A SEASIDE town dubbed the “worst” in Britain is set to undergo a major revamp which may draw tourists to the once popular area.
has previously been referred to as a “vulgar hellhole” but now a £23 million development is set to upgrade the visitor experiences.
The town has been described as a “terrible place” with a “brown sea”, even ranking among Britain's “worst” seaside towns.
Which? Magazine readers voted it bottom of the poll of seaside resorts in 2023.
The following year Skegness placed fifth, with only ranking lower.
As part of the survey, 120 UK seaside towns were rated on various features such as the seafront, noise levels, , and .
Skegness scored just one star for its scenery and noise levels in both 2023 and 2024.
It achieved a slightly higher two stars for its food and drink, shopping, and attractions.
And now with a recent rail upgrade announced by East Midlands Railway (EMR), high-end is sure to become a draw for the area.
Passengers will be set to travel in comfort after EMR unveiled its first fully refurbished Class 170 train on Tuesday, April 15.
The move marks a significant upgrade in comfort and convenience for regional customers.
Enhancements include brand-new seats and tables, as well as modern power and charging facilities, including 230V, Type-C, and dual USB sockets.
The upgrades will also see refurbished toilets, upgraded flooring, and a newly installed passenger information system on-board.
A dedicated bike storage area will also be added to the new and improved carriages.
The redesigned interiors echo the sleek aesthetic of EMR’s new Aurora trains, which are set to enter service later this year.
These refurbished Class 170 trains were previously operated by West Midlands Railway.
They are now owned by the UK’s leading rolling stock financier and asset management company Porterbrook.
The to Skegness via Grantham is one of the lucky lines to see the new trains.
This route takes approximately one hour and 55 minutes, with trains typically departing every hour.
When booked in advance, tickets can cost you as little as £4.05 with everyday prices averaging around £12.40.
The upgraded fleet is part of a wider £60 million programme, which will also include the refurbishment of EMR’s Class 360 and Class 158 trains, reports Lincolnshire World.
“We’ve focused on creating an environment that is comfortable and functional – and it’s just the beginning,” said Will Rogers, Managing Director ofEast Midlands Railway.
“Over the next year, customers will start to see real, tangible improvements across our network.”
Skegness peaked in popularity in the 19th century when a new rail line made the seaside area more accessible to British holidaymakers.
However, until recently public transport appeared to be an afterthought for the area, which scored highest in one area: parking.
But this recent upgrade to the local railway line could prove to be exactly what the town needs.
After the town placed last in 2023, editor of Which? travel, Rory Boland spoke about the importance of investment in raising rankings.
“Clacton, Skegness, and Southend all received one star from visitors for the lack of peace and quiet, and some visitors complain that the boisterous atmosphere can tip into feeling unsafe,” he said.
“That's a shame, because what Clacton, Skegness, and Southend offer is exactly the sort of seaside break many of us want.
“Big beaches, big entertainment, and small prices. More should be done to help them level up and become first-class holiday resorts.”
A £3.3 million redevelopment of Skegness railway station was also set to be completed on May 25.
However, EMR are currently looking for a new partner after confirming Taziker Ltd had stopped work on the scheme, which is funded by the government's Town Deal programme.
“We remain fully committed to the redevelopment of Skegness station and are very excited about the customer and wider community benefits this project will deliver,” an EMR spokesperson told the BBC.
The project has been undertaken to reconfigure the layout of the station to improve passenger flow.
