When most of us think of holidays, flying abroad to find tropical beaches, historic cities, or countryside retreats often comes to mind. While many Brits seek foreign climes for sun, sand, sea, or city breaks, they are missing out on what lies right under their noses. The United Kingdom is blessed with an enviable number of picturesque destinations, whether you are looking to explore a new town, take a stroll in a National Park, or spend a day by the seaside. With a growing desire for more sustainable travel options, plenty of travellers are reconsidering their holiday habits and looking within the UK for their next trip. If you are among the millions of Brits planning a holiday closer to home this spring or summer, take a look at our list of UK beaches so idyllic they look like they belong on the Mediterranean.
1. Durdle Door, Dorset
In 2001, the Jurassic Coast became the UK's first Unesco World Heritage site. This 96-mile stretch of coastline extends from Exmouth to Studland Bay in Dorset, with Durdle Door as its crown jewel. The famous limestone arch, formed by waves eroding a hole in the rock, is one of the UK's most iconic landmarks and one of the most popular beaches on this list. It is also dog-friendly, making it a great spot for a coastal walk with your furry friend.
2. Achmelvich Beach, Scotland
Located in the north-west of Scotland, Achmelvich Beach offers white sand typically reserved for tropical climes, yet it is just three miles from Lochinver. This beach is excellent for wildlife spotting, with birds, porpoises, dolphins, and even minke whales sometimes visible from the shore. It is also popular for water sports such as fishing, windsurfing, kayaking, and water skiing.
3. Kynance Cove, Cornwall
Visit Cornwall reckons that Kynance Cove is "probably the most photographed and painted location in Cornwall," and for good reason. Famous for the dark red and green serpentinite rock that forms its cliffs—which once tempted Queen Victoria to install a fireplace made of it—the beach sits on part of the Lizard coastal walk. However, it is the white sand and turquoise sea that truly attract thousands of visitors each year.
4. Pentle Bay, Tresco, Isles of Scilly
To be fair to other UK beaches, Pentle Bay's sub-tropical climate gives it an edge over the rest of the British Isles. Found on the island of Tresco within the Isles of Scilly, Pentle Bay has previously been named one of the best beaches in the UK and even made it onto a Wall Street Journal list of "Under-the-Radar Beaches." Praised for its "bone-white beaches" and "turquoise if chilly sea," Pentle Bay shines due to its wild, untouched appearance and can often be found empty, even in high season.
5. Great Bay, St Martin's, Isles of Scilly
Staying within the temperate Isles of Scilly, the island of St Martin's is home to another superb UK beach that could make any visitor think they were in the Azores. Backed by green hills, the rugged, rocky coastline of Great Bay gives the impression of an Atlantic destination only reachable by multiple hours of flying, rather than one just a short distance from the Cornish coast. Great Bay has been widely praised as one of the Isles' best beaches.
6. Fistral Beach, Cornwall
Fistral Beach has become famous within the UK as a popular surfing destination. The Cribbar, a nearby reef, can generate waves up to 12 metres high, attracting experienced surfers from all over the world. Its popularity as a water sports destination has led to it being overlooked by non-surfers. As a result, few have given this famous beach the credit its aesthetics deserve. The high cliffs, headlands, and sand dunes provide a dramatic backdrop, while long stretches of golden sand and blue sea await both surfers and onlookers.
7. Barafundle Bay, Wales
Wales may not be the place that springs to mind when it comes to golden sand dunes, pine trees, and crystal-clear water, but Barafundle offers all of these. Look out towards the sea to feel like you are in the Caribbean, or look back towards land to feel like you are on an Atlantic island. Moreover, the isolated location (half a mile from the town of Stackpole) and subsequent lack of facilities mean that this Pembrokeshire beach remains untouched, allowing visitors to enjoy a less crowded experience than at many other UK hotspots.
8. Holkham Beach, Norfolk
Another beach saved from commercialisation, Norfolk's Holkham Beach boasts a seemingly endless expanse of sand and sea. Backed by forest to shelter you from the sun, the sheer size of this unspoilt landscape will make you feel like you are abroad. Here, the attraction is the natural setting, with grassy knolls and pine woods behind the beach similar to some beaches in the United States.
9. Portmeirion Beach, Wales
If the charming, Italian-style Portmeirion village itself were not enough of an attraction, Portmeirion also boasts an impressive beach. It may not have the white sands or turquoise waters found at some other entries on this list, but the scenic backdrop—and its uniqueness within the UK—make this a worthwhile visit. Located in northern Wales, the beach benefits from its setting: pastel buildings and classical architecture intertwine with classic British woodland to give the entire location a UK-meets-Italy feel.
10. Luskentyre Sands, Outer Hebrides, Scotland
Luskentyre is not as easy to reach as some beaches on this list, but it is more than worth the extra effort. With golden sand and almost incredibly blue water, this UK beach lends itself equally to sunny relaxation days or stormy hiking ones. Visit on a warm summer's day if you want to convince yourself that you are somewhere in the Indian Ocean rather than in Scotland—but best to pack a waterproof, just in case.
