Top 5 UK beaches to hit up on your summer holidays
The countdown to summer is well underway, which means more and more people are starting to
plan out their upcoming holidays. For those planning to stay closer to home for a UK staycation,
there are plenty of excellent spots to choose from around the country, whether you’re looking for a
countryside retreat or a city break.
One of the best options for a UK summer holiday is still a trip to the seaside, with so many beaches
to choose from around the island’s long coastline. To help you get a head start with picking which
one might be the ideal choice for your upcoming summer holidays in the UK we’ve put together our
list of the best beaches to hit up this summer.
- Godrevy Beach, Cornwall
Sitting across the bay from the pretty town of St Ives, Godrevy Beach is an impressive stretch of
golden sands that stretches for more than three miles at low tides when it links up with
neighbouring Gwithian Beach. With strong swells rolling in from the Atlantic it’s the perfect location for surfers looking for some exciting waves to tackle.
The longest beach in Cornwall, there’s space for visitors to spread out along the crescent and enjoy their own spot of sand even during the busier summer months. With rockpools aplenty and a local seal colony located in a cove just a short walk across the headland, you can easily spend a day enjoying the sights here.
With views directly across the bay to the postcard-pretty town of St Ives, Godrevy is an idyllic slice of Cornish beauty that no visitor to the county should miss. - Durdle Door, Dorset
The Jurassic Coast is a standout destination thanks to its geological features and treasure trove of
fossils. While you need to be pretty lucky to find a fossil of your own, it’s still a great way to spend
some time poking around among the rocks on your summer holidays. There are many excellent beaches along this stretch of Dorset coast but the iconic arch at Durdle Door makes it a natural choice for a visit. With stunning scenery and clear waters, it’s an ideal beach for swimming or snorkelling, as well as simple walks and sunbathing. If the west beach starts getting a little busy it’s an easy matter to relocate to the adjoining Man o’War Beach on the eastern side of the arch. Just be ready to tackle some steep steps up and down the cliffs to reach each of these pretty coves!
- Luskentyre Beach, Isle of Harris
For a very different type of beach holiday, consider heading to the far north and visiting the Outer
Hebrides. It might not boast the same sorts of temperatures and sunshine hours as beaches in the south but Luskentyre Beach is an incredible slice of paradise.
This remote retreat feels almost like something from a different world, which makes it an excellent place to disconnect from the busyness of everyday life. Its length of white sands and aquamarine waters stand out against a backdrop of mountains, making it the ideal place to take some stunning holiday snaps.
Whether you visit on a clear sunny day or one with slightly moodier cloud cover, Luskentyre is sure to stun with its incredible scenery. - Filey Beach, North Yorkshire
Situated on the North Yorkshire coast, Filey Beach looks out onto the North Sea and offers visitors a slice of tranquillity. The five-mile stretch of sand gives you more than enough space to spread out, as well as making for some great beach walks.
The nearby RSPB reserve of Bempton Cliffs attracts a wide variety of seabirds and other wildlife
throughout the year. During the early summer months, you’ll be able to see the cliffs transformed
with thousands upon thousands of seabirds, ideal for any nature enthusiasts in the group.
Parts of the beach do have seasonal restrictions on whether dogs are permitted on the sand or not, so be sure to check the signage carefully if you’re bringing a four-legged friend along for the trip. - Woolacombe Beach, Devon
Sitting on the north Devon coast, Woolacombe Beach is a consistent award-winner and regularly
ranks among the best beaches in the whole of Europe. It’s not hard to see why once you get a look at this beautiful beach, backed by rolling sand dunes and forming part of the North Devon Coast National Landscape.
The beach is also notable for its cleanliness, beachside parking and other amenities, with a line of
colourful beach huts available for rent. Owned by a family-run company, Woolacombe is a well-
maintained beach that aims to offer families the best possible experience out on the sands.
Perfect for family sandcastle building or water sports from surfing to kayaking, Woolacombe is one of those seaside destinations you won’t forget any time soon.
On clear days you can look out towards Lundy Island, which sits about 12 miles off the coast. If you
plan on staying in the area for a while then a visit to the island is well worth it, with so much wildlife to be seen on the cliffs or in the waters around the coast.
No matter whether you’re planning to head north, south, east or west, the UK has some incredible
beaches just waiting for a summer visit. So, even if you don’t go with one of our choices here, you’re
sure to find a beach to spend some quality time lounging at this year.
