities. There are incredible sea views over Mawgan Porth beach from the hotel, which is just a couple of minutes walking distance. The summer entertainment programme is full of fun activities for the whole family, and the adult-only spa is a haven for relaxation. There is an incredible restaurant with stunning sea views, perfect for a Cornish sunset. Bedruthan Steps is very child friendly and even has its own child play area and activities. Bedruthan is proud of the numerous awards it has won over the years, ranging from awards range from Cornwall's Hotel of the Year 2010 to 'Eco-Champion'.

PRICES: From £111 per room per night

THE LIMIT, CORNWALL: However if you want to get away from the kids, for somewhere unique, very different and totally luxurious to stay, we've a quirky beach hut in a secluded location at Holywell Bay on the North Cornwall coast. With a cheerful clapperboard exterior, 'The Limit' is perfect for surfing retreats or a romantic weekend hideaway. It consists of 2 huts, one for sleeping and pampering, the other for cooking and socialising - truly unique beach-side living - think comfy leather sofas, fluffy rugs, crisp linens and varnished wooden floors! The huts are set in a secluded location within two acres of sheltered gardens. The opening scene to the James Bond movie Die Another Day was filmed on Holywell Beach! The spacious decking area is perfect for BBQs or romantic sundowners; pick your perfect sunbathing spot from the leafy picnic area at the bottom of the steps, or the suntrap lawn to the back of the shack.

PRICES: From £93 per person, per night

THE ALEXANDRA HOTEL, DORSET: Just up the road in Dorset is the beautiful Alexandra hotel, built in 1735 for the Dowager Countess Poulett. Winner of Conde Nast Johansens 'Most Excellent Waterside Hotel' award, each of the bedrooms are completely individual and are named after previous owners, most have coastal views. The hotel also has a treatment room offering hot stone therapy and massage. Lyme Regis sits on the Jurassic Coast, now a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Named Jurassic because its rocks record 185 million years of the Earth's history. It covers 95 miles of stunning coastline from East Devon to Dorset. The Dorset County Museum has the largest and best preserved fossil of a dinosaur skull on display, which dates back around 155 million years.

PRICES: From £125 per room per night.

THE BRAYE BEACH HOTEL, CHANNEL ISLANDS: This is an island retreat full of luxury. It sits on a white beach boasting views right across the bay and harbour beyond. There is a private residents' cinema where you can enjoy a movie free of charge. The food is all locally sourced and you can enjoy it from the dining room overlooking the sea. Alderney is the third largest of the Channel Islands. It's one and a half miles wide and three and a half miles long. It is extremely quiet with tropical sandy beaches and is best suited to those wanting to completely unwind and relax. There is extensive birdlife to watch and the island is famous for the blonde hedgehogs who live there.

PRICES: From £109 per room per night.

THE BLEAKENEY WHITE HORSE, NORFOLK. The Blakeney White Horse overlooks the quay and was formerly a coaching inn but today is one of the region's foremost small hotels. The hotel boasts great locally sourced food and real ale from the nearby micro brewery. Its is surrounded by narrow streets of fishermans' cottages which wind their way into a small tidal harbour. The creeks and Claven Valley estuary are surrounded by marshes of sea lavender. The horizon is dominated by the shingle ridge of Blakeney Point where a colony of common and grey seals can be seen. The whole area is a mass with sea birds of all kinds for you and the kids to spot.

PRICES: From £70 per room per night.

THE BALCARY BAY COUTRY HOUSE HOTEL, DUMFRIES & GALLOWAY: This country hotel is romantic, secluded and tranquil. It takes its name from the bay on which it stands, its commands a stunning location over the Solway Firth. The area of Galloway is quite isolated and romantic and was once a hide-out of 17th century smugglers. The hotel has views across the Solway coast, and beyond are the peaks of the Cumbrian Lake District. The coastline of Dumfries & Galloway is one of the most varied in Scotland, with craggy outcrops and long sandy beaches, a variety of walks will take you along some of the most beautiful parts. There are easily accessible walks such as the Jubilee Path and more challenging cliffs on the Rhins of Galloway. The views are some of the most unique in the UK.

PRICES: From £103 per person per night including 4 course dinner