The UK has more than eleven thousand miles of coastline, and on a sunny day its best beaches can hold their own against anywhere in the world. There are wide sandy bays, tiny coves between cliffs, white shell sand in the Hebrides and pebble beaches beneath chalk arches. Bring a jumper anyway.
These are our ten favourites, from Cornwall to the Outer Hebrides. For each, we have included what makes it special, how to get there and a tip for the best visit. Always check the tide times, swim only where it is safe and follow the advice of lifeguards where there are any.
1. Rhossili Bay, Gower
Rhossili Bay, at the western tip of the Gower Peninsula near Swansea, is regularly named among the best beaches in Britain and the world. It is a huge sweep of golden sand, around three miles long, beneath the steep slopes of Rhossili Down. The views from the clifftop above are breathtaking.
At the southern end of the bay lies Worm’s Head, a long tidal island shaped like a sea serpent, from an old word for dragon. You can walk out to it across rocks at low tide, but only within a safe window either side of low water, so check the tide times carefully at the coastguard lookout. Getting cut off is a real danger.
At low tide, the wooden ribs of a shipwreck, the Helvetia, which ran aground in 1887, poke out of the sand. The beach is popular with surfers and paragliders, who launch from the down above. The National Trust looks after much of the land around the bay.
The walk down from the village to the beach is steep, and the walk back up is steeper. The village of Rhossili has a car park, a pub and a café. It is about forty five minutes from Swansea.
2. Luskentyre, Isle of Harris
Luskentyre, on the west coast of the Isle of Harris in the Outer Hebrides, is often called the most beautiful beach in Britain. Its sand is pure white, made of crushed shells, and the water shines turquoise and green like a tropical lagoon. The mountains of North Harris rise behind it.
At low tide, the sand stretches for miles across the bay, with streams winding through it. The beach is so wide that you can walk for hours and see hardly anyone. Seilebost, across the bay, is just as beautiful.
The water is cold all year round, as this is the North Atlantic, but brave swimmers still take a dip. The light in the Hebrides is extraordinary, changing constantly with the clouds. Otters and seabirds live along the shore.
Harris is reached by ferry from Uig on the Isle of Skye to Tarbert. It is also famous for Harris Tweed, woven by hand in islanders’ homes. The roads are narrow and single track, and a car is essential for exploring.
3. Bamburgh, Northumberland
Bamburgh beach, on the Northumberland coast, is a vast stretch of golden sand beneath one of the most spectacular castles in Britain. Bamburgh Castle stands on a rock above the dunes. The combination is unforgettable.
The beach stretches for miles, backed by high dunes covered in grass. Out to sea lie the Farne Islands, home to puffins, seals and huge colonies of seabirds, and to the north lies Holy Island. On a clear day, the views are wonderful.
The beach is rarely crowded, even in summer, because it is so big. It is lovely for long walks, kite flying and paddling. The water is cold, but refreshing.
The village of Bamburgh has a museum about Grace Darling, the lighthouse keeper’s daughter who became a heroine in 1838. Boat trips to the Farne Islands leave from Seahouses, a few miles south. The castle is open to visitors.
4. Porthcurno, Cornwall
Porthcurno, near Land’s End in Cornwall, is a small cove of fine, pale sand between granite cliffs. The water is often a brilliant turquoise. It is one of the most beautiful beaches in Cornwall.
Above the beach, carved into the cliffs, is the Minack Theatre, an open air theatre with the sea as its backdrop. It was built by one woman, Rowena Cade, and her helpers from the 1930s. Seeing a play there on a summer evening is magical.
Porthcurno was once the centre of the world’s undersea telegraph network, where cables carrying messages across the oceans came ashore. A museum in the village tells the story. It is a fascinating hidden history.
The beach shelves steeply, and there can be strong currents, so take care when swimming and follow the lifeguards’ advice. The car park is small and fills early in summer. The walk along the coast path to Logan Rock is lovely.
5. Kynance Cove, Cornwall
Kynance Cove, on the Lizard peninsula in Cornwall, is one of the most photographed places in Britain. Its white sand and turquoise water are surrounded by dramatic stacks of red and green serpentine rock. It is looked after by the National Trust.
The cove is at its best at low tide, when the sand is revealed between the rocks, and you can explore the caves and islands. At high tide, much of the beach disappears under the water. Check the tide times before you go.
A café on the beach serves food and drinks. The walk down to the cove from the car park is steep, and the path back up is a climb. The clifftop views are spectacular.
Lizard Point, the most southerly point of mainland Britain, is a short walk along the coast path. The Lizard peninsula has other lovely coves and villages. The cove is very busy in summer, so arrive early.
6. Woolacombe, Devon
Woolacombe, on the north coast of Devon, has one of the finest beaches in England, a three mile stretch of golden sand backed by dunes. It has been voted one of the best beaches in Britain many times. It holds a Blue Flag for its clean water.
The beach is famous for its surfing, with consistent waves rolling in from the Atlantic. Surf schools offer lessons for beginners. On a summer’s day, the water is full of surfers and bodyboarders.
At the northern end, Barricane Beach is a small cove famous for its shells, washed up from far away. At the southern end, Putsborough is a quieter beach. Morte Point, a rocky headland, has wonderful walks.
The village of Woolacombe has cafés, shops and places to stay. The beach has lifeguards in summer. It is about twenty minutes from Barnstaple.
7. Holkham, Norfolk
Holkham beach, on the north Norfolk coast, is one of the largest and most beautiful beaches in England. It is a huge expanse of sand, backed by pine woods and dunes, part of a national nature reserve. At low tide, the sea retreats so far that it can feel like a desert.
The beach is reached by a walk along a boardwalk through the pine woods from Lady Anne’s Drive. It is famous for its final scene in the film Shakespeare in Love, when Gwyneth Paltrow walks along the sand. It has appeared in many other films too.
The nature reserve is home to many birds, and in winter huge flocks of geese fly overhead. The dunes and pines are lovely for walking. There are no buildings on the beach itself.
Holkham Hall, a grand Palladian house, is on the estate nearby. Wells-next-the-Sea, a short walk along the beach, has colourful beach huts and a harbour. The beach is so big that it never feels crowded.
8. West Wittering, West Sussex
West Wittering, near Chichester in West Sussex, is one of the best beaches in the south of England. It is a long, wide sandy beach at the mouth of Chichester Harbour, with views of the South Downs and the Isle of Wight. The water is shallow and calm, lovely for paddling.
At the western end of the beach is East Head, a sand spit looked after by the National Trust, with dunes and wildlife. The beach is popular with windsurfers and kitesurfers. It holds a Blue Flag.
The beach is privately owned and managed, which keeps it clean. There are beach huts, a café and toilets. It is lovely for families.
West Wittering gets extremely busy on hot summer days, and the car park can fill early in the morning, causing long queues on the roads. Being dropped off and collected is the easiest way to avoid the traffic. See our Chichester guide.
9. Barafundle Bay, Pembrokeshire
Barafundle Bay, on the Stackpole estate in Pembrokeshire, is often voted one of the best beaches in Britain. It is a secluded bay of golden sand, backed by dunes and pine trees, with clear, turquoise water. It feels like a hidden paradise.
The beach can only be reached on foot, which keeps it quiet. The walk from the car park at Stackpole Quay takes about fifteen minutes, over a clifftop path and down steps to the sand. There are no cafés or facilities on the beach, so bring everything you need.
The Stackpole estate, looked after by the National Trust, has other lovely beaches and walks. The Bosherston Lily Ponds, nearby, are beautiful in early summer when the water lilies bloom. Otters live in the ponds.
The Pembrokeshire Coast Path runs past the bay. The beach is lovely for swimming on a calm day. Tenby is about twenty minutes away.
10. Durdle Door, Dorset
Durdle Door, on the Jurassic Coast in Dorset, is one of the most famous natural landmarks in Britain. It is a huge limestone arch standing in the sea, carved by the waves over thousands of years. The Jurassic Coast is a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
A steep path leads down from the clifftop to the shingle beach beside the arch. On a calm day, you can swim near it. On the other side of the headland, Man O’War beach is another lovely cove.
Nearby, Lulworth Cove is an almost perfectly round cove, formed when the sea broke through a band of hard rock. The walk between Lulworth Cove and Durdle Door, along the clifftop, is one of the most beautiful short walks in England. The rocks along this coast are rich in fossils.
Durdle Door is very busy on summer days, and the car parks fill early. The path down is steep and can be slippery. Take care when swimming, as the water deepens quickly.
Beach days without the car park
The best beaches have the smallest car parks, and on a sunny weekend they fill by ten. Being dropped at the top of the path and collected at an agreed time is the calmest way to do it. See also the best beaches near Manchester and Scotland’s best beaches.
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