The 20 Best Fish & Chip Towns in the UK

Few foods are more quintessentially British or nostalgic than fish and chips. Deep-fried, golden battered fish accompanied by soft and fluffy thick cut fried potatoes – or chips – and served with lashings of salt and vinegar as well as a range of other condiments has been a staple of the British diet for around 150 years.

While ‘chippies’ are often associated with the seaside, their popularity has spread throughout the country, and some of the best can be found miles from the seaside itself. In addition, some fish and chip shops operate as gourmet restaurants, offering high-quality fish and chips – a far cry from the cheap Friday night dinner wrapped in newspaper in the 1960s! If you’re craving some fish and chips, then look no further than here for the 20 best fish and chip towns in the UK.

Where can I get the best fish & chips in the UK?

20. Largs – North Ayrshire, Scotland

Average Google Review rating: 3.9
Price of regular fish and chips at The Fish Works: £12.70

Largs is a traditional seaside town in North Ayrshire, known for its beautiful promenade and its excellent fish and chips.

Few chip shops in the area offer better bites than The Fish Works, which came in as Runner Up in the Takeaway of the Year Category at the 2026 Fry Awards.

With fish delivered daily from nearby Peterhead Market, The Fish Works offers more than just the standard fish and chips – with langoustines caught daily as an alternative, as well as squid and panko-coated lemon sole for something a bit different.

They also have an extensive gluten-free menu and offer traditional Scottish chip shop items such as battered haggis if you’re not dancing fish, either.

19. Carrickfergus – County Antrim, Northern Ireland

Average Google Review rating: 4.24
Price of regular fish and chips at The Friary: £12.20

The beautiful coastal location of Carrickfergus in Northern Ireland makes it one of the most scenic locations to enjoy fish and chips – and with plenty of chippies to choose from, you’re truly spoiled for choice here.

However, the Friary is one of the best options in the town. Sourcing their fish from the Irish Sea, the offerings are fresh, and the portions are hearty. They also offer gluten-free fish and chips, cooked in completely separate fryers, something which not all fish and chip shops can offer.

If you want to enjoy a traditional fish supper by the sea in Northern Ireland, then you can do worse than pay a visit to Carrickfergus for your next fish and chips fix.

18. Barnsley – South Yorkshire, England

Average Google Review rating: 4.35
Price of regular fish and chips at Shaw's Fish & Chips: £10.98

Breaking the stereotype that the only good fish and chip towns in the UK are found by the coast, Barnsley, in the heart of South Yorkshire, is home to an excellent selection of chippies – including Shaw’s Fish & Chips – who recently came third in the National Fish & Chip Awards 2026.

Golden and crispy fish, delicious battered sausages and even fried chicken are on offer here. Shaw’s caters to traditional tastes, as well as offering more modern alternatives such as chicken nuggets, vegan ‘chicken’ strips, and even margherita pizza bites – encouraging younger generations to try out the offerings in this fantastic fish shop.

This is the perfect blend of traditional and contemporary offerings, suited to all palettes.

17. Anstruther – Fife, Scotland

Average Google Review rating: 4.33
Price of regular fish and chips at Anstruther Fish Bar: £15.70

Few places in the UK love their fish and chips more than Scotland, and where better to enjoy this British classic than by the coast in Anstruther, Fife?

This stunning fishing village on Scotland’s east coast is synonymous with top-quality fish and chips, with Anstruther Fish Bar winning numerous accolades over the years. Their secret recipe batter is only known by four fryers – and we can only presume that they never fly together! 

Priding themselves on locally sourced ingredients, Anstruther Fish Bar offers a wide range of offerings, including some healthy options such as grilled and smoked haddock, as well as locally caught Scottish seafood from the quayside on which they are found. This ‘Catch of the Day’ changes daily, depending on what was caught that very morning, offering some of the freshest seafood available.

16. South Shields – Tyne & Wear, England

Average Google Review rating: 4.0
Price of regular fish and chips at Smith's Chippy: £9.50
Price of regular fish and chips at Colman's: £15.50

Back in the northeast of England, South Shields – just a few kilometres from Newcastle-upon-Tyne – is well-known as a top destination for fish and chips.

In fact, two of South Shields’ chippies – Smith’s Chippy and Colman’s – featured in the Top 50 Takeaways in the 2026 Fry Awards, showing this Tyneside town is a real hidden gem when it comes to high-quality fish and chips.

Both takeaways pride themselves on local produce, and keeping prices fair for their customers, offering a unique combination of very reasonably priced fish and chips and top-quality, local produce. With two chip shops like this in the town, it’s little wonder why South Shields features on this ranking of the best fish and chip towns in the UK.

15. Ballycastle – County Antrim, Northern Ireland

Average Google Review rating: 4.0
Price of regular fish and chips at Morton's of Ballycastle: £12.50

The coastal town of Ballycastle in County Antrim is one of the best places in Northern Ireland to enjoy fish and chips.

The windswept Antrim coast is home to lots of fish and chip shops, but few are better than Morton’s of Ballycastle, which was previously featured as a top 25 fish and chip shop in 2025.

This is a classic, no-frills chippy – offering fish and chips, sausages, burgers and chicken. Keeping it simple is part of the attraction here, and why fix something if it isn’t broken? Morton’s of Ballycastle has long been a County Antrim institution for fish and chips, and long may it stay that way.

14. Penrith – Cumbria, England

Average Google Review rating: 4.18
Price of regular fish and chips at Shap Chippy: £11.50

Staying in northern England, Penrith, on the outskirts of the Lake District, is another fantastic town where you can enjoy fish and chips in the UK.

Featured as a top takeaway in the National Federation of Fish Fryers 2026, Shap Chippy offers modern and unique items on its menu, ranging from classic fish and chips to Bengali spiced prawns and salt and pepper squid for those wanting to try something different.

They also have a mobile fish and chip van – known as ‘Shappy Wheels’ – which can sometimes be seen around the Lake District or even booked for private events such as weddings and parties.

13. Falmouth – Cornwall, England

Average Google Review rating: 4.14
Price of regular fish and chips at Harbour Lights: £13.85

Cornwall is known for its rugged beauty and excellent weather, and is a favourite destination among UK holidaymakers. It’s also well known for its incredible selection of seafood, and Falmouth is no exception to this rule.

Harbour Lights – found, unsurprisingly, on Falmouth Harbour – is an award-winning chip shop in the town, and is regularly featured in guides to the UK's best chippies.

A standout foodie destination in Cornwall, it is absolutely worth a visit, and their incredible fish and chips are best enjoyed overlooking the turquoise waters in the summer.

Harbour Lights also caters to all tastes – offering numerous vegan and vegetarian options, as well as gluten-free fish and chips, which are cooked in completely separate fryers to avoid cross-contamination.

12. Tenby – Pembrokeshire, Wales

Average Google Review rating: 4.3
Price of regular fish and chips at D. Fecci & Sons Fish & Chip Restaurant: £12.00

The Pembrokeshire Coast in Wales is one of the most stunning coastlines in the UK, and its rich marine life and beautiful scenery also make Tenby home to some of the best fish and chips in the UK.

For example, D. Fecci & Sons Fish & Chip Restaurant was a 2025/26 Winner in the Good Food Award for Fish & Chips, and this is just one of the many chippies in and around Tenby.

They only use locally-caught fish and locally grown potatoes to make their fish and chips, and they also exclusively use a wheat-free batter mix – instead of flour, they use a mix of ground rice and potato starch – meaning that their offerings are 100% gluten-free.

11. Stonehaven – Aberdeenshire, Scotland

Average Google Review rating: 4.33
Price of regular fish and chips at Redcloak Fish Bar: £12.50
Price of regular fish and chips at The Bay Fish & Chips: £13.50

With two chip shops featuring in the Fry Awards Top 50 Takeaways 2026, Stonehaven is indeed a haven for fish and chips.

Redcloak Fish Bar and The Bay Fish & Chips both offer extensive menus, with crispy, golden battered fish alongside chunky, fluffy chips for that perfect fish supper.

Redcloak Fish Bar is perfect for traditionalists, while The Bay Fish & Chips offers a more contemporary menu, as well as gluten-free options.

Both of them use locally sourced and sustainably caught fish, making Stonehaven an ideal place where you can enjoy fish and chips on the Scottish coast.

10. Caernarfon – Gwynedd, Wales

Average Google Review rating: 4.30
Price of regular fish and chips at Ainsworth's Fish & Chips: £14.00

Caernarfon’s coastal location in Northern Wales, along with the dramatic backdrop of the mighty Caernarfon Castle, not only makes it one of the most scenic places in the UK to eat fish and chips, but it’s also home to one of Wales’ best chippies.

Ainsworth’s Fish & Chips was recently named in the Top 50 Fish & Chip Takeaways in the UK for the fourth year running, and with a quick browse over their menu, it’s easy to see why: offering both cod and haddock as standard, with special meal deals including a side and a drink from as little as £11.25.

And you can even get their award-winning fish and chips delivered to your home for that ultimate Friday night takeaway.

9. Aldeburgh – Suffolk, England

Average Google Review rating: 4.43
Price of regular fish and chips at Aldeburgh Fish & Chips: £10.20

If your idea of good fish and chips is a traditional chippy, then look no further than Aldeburgh, Suffolk.

This charming coastal town is also home to one of the finest chip shops in the UK – Aldeburgh Fish & Chips.

Priding themselves on frying fish the same way since 1967 – fried in beef dripping, that is – a visit here is like taking a step back in time. Using freshly caught fish from the East Coast, there are the classic offerings of haddock and cod, as well as locally-caught rock eels – a Suffolk delicacy.

Don’t be put off by what some may perceive as a limited menu – this is traditional fish and chips at its finest, and it goes back to the old adage that sometimes less is more. Aldeburgh Fish & Chips epitomise quality over quantity, and if you're a lover of simple, well-cooked fish and chips, then this is the place for you.

8. Scarborough – North Yorkshire, England

Average Google Review rating: 4.42
Price of regular fish and chips at North Bay Fisheries: £10.50

Scarborough is perhaps not as popular as it once was, being a favourite Victorian seaside resort, but this North Yorkshire coastal town still has a unique charm of its own.

The town also holds the record for the highest concentration of chippies in the UK, with a staggering 93 (85.4 per 100,000 residents). If you’re a true fish and chips enthusiast, then you’ll definitely need to visit Scarborough – you are truly spoiled for choice here.

North Bay Fisheries is easily one of the town’s best. A short walk from the North Bay Promenade, Peasholm Park and the Open Air Theatre, this ideally-located chippy offers reasonably-priced fish and chips in a stunning location. With queues out the door even in the winter, that tells you all you need to know about this family-run Scarborough institution.

7. Torquay – Devon, England

Average Google Review rating: 4.22
Price of regular fish and chips at Pier Point Restaurant: £16.45

Set on the beautiful southern coastline of England, known as the English Riviera, along the Devonshire coastline, Torquay has long been a favourite holiday destination for Brits and others from further afield.

It’s also one of the best fish and chip towns in the UK, with Pier Point Restaurant coming in at second place in the Restaurant of the Year category at the most recent Fish and Chip Awards.

This is no ordinary ‘chippy’ – in fact, it caters for all with its extensive menu, with classic fish and chips on offer – where diners can choose from cod, haddock or hake – but there are also some more gourmet offerings, such as cod and king prawn chowder, sweet chilli and paprika fishcakes and numerous vegetarian and gluten-free options.

This is a fantastic place to visit for those who want a more upmarket fish and chips experience.

6. Darlington – County Durham, England

Average Google Review rating: 4.37
Price of regular fish and chips at Yarm Road Fish & Chips: £10.70

Darlington may come as a surprise on this list, given that it is around 30km from the nearest coastline, but it is an excellent place for fish and chips.

And there are no better places in Darlington for this delicacy than Yarm Road Fish & Chips, which finished as runner-up in the 2025 Fish & Chip Awards. Known for both its quality and consistency, Yarm Road Chippy – as it is affectionately known by locals – also has the option to sit in as well as takeaway, and has several deals on, including their popular Senior Special (small cod and chips, sauce, tea, bread and butter), which can be enjoyed by pensioners for just £13.95.

This is a true hidden gem in the northeast for fish and chip enthusiasts.

5. Surbiton – Surrey, England

Average Google Review rating: 4.47
Price of regular fish and chips at Batterfly Berrylands: £15.10

A quiet Surrey town might not be the first place you think of going for fish and chips, but finding hidden gems can be as good as finding a well-known place.

Surbiton is home to Batterfly Berrylands, a traditional chippy with an extensive menu, offering fish and chips, battered sausages, fried chicken and pies. Plus, they’ve even recently added ‘chip shop gravy’ to their menu – making them one of the only fish and chip shops south of Yorkshire to offer gravy with a chippy tea!

With a clean and tidy interior, a traditional menu and generous portions, it’s easy to see why Batterfly Berrylands was a recipient of a Good Food Award in 2025/26.

4. Lincoln – Lincolnshire, England

Average Google Review rating: 4.36
Price of regular fish and chips at The Elite Fish & Chip Company: £12.85
Price of regular fish and chips at Linford's Traditional Fish & Chips: £12.90

Lincoln is a city steeped in history, with its incredible cathedral and quaint cobbled streets, and there is no shortage of fish and chip shops here, either.

In fact, two of Lincoln’s chippies featured in the Fry Awards 2026, with The Elite Fish & Chip Company coming third in the restaurant category, and Linford’s Traditional Fish & Chips featuring in the takeaway category.

Whether you want a quick and tasty takeaway from Linford’s, or prefer to sit in and peruse the excellent menu at The Elite Fish & Chip Company – where you can choose from eight different fish options, ranging from cod to salmon to plaice – a visit to Lincoln for fish and chips is the perfect location for that ultimate combination of history and incredible food.

3. York – North Yorkshire, England

Average Google Review rating: 4.46
Price of regular fish and chips at The Scrap Box: £11.95

York, the ‘capital’ of North Yorkshire, is another hub for excellent fish and chips in the UK.

While there are plenty to choose from in the city centre, for an unforgettable experience, you will want to head out to the small village of Dunnington to visit The Scrap Box, which recently won Takeaway of the Year at the 2026 National Fish & Chip Awards.

Whether you want to try their succulent and sustainably caught haddock along with a generous portion of their beef dripping chips, or want something more popular in the north – a Spam fritter – you’re truly spoiled for choice here. 

In fact, their name derives from what Yorkshire people know as ‘scraps’ – little bits of batter which come off during the frying process, and you can get a free box of these golden crispy ‘scraps’ of batter for free with your order if you like, which really elevates it to the next level.

2. Redruth – Cornwall, England

Average Google Review rating: 4.47
Price of regular fish and chips at Greg & Lou's: £11.90

Greg & Lou’s is the town’s most beloved chippy, and it has been recognised on a national scale, too, featuring in the Top 50 Takeaways in 2026.

Plaice, lemon sole and cod (including cod roe) are the fish on offer, while their menu also includes numerous other chip shop favourites like sausages and burgers, along with vegan and vegetarian options.

The chip shop is named after the owners, with Greg making all of the featured homemade specials, while Lou prides herself on her tartare sauce.

This is a true Cornish institution, family-run, using MSC fish (sustainably caught fish) and potatoes grown on Cornish soil. A real, authentic chippy for fish and chip lovers.

1. Whitby – North Yorkshire, England

Average Google Review rating: 4.45
Price of regular fish and chips at Trencher's of Whitby: £13.50

The fish and chip shop capital of the UK is Whitby on the North Yorkshire coastline.

Known around the world for its history – including its ties to Dracula, Captain James Cook and its whaling industry – Whitby is best known for its fish and chips. Maybe not quite, but the chippies here are top-notch. 

While its most well-known spot is The Magpie, it’s Trenchers of Whitby that takes the accolades this year, winning the Restaurant of the Year at the recent Fry Awards in 2026.

From their generous portions and locally-sourced fish, to local potatoes and modern seafood offerings, Trencher’s has been an iconic Whitby eatery since it opened its doors in 1980.

With so many different chippies to choose from, you’re truly spoilt for choice in Whitby. If you want to experience fish and chips as they were meant to be enjoyed – in a traditional fishing town by the coast – then make sure to head to Whitby for your fix.

Disclaimer: Prices correct at the time of writing.