A town in Dorset has been dubbed among the UK's best seaside resorts to visit, according to a consumer survey.

Which? scored the coastal area in its most recent survey of beach towns across the UK.

The survey asked more than 4,000 holidaymakers to rank their trip to the seaside before revealing the best and worst-ranked destinations in the country.

The poll assessed value for money, attractions, scenery and beaches, as well as the average hotel price and gave star ratings out of five.

While Bamburgh in Northumberland came out as the top town, Swanage was ranked within the top towns based on positive reviews of its features.

Dorset Echo: Swanage was praised for its scenery and attractions. Picture: Gill Richards Swanage was praised for its scenery and attractions. Picture: Gill Richards

The survey gave four stars for its beach, attractions, scenery, peace and quiet and value for money categories.

With the four stars across the board, the town earned an overall satisfaction score of 80 percent and ranked joint eighth along with Filey in North Yorkshire, Southwold in Suffolk and St Davids in Pembrokeshire.

It comes after the Sunday Times Best Places to Live guide named Swanage and the Purbecks as among the best places to live in the South West.

Elsewhere in Dorset, Lyme Regis earned a 74 per cent satisfaction score, with four stars given for its scenery while its beach, attractions, peace and quiet and value for money all given three stars.

Weymouth was awarded four stars for its beach, attractions and scenery, three stars for its value for money and given two stars for peace and quiet. Like Lyme Regis, it was also given a 74 per cent satisfaction score.

Dorset Echo: How seaside resorts in Dorset fared in the Which? survey.How seaside resorts in Dorset fared in the Which? survey.

Like Weymouth, Bournemouth was praised with four stars for its beach, attractions and scenery but scored two stars for its peace and quiet and value for money.

Poole was awarded four stars for its attractions and scenery and three stars for its beaches, peace and quiet and value for money. Both Poole and Bournemouth were awarded a satisfaction score of 69 per cent.

The Which? survey comes out as there is expected to another year of staycations amid the ongoing travel restrictions caused by the coronavirus pandemic.

A Which? spokesman said: “Thirty of the nearly 100 British destinations were awarded four or five stars for peace and quiet.

“This will be especially valuable this year given that uncertainty over foreign trips has seen a booking boom in domestic breaks.

“Perhaps this is one reason lesser-known spots such as Beer in Devon and Ullapool in the Scottish Highlands have risen up our rankings, replacing old but overrun favourites in Cornwall.

“Top of the pile, however, was Bamburgh in Northumberland. It won visitors over with its stunning scenery, beach and peaceful surroundings.”

The full survey can be found through this link.