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Sun, Sea, and Nostalgia: Vintage Photos of People at the Seaside in the 20th Century

Many people look forward to spending time at the seaside as summer approaches. It’s a tradition that goes back over a century and has been captured in the following vintage photos. These images show us how people lived at the seaside in the first half of the 20th century. We see women in long skirts and hats, men in suits and ties, and children in their Sunday best. It’s very different from the casual beachwear we wear today. But the photos also show a sense of fun and playfulness. We see people building sandcastles, playing games, and enjoying a day at the beach.

Many of the photos were taken before modern beach culture emerged, and we see people enjoying the sand and sea more naturally. There are no high-rise hotels, no sun loungers, and no crowds. It’s just people enjoying the beauty of the seaside.

So as you pack your bags and head to the beach this summer, remember that you’re part of a long tradition. Look at these vintage photos and appreciate that the seaside has fascinated and delighted generations before us.

#1 A young lady in a light-colored dress posing on a beach on an overcast day.

A young lady in a light-colored dress posing on a beach on an overcast day.

Next to her in the sand, a handbag, a book, and a cloche hat can be seen, 1925

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Sun, Sea, and Nostalgia: Vintage Photos of People at the Seaside in the 20th Century

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#2 A company of six posing with a 1926 Studebaker Phaeton on a beach in wintertime, December 9, 1927

A company of six posing with a 1926 Studebaker Phaeton on a beach in wintertime, December 9, 1927

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Sun, Sea, and Nostalgia: Vintage Photos of People at the Seaside in the 20th Century

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#3 Three fashionable ladies and a freckled boy in a sailor suit posing at the seaside. In the background, the breach is covered with typical German beach chairs (Strandkörbe), 1928

Three fashionable ladies and a freckled boy in a sailor suit posing at the seaside. In the background, the breach is covered with typical German beach chairs (Strandkörbe), 1928

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Sun, Sea, and Nostalgia: Vintage Photos of People at the Seaside in the 20th Century

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#4 Two cheerful ladies posing with a parasol on a wooden pier overlooking the Baltic Sea, 1928

Two cheerful ladies posing with a parasol on a wooden pier overlooking the Baltic Sea, 1928

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Sun, Sea, and Nostalgia: Vintage Photos of People at the Seaside in the 20th Century

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#5 A fashionable lady carrying a lace parasol and her daughter, holding a doll in her arm, posing on a seaside boulevard in summertime, 1930s

A fashionable lady carrying a lace parasol and her daughter, holding a doll in her arm, posing on a seaside boulevard in summertime, 1930s

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Sun, Sea, and Nostalgia: Vintage Photos of People at the Seaside in the 20th Century

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#6 Two cheerful ladies strolling along the pier at Llandudno, Wales, circa 1930s

Two cheerful ladies strolling along the pier at Llandudno, Wales, circa 1930s

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Sun, Sea, and Nostalgia: Vintage Photos of People at the Seaside in the 20th Century

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#7 Two cheerful young ladies posing on a sandy beach, suntan in progress.

Two cheerful young ladies posing on a sandy beach, suntan in progress.

A couple of typical German beach chairs (Strandkörbe) can be seen in the background, 1930s

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Sun, Sea, and Nostalgia: Vintage Photos of People at the Seaside in the 20th Century

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#8 A seaside promenade bustling with an elegant crowd on a sunny day.

A seaside promenade bustling with an elegant crowd on a sunny day.

The location is Place Albert in the Belgian seaside resort of Knokke. The hotels in the right of the picture are named "Carlton" and "Grand Hotel Belle Vue", 1932

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Sun, Sea, and Nostalgia: Vintage Photos of People at the Seaside in the 20th Century

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#9 A fashionable lady and her daughter posing in front of a distinctive Art déco building in summertime.

A fashionable lady and her daughter posing in front of a distinctive Art déco building in summertime.

An elegant two-tone convertible can be seen parked in the street behind them, 1935

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Sun, Sea, and Nostalgia: Vintage Photos of People at the Seaside in the 20th Century

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#10 A group of middle-class holidaymakers posing at the seaside.

A group of middle-class holidaymakers posing at the seaside.

In the centre of the photo, three cheerful teenage girls in summer dresses and their father, wearing a white shirt and a sweater vest, can be seen, 1935

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Sun, Sea, and Nostalgia: Vintage Photos of People at the Seaside in the 20th Century

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#11 A stylish couple posing next to an elaborate lamp post at the waterfront, 1935

A stylish couple posing next to an elaborate lamp post at the waterfront, 1935

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Sun, Sea, and Nostalgia: Vintage Photos of People at the Seaside in the 20th Century

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#12 Six members of a British middle-class family posing at the seaside, 1935

Six members of a British middle-class family posing at the seaside, 1935

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Sun, Sea, and Nostalgia: Vintage Photos of People at the Seaside in the 20th Century

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#13 Two fashionable ladies strolling along a seafront promenade on a sunny summer’s day.

Two fashionable ladies strolling along a seafront promenade on a sunny summer's day.

This wonderful holiday shot was taken on the German North Sea island of Borkum, 1935

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Sun, Sea, and Nostalgia: Vintage Photos of People at the Seaside in the 20th Century

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#14 Two ladies and a fellow with a fedora hat posing on the running board of a 1935 Chevrolet Master DeLuxe Sedan in late afternoon sunshine, 1936

Two ladies and a fellow with a fedora hat posing on the running board of a 1935 Chevrolet Master DeLuxe Sedan in late afternoon sunshine, 1936

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Sun, Sea, and Nostalgia: Vintage Photos of People at the Seaside in the 20th Century

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#15 A company of four well-to-do ladies posing on a promenade overlooking the sea.

A company of four well-to-do ladies posing on a promenade overlooking the sea.

The words "Maisie, May, Jean, Netta – Douglas Head. August 1937" are handwritten on reverse, August 1937

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Sun, Sea, and Nostalgia: Vintage Photos of People at the Seaside in the 20th Century

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#16 A bashful young lady in a two-piece swimsuit posing on a beach.

A bashful young lady in a two-piece swimsuit posing on a beach.

A typical German beach chair (Strandkorb) can be seen behind her, 1938

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Sun, Sea, and Nostalgia: Vintage Photos of People at the Seaside in the 20th Century

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#17 A blonde lady posing on a beach in summertime. She is wearing a polka dot top and slacks with sewn-in creases, 1938

A blonde lady posing on a beach in summertime. She is wearing a polka dot top and slacks with sewn-in creases, 1938

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Sun, Sea, and Nostalgia: Vintage Photos of People at the Seaside in the 20th Century

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#18 Two cheerful young ladies enjoying a day at the seaside. A typical German beach chair (Strandkorb) can be seen on the right-hand side of the picture, 1938

Two cheerful young ladies enjoying a day at the seaside. A typical German beach chair (Strandkorb) can be seen on the right-hand side of the picture, 1938

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Sun, Sea, and Nostalgia: Vintage Photos of People at the Seaside in the 20th Century

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#19 Two cheerful young ladies posing on a landing stage on a blustery summer’s day. The photo was taken on the German North Sea island of Baltrum by a family from the city of Breslau, 1938

Two cheerful young ladies posing on a landing stage on a blustery summer's day. The photo was taken on the German North Sea island of Baltrum by a family from the city of Breslau, 1938

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Sun, Sea, and Nostalgia: Vintage Photos of People at the Seaside in the 20th Century

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#20 Two ladies and two children posing on a landing stage. Originally the photograph comes from the city of Breslau, today known by its Polish name of Wroclaw, 1938

Two ladies and two children posing on a landing stage. Originally the photograph comes from the city of Breslau, today known by its Polish name of Wroclaw, 1938

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Sun, Sea, and Nostalgia: Vintage Photos of People at the Seaside in the 20th Century

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#21 Three young American women posing on a bench at the seaside. They are dressed in traditional Spanish lace Mantillas, 1941

Three young American women posing on a bench at the seaside. They are dressed in traditional Spanish lace Mantillas, 1941

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Sun, Sea, and Nostalgia: Vintage Photos of People at the Seaside in the 20th Century

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#22 A young lady in a so-called Monokini swimsuit posing on the beach. The print is dated “1948” on reverse, 1948

A young lady in a so-called Monokini swimsuit posing on the beach. The print is dated "1948" on reverse, 1948

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Sun, Sea, and Nostalgia: Vintage Photos of People at the Seaside in the 20th Century

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#23 A young lady in two-piece swimsuit enjoying a day at the seaside.

A young lady in two-piece swimsuit enjoying a day at the seaside.

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Sun, Sea, and Nostalgia: Vintage Photos of People at the Seaside in the 20th Century

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#24 Two young ladies in white swimsuits enjoying a day at the seaside, 1948

Two young ladies in white swimsuits enjoying a day at the seaside, 1948

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Sun, Sea, and Nostalgia: Vintage Photos of People at the Seaside in the 20th Century

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#25 A platinum-blonde lady in a one-piece swimsuit posing on a sunny beach.

A platinum-blonde lady in a one-piece swimsuit posing on a sunny beach.

A row of parked cars and storefronts reading "Ocean Front Market" and "Newport Beach Pharmacy" can be seen in the background, 1949

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Sun, Sea, and Nostalgia: Vintage Photos of People at the Seaside in the 20th Century

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#26 A blonde girl posing in the seat of a pedal tricycle on a beach in midday sunshine.

A blonde girl posing in the seat of a pedal tricycle on a beach in midday sunshine.

The following words in French are handwritten on reverse "1950 – Plage de Perros-Guirec Bretagne", 1950

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Sun, Sea, and Nostalgia: Vintage Photos of People at the Seaside in the 20th Century

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#27 A curly-haired lady dressed in tartan check trousers posing with a 1949 Oldsmobile 88 4-Door Sedan in late afternoon sunshine، 1952

A curly-haired lady dressed in tartan check trousers posing with a 1949 Oldsmobile 88 4-Door Sedan in late afternoon sunshine، 1952

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Sun, Sea, and Nostalgia: Vintage Photos of People at the Seaside in the 20th Century

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#28 A mother and her daughter posing with a Renault 4 CV on a beach in bright midday sunshine, April 1952

A mother and her daughter posing with a Renault 4 CV on a beach in bright midday sunshine, April 1952

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Sun, Sea, and Nostalgia: Vintage Photos of People at the Seaside in the 20th Century

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#29 A brunette lady in a one-piece swimsuit posing at the seaside, 1955

A brunette lady in a one-piece swimsuit posing at the seaside, 1955

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Sun, Sea, and Nostalgia: Vintage Photos of People at the Seaside in the 20th Century

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#30 Three members of a middle-class family posing with a Morris Oxford in bright midday sunshine at the seaside, 1955

Three members of a middle-class family posing with a Morris Oxford in bright midday sunshine at the seaside, 1955

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Sun, Sea, and Nostalgia: Vintage Photos of People at the Seaside in the 20th Century

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#31 A brunette lady posing on a beach in mid-day sunshine, 1958

A brunette lady posing on a beach in mid-day sunshine, 1958

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Sun, Sea, and Nostalgia: Vintage Photos of People at the Seaside in the 20th Century

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#32 A young lady posing with a Lloyd LP 600 on a sandy beach in summertime, 1958

A young lady posing with a Lloyd LP 600 on a sandy beach in summertime, 1958

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Sun, Sea, and Nostalgia: Vintage Photos of People at the Seaside in the 20th Century

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#33 Two fashionable ladies posing in the reeds in summertime, circa 1958

Two fashionable ladies posing in the reeds in summertime, circa 1958

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Sun, Sea, and Nostalgia: Vintage Photos of People at the Seaside in the 20th Century

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#34 A blonde lady in a two-piece swimsuit posing on a sunny beach, 1950s

A blonde lady in a two-piece swimsuit posing on a sunny beach, 1950s

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Sun, Sea, and Nostalgia: Vintage Photos of People at the Seaside in the 20th Century

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#35 A cheerful blonde lady in a two-piece swimsuit posing on a beach in summertime, 1950s

A cheerful blonde lady in a two-piece swimsuit posing on a beach in summertime, 1950s

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Sun, Sea, and Nostalgia: Vintage Photos of People at the Seaside in the 20th Century

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#36 A dapper, pipe-smoking fellow posing in the dunes at the seaside, 1950s

A dapper, pipe-smoking fellow posing in the dunes at the seaside, 1950s

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Sun, Sea, and Nostalgia: Vintage Photos of People at the Seaside in the 20th Century

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#37 A young brunette lady in a fashionable one-piece swimsuit posing at the seaside, 1950s

A young brunette lady in a fashionable one-piece swimsuit posing at the seaside, 1950s

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Sun, Sea, and Nostalgia: Vintage Photos of People at the Seaside in the 20th Century

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#38 Two cheerful ladies posing on a sandy beach on an overcast day, 1950s

Two cheerful ladies posing on a sandy beach on an overcast day, 1950s

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Sun, Sea, and Nostalgia: Vintage Photos of People at the Seaside in the 20th Century

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#39 Two young ladies posing on a seaside promenade in the town of Cannes on the French Riviera, 1950s

Two young ladies posing on a seaside promenade in the town of Cannes on the French Riviera, 1950s

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Sun, Sea, and Nostalgia: Vintage Photos of People at the Seaside in the 20th Century

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Written by Sarah Johnson

Sarah Johnson is a freelance writer and photographer with a passion for exploring the world. Her writing is both informative and engaging, offering unique perspectives on travel, food, and lifestyle.

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