Perched on the County Durham coastline where the North Sea stretches endlessly towards the horizon, Seaham exudes a quiet sense of resilience forged by its history. Once a mining community boasting three coal mines, its character was long intertwined with the collieries that shaped both the landscape and everyday life. When those industries vanished, Seaham confronted the same struggles as numerous towns across the North East. Yet its coastal location has provided the building blocks for regeneration.
Today, the seafront has emerged as its pulsing heart, where pristine, open expanses, pounding waves and the sparkle of sea glass attract both locals and tourists throughout the year. The transformation is most striking along the promenade and harbour, where cafés, independent retailers and walking trails now border a coastline that was formerly industrial.
Beaches and Sea Glass
Beaches including Seaham Beach and Blast Beach provide panoramic vistas, imposing cliffs and more secluded, wilder stretches of shore. These beaches are not merely picturesque but internationally renowned for their sea glass - smooth, vibrant fragments of glass moulded by decades in the ocean. Once thrown away by the town's glassworks industry, these pieces have been reshaped by the tide into tiny, burnished treasures.
The Tommy Sculpture
It is along this rejuvenated stretch of coastline that one of the town's most eye-catching landmarks comes into view. The Tommy sculpture (officially named 1101) stands quietly gazing out to sea, its presence both understated and commanding against the vast horizon. Crafted by Ray Lonsdale, the steel figure of a First World War soldier captures a moment of profound contemplation, its bowed head and clasped hands conveying the emotional weight of conflict. Originally conceived as a temporary installation, it resonated so deeply with the public that it was secured as a permanent fixture after a committee of local residents raised the £102,000 required to purchase it for the town.
New Rail Link
The town has just welcomed its first direct rail link to London. The new service operated by Grand Central now runs four direct services per day in each direction and is expected to draw significant numbers of visitors as summer draws closer.
Local Voices
Maureen Clasper, who grew up in Seaham and now resides in Northumberland, still speaks with heartfelt fondness for the town, describing it as "a lovely place to live" and "a friendly place". She recalls growing up when "every pub down was always chock-a-block" and weekends buzzed with activity, but acknowledges that times have moved on. "I don't think anywhere is like that now," she says, pointing to the broader changes affecting high streets up and down the country. Ms Clasper was particularly enthusiastic about the seafront, recommending local favourites such as Gills for fish and chips, a family-run, award-winning establishment, as well as The Lamp Room, a seafood restaurant perched right on the harbour.
Tom Wilson, known for his appearances on Celebs Go Dating and more recently I'm a Celebrity in 2025, was actually seen at The Lamp Room a few days ago. She also highlights Dalton Park, the North East's largest outlet shopping centre, as a consistently popular destination, with nearby Dancing Betty another worthy spot to add to your itinerary.
Ann Stewart, who has run Seaside Chic for around 10 years, is Seaham through and through. She welcomed us with tremendous warmth at her Harbour Marina shop, which looks directly out over a sea that shimmered brilliantly on such a bright, sunny day. Her shop stocks a wonderful range of gifts, including candles, diffusers, locally crafted goods, sea glass jewellery and photographs of Tommy. She said: "I'm a Seaham girl. It's beautiful and it's changed so much." She described how the town has transformed from a mining village into an increasingly sought-after seaside destination. "It's so much cleaner, the sea's cleaner, the air, everything, and so many tourists come now where you never, ever had that before." For Ms Stewart, it's the locals that make Seaham truly special. She said "The people are so friendly and I think that's what makes Seaham. The people are so nice and everybody who comes says that - 'We love the people, they're so friendly.' They chat with you even though you don't know them, and I think that's one of the best things about Seaham."
She noted that the arrival of the Tommy sculpture has helped attract greater numbers of visitors. The business owner revealed that some people travel from across the globe for the town's renowned seaglass, from Australia to Hawaii, and that the town becomes increasingly bustling during the summer months. Ms Stewart highlighted the strength of the town's independent businesses, particularly along the seafront. "I think a lot of people would like to come and open more businesses, but there are no empty premises." Along the seafront, she also noted there's an impressive selection of pubs and eateries, including fish and chip shop Downey's, which she ranks amongst the top five in the UK, along with the award-winning ice cream parlour Lickety Split and neighbouring Nicey Icey.
Ms Stewart described the marina as "the jewel in the crown," especially during summer, and recommended a visit to Nose's Point, Seaham Beach and Blast Beach, the latter of which featured in the opening scenes of the film Alien 3. She also highlighted The Coalface, a pub at the foot of Church Street, as a top spot to sink a pint and catch some live music. Tucked away at the back, Pizza Slice serves up pizza alongside drinks and gets especially packed at weekends, with queues regularly forming outside, she noted. Ms Stewart said the brand new direct train line from Seaham to London will be a real boost for the town and is expected to draw even more visitors in this summer.
Craig Fraser runs Frasers Meats alongside his son and operates a bustling stall at several markets across the area, including Seaham, which he described as a solid market with "plenty of people walking around." He went on to say that Seaham is a "busy little town" with a "different variety of stalls." Mr Fraser told the Express: "There's a whole lot of shops and pubs for people who want to go there, florists, there's a sandwich and pasta shop as well. It's a good town centre." He added: "It's good. I enjoy coming here. You can see for yourself up there," he said, pointing to the high street, "There's plenty of people and it's busy."
Jac Seery Howard is an artist and co-chair of EDAN Gallery, situated right on the seafront at the end of Church Street. It is the only dedicated art gallery in East Durham. EDAN stands for the East Durham Artists' Network, which was established in 2004 and is a voluntary collective of East Durham professional and amateur artists working across a wide range of media. She said: "We love having a gallery in our own town. It's wonderful to have a real art gallery in our hometown." Ms Howard, who was raised in Seaham with a father employed in the mines, discussed the town's transformation. When the three local pits shut down, the main source of income for the whole community disappeared. The town was significantly impacted by the closure of the coal mining industry, resulting in job losses and a deterioration of the high street. "When I left off to college, everything was closing down [...] but because we're rooted on the coast, there was a chance that tourism could rescue us."
Challenges such as vacant shops and absentee landlords persist, along with some neglected properties, particularly in the old town, she noted, which stands in stark contrast to the seafront area that is far more lively and packed with businesses and cafés. Nevertheless, she said: "But I would say it's a town on the rise. Our first exhibition was in February, and we had 421 visitors." With a Town of Culture 2028 bid in the pipeline and proposals to convert the Greek-columned Londonderry Institute into a heritage centre, Seaham is no longer merely a former mining town, it is emerging as a cultural destination in its own right, according to Ms Howard. The art gallery hosts free exhibitions year-round covering subjects chosen by EDAN members.
Affordable Housing
Yet one of Seaham's biggest draws remains its affordable housing market. At the time of writing, no fewer than 11 properties were listed for £85,000 or under, while 10 were priced between £90,000 and £100,000.
Helen Wall, director at Bradley Hall Sunderland and managing director at Bradley Hall's national Auctions business, told the Express: "Seaham's property market continues to demonstrate strong resilience, underpinned by sustained demand, improved connectivity and its distinctive coastal appeal. The introduction of a direct rail link to London has significantly elevated the town's profile, attracting both buyers and renters seeking an enhanced quality of life without compromising on transport links. Our Sunderland office is experiencing firsthand how this increased interest is translating into consistent activity across a range of property types. Over the past year, the average property price in Seaham reached £168,240, with terraced homes averaging £111,208, semi-detached properties at £154,548 and detached homes at £299,965. While prices have seen a modest year-on-year adjustment of around 1%, they remain above the 2021 peak-reinforcing the area's underlying stability. Ongoing investment is also playing a key role in Seaham's growth. Developments such as Seaham Garden Village are helping to meet demand, while the town centre continues to perform well, maintaining relatively low vacancy rates compared to other parts of County Durham. Drawing on our expertise in both local estate agency and national property auctions, we recognise that these combined factors are positioning Seaham as an increasingly attractive location for homeowners, landlords and investors alike-offering both immediate opportunities and long-term potential."
Boasting a thriving cultural scene, stunning beaches, and a vibrant community spirit, Seaham is a town well worth a visit and one that its residents are truly proud to call home.
