Finding the UK’s best fish and chips

Fish and chips are right up there with a good cup of tea and discussing the weather when it comes to experiencing British culture. Salt but hold the vinegar? Curry sauce, gravy or classic ketchup to accompany it? In paper by the sea or on a proper plate in the comfort of your home? Opinions are divided on how to experience proper fish and chips. But where should you head to get the best?

Hertz has analysed the TripAdvisor ratings of chippies in top coastal regions around the UK to find out. Here’s where you should head to get a catch of the day, which is worth travelling for.

Yorkshire has more fantastic fish and chips than anywhere else in UK

The Yorkshire coast has more highly rated fish and chip shops than any other UK seaside resort.

On the Yorkshire coast you’ll find 114 chippies and restaurants serving fish and chips rated more than 4.5 out of 5 by reviewers on TripAdvisor.

Scarborough, one of the closest seaside towns to York, has the most highly rated fish and chip options in the UK with 49% of its fish and chip outlets (33 outlets in and around the town) rated more than 4.5. It’s closely followed by nearby Whitby, where 47% are rated more than 4.5 (32 outlets).

But North Cornwall has the most five stars

The North Cornwall coast has more five-star-rated fish and chip outlets than any other coastal region in the UK.

It has slightly fewer outlets than the Yorkshire Coast in total (173 v 240) and fewer on the whole are rated above 4.5 (80 v 114).

But if excellence is what you’re after, North Cornwall has more fish and chip supper servers bagging a full five-star review.

It has 13 five-star-rated fish and chip shops on TripAdvisor compared to its nearest rival the Yorkshire Coast, which has seven.

UK seaside towns with the best fish and chips

Yorkshire, Sussex, Cornwall and Lancashire towns all feature in the top five for the most amount of highly rated coastal fish and chip sellers in the UK.

Following after North Yorkshire’s Scarborough (1^st) and Whitby (2^nd), is Hastings in East Sussex (3^rd); then Parranporth, North Cornwall (4^th) and Blackpool, Lancashire (5^th).

In and around all of those towns you’ll find 25 or more fish and chip sellers rated higher than 4.5 on TripAdvisor and each of them has at least two outlets with a five-star rating.

Top 10 UK coastal areas for fish and chips

If Yorkshire and Cornwall aren’t your desired destination, don’t worry, lots of other UK resorts can offer you top fish and chips.

The 10 coastal regions in the UK with the most fish and chip outlets rated more than 4.5 on TripAdvisor are:

1. Yorkshire
2. North Cornwall
3. South Devon
4. Kent
5. Dorset
6. Lancashire
7. East Sussex
8. Essex
9. South Cornwall
10. Norfolk

You’ll be spoilt for choice in terms of finding a great bag or plate of fish and chips in any of these coastal areas.

As the table below shows, all boast at least one fish and chip outlet that has a five-star rating and dozens rated more than 4.5 by customers.

Top 15 UK towns with highest-rated fish and chips

Where has the best fish and chips in Scotland?

You’ll find plenty of choice for top fish and chips north of the border with the Oban area, on the Argyll and Bute coast, boasting the most top-rated shops in Scotland.

Ayr, not far from Glasgow, is second with nine fish and chip outlets rated more than 4.5 and Dunoon third with five shops/restaurants getting a rating above 4.5.

Llandudno: Officially the best seaside fish and chips in Wales

The Llandudno area, on the Conwy coast, is the place to go if you want the highest chance of top fish and chips in Wales. A total of 20 shops there are rated more than 4.5.

Tenby, on the Pembrokeshire coast, has the second-highest amount of top-rated fish and chip outlets in Wales, followed by Gower, in the Swansea coastal area.

Top fish and chip shop in Northern Ireland

Northern Ireland’s coastal areas may have less fish and chip shops to choose from but there’s no need to miss out on the classic seaside supper there either.

In Newcastle, County Down, you’ll find two outlets with top ratings. You can also grab a great bag of fish and chips in Portstewart, Londonderry and Portrush, Antrim. All can be reached within an hour and a half’s drive of Belfast.

Where to head for fish and chips on your next day out

There’s nothing like fish and chips straight from the paper sitting on a beach with the sand between your toes or pebbles under foot.

Douse them in vinegar, throw on a little salt and enjoy a classic British experience. Fish and chips at the seaside makes a sunny day even better and gives any grey day a lift.

As you can see from our research above, the UK’s seaside resorts are packed with fantastic chip shops – it doesn’t matter too much where you choose, just make sure you do it!

Grab a daily car hire and head to the beach for a day trip or rent for longer and enjoy all the area has to offer with Hertz. Driving allows you to skip along the coast and see a string of coves, bays and beaches in a day and to experience the hidden gems that are little off the beaten track.

*Research methodology: A total of 208 coastal towns/resorts were analysed to find the locations with the most 4.5 and 5 star rated restaurants for fish and chips. TripAdvisor reviews were used and each 4.5 and 5 star rated outlet serving fish and chips was counted.