An underrated seaside resort in eastern England is set to regain a direct transport connection with London after a 30-year hiatus. Cleethorpes, a quaint seafront on the estuary of the Humber in north-east Lincolnshire, has welcomed sun-seeking day-trippers since the 19th century, but its reputation has taken an unfortunate dip in recent years. The town was named among the least attractive seaside spots in the UK by The Telegraph in 2023, but a multi-million-pound regeneration project and renewed transport links to the UK capital could signal a return to form for the area, which rose to prominence as a popular coastline for holidaying Victorians.
Despite the fading grandeur cited in Cleethorpes’ low ranking two years ago, its main beach has been consistently named among the best in the country, thanks to its long, sandy expanse and sweeping sea views. Alongside plans to inject over £18million from the Government’s Levelling Up fund into improving the seafront and town centre, Grand Central is planning to launch direct trains between Cleethorpes and London King’s Cross in a bid to boost local economic growth.
Direct services between the Lincolnshire town and London were previously discontinued in 1992, with the 30-year hiatus marked by several attempts from local MPs to have the route reinstated.
Grand Central has officially submitted plans to create a new service from King’s Cross, also passing through Doncaster, Scunthorpe and Grimsby, with four return services daily.
The move, which could rocket Cleethorpes to a day-trip destination for Londoners on par with Brighton and Kent, is expected to deliver a £30million boost for the local economy and provide almost 775,000 seats each year.
Travellers will have to wait until Decemebr 2026 for the new service to get up-and-running, but officials are hopeful that the reinstated transport scheme will be transformative for businesses suffering under the cost-of-living crisis and fall in high street footfall.
Paul Hutchings, managing director for Grand Central, told the BBC: “If approved, these services will play a pivotal role in driving regional growth by linking underserved communities to key commercial opportunities, benefiting both local businesses and passengers.”
Melanie Onn, Labour MP for Great Grimsby and Cleethorpes, added: “This isn’t just about attracting future investment into our town, it’s about addressing missed economic and social opportunities due to current poor connectivity.”
