Underrated UK seaside town about to get £30 million boost with direct link to huge city

An underrated seaside town is about to enjoy a major boost when a direct train line to London is launched.

Plans are afoot to bring back direct trains between Cleethorpes and London King’s Cross for the first time since 1992. Rail operator Grand Central is hoping to be given permission from Network Rail to start running the services again.

The route connecting the English capital and Lincolnshire seaside town would stop at Doncaster, Scunthorpe, Grimsby, Thorne South, Crowle and Althorpe stations. Grand Central hopes to run four return services per day, offering an extra 775,000 seats annually. The rail firm has estimated this could bring an extra £30 million in economic growth to the region.

Simon Lightwood, the parliamentary under-secretary of state for transport, said: "The Department continues to review the application from Grand Central to introduce open-access services between London and Cleethorpes, and will provide its views to the regulator in due course. Access to the rail network, however, is ultimately a decision for the regulator."

If the plans are approved by Network Rail, the services could start running from December 2026. That will mean the three and a half hour journey between the two settlements will be cut significantly, and the now required change at Doncaster would be ditched.

As well as providing swifter access to London for the 30,000 people that live in Cleethorpes, the new service gives great access to the seaside town for those living along the route.

The modestly sized Victorian seaside resort has four miles of soft golden sands and has been a tourist 'magnet' since its railway opened back in 1863. While many of the UK's coastal gems have fallen into disrepair following the boom in holidays over to sunny Spain, Cleethorpes has managed to preserve its glamorous nostalgia.

Snuggled on the estuary of the Humber in North East Lincolnshire, the town ticks all the coastal must-haves. There are swathes of bright-light arcades, a string of souvenir shops flogging rock (the sweet kind) and fridge magnets, and a long-stretching promenade offering stunning sea views.

Cleethorpes has also become a haven for water sports enthusiasts, bird-watchers, and adrenaline seekers alike. On a sunny day, the town is a great place to spot wildlife on the saltmarsh, paddle-board or kite surf out into the sea, or make your stomach churn on the funfair.

. Often touted as Britain's best chippy, Papa's is conveniently located on Cleethorpes Pier - and regularly sees punters queuing for hours to get their hands on some well-deserved fried food.

Cleethorpes has kept its reputation as an affordable holiday destination, with a plethora of accommodations catering to different budgets. For example, a weekend's stay (Friday, April 25-27) in a 'luxury' apartment on the beachfront costs £170, based on two adults sharing.