One County Durham coastal beauty spot has attracted megastars from around the world - and with its stunning beach and breathtaking views, it's easy to see why. Located just 40 minutes

away from Newcastle and less than 20 minutes from Sunderland, the seaside town of Seaham hit the headlines recently after music icon Kylie Minogue herself spent a weekend there. It's

thought that Kylie stayed at the luxurious Seaham Hall spa hotel, a five-star celebrity hotspot where the likes of Take That, Lionel Richie and One Direction have also rested their heads

while on tour in the North East. A stay at Seaham Hall is priced from £325 per night - but for those who want to experience all that the seaside town has to offer but can't quite afford

on Booking.com based on more than 400 reviews from guests. Another option when it comes to budget-friendly hotel stays in Seaham is The Seaton Lane Inn, located just a five-minute drive or

25-minute bus journey away from the beach. With an average score of 8.5 out of 10 on Booking.com based on nearly 1,000 reviews, this hotel and traditional pub is part of the Inn Collection

Group and priced from £109 per night. The No. 16 boutique hotel just set back from Seaham Beach has also earned hundreds of stellar reviews from its guests. Priced from £78 per night, this

early Victorian house originally built for the first manager of Seaham Colliery is one of the cheapest choices for a holiday in the County Durham town, with five rooms available - more

information can be found on the No. 16 website. WE HAVE A DEDICATED NEWSLETTER FOR WHAT’S ON NEWS AND REVIEWS. IT’S FREE AND YOU CAN SIGN UP TO RECEIVE IT HERE. It will keep you up to date

with all the latest updates on food, drink, entertainment and events in and around the North East. No.16 has its own claim to fame having previously starred on Channel 4's Four in a Bed

back in 2020. The episode saw the teams head down to to the beach to collect sea glass, which Seaham is famous for due to the town's history of being home to bottleworks and

glass-making factories during the Victorian and Edwardian eras. There's also a smattering of Airbnb options in Seaham, with the top-rated option being this beach view home priced from

£105 per night with room for up to six guests, although this is nearly fully booked for the summer with just a few dates left at the time of writing. Other favourites among guests who have

stayed in Seaham include Sea Glass Suite for up to two guests from £85 per night, and Seaglass Beach Retreat for up to four guests from £105 per night. Seaham has plenty more to offer

besides its beach - which has been named one of the top spots in the UK for rockpooling - with the sea front home to a number of popular bars and eateries including The Lamp Room,

Crow's Nest and Hidden on the Harbour. It also has two top-rated chippies, Downey's and Bells, both of which have received national acclaim. If you're a keen walker or

cyclist, there are a number of routes for a windswept stroll along the coast in Seaham, which should give you the opportunity to grab a photo of the famous 'Tommy' statue that

stands proudly in the town. Seaham is the starting point of the Durham Heritage Coast Walk, a breathtaking 11-mile stretch that takes you through stunning clifftop scenery with loads of

wildlife-spotting opportunities and links into picturesque coastal villages. When visiting the harbour town of Seaham and its beloved beach, This is Durham recommends: "The tranquil

beauty of the sandy beach, with its inviting rock pools, is sheltered by a long sea wall which also protects the cliffs from the power of the North Sea. Grab an ice cream and simply enjoy

the stunning view from Seaham Harbour Marina, or set off on a walk along the coastal footpath to reveal breathtaking views." In addition, Seaham is just a half-hour drive away from the

city of Durham, where there's heaps more to do for holidaymakers from visiting the famous historical sites of Durham Cathedral and Durham Castle to enjoying picturesque riverside walks

and the wide variety of shops, restaurants, bars and cafes. Tripadvisor has a list of the best places to stay in Durham ranked by guest ratings, from Premier Inn and Travelodge to castles

and spas. For those who would prefer to tuck themselves away in a holiday cottage this summer, there are dozens of self-catering options available to book in and around Durham on the like of

Sykes Holiday Cottages and holidaycottages.co.uk, priced from around £450 for a seven-night stay.