There are endless beaches along the UK’s coast. We’re talking remote beaches with white sand that looks like it came straight from the Caribbean, traditional seaside towns with deckchairs and donkey rides, and cliff-backed coves with the bluest waters imaginable. Any type of beach you’re looking for can be found in the United Kingdom, including untamed, well-known, family favourites, and undiscovered gems.
In light of this, we have searched these fine coasts for the pinnacle British beach experience. We’ve compiled a list of 20 of the best beaches in the UK, including locations in North Yorkshire, Norfolk, the Scottish Highlands, and the southern coast.
1. North Yorkshire’s Robin Hood’s Bay.
The charming fishing community of Robin Hood’s Bay, which seems to be stuck in a time warp, is the ideal getaway from the contemporary world. The beach offers a piece of Yorkshire’s stunning coastline all year long, shielded from the outside world by steep, jagged cliffs.
When the tide is out, hundreds of rockpools line the shore in Robin Hood’s Bay, making it a fantastic destination for kids. After searching through the rocks for creatures, head to the local pub for some famous North Yorkshire scampi.
2. Northumberland’s Bamburgh Beach.
Locals from Northumberland will tell you that this section of shoreline is the best in all of Britain (or maybe they won’t; they might wish to keep you away). The most well-known location is possibly Bamburgh, a gem of a beach guarded by a menacing castle. When the weather is right, this beach is excellent for some sunbathing. It’s also great for walkers, windsurfers, and surfers.
While you’re here, make sure to visit the charming pubs and cafes in the old village of Bamburgh.
3. Durdle Door in Dorset.
Durdle Door, with its distinctive limestone arch, is perhaps one of Britain’s most recognised beaches and has more than a hint of the Algarve about it. This gorgeous bay, which is surrounded by miles and miles of beautiful scenery, has emerged as the face of the Jurassic Coast. The bay is shielded from tidal swells by a natural offshore reef, making it the perfect place for swimming, snorkelling, and diving.
For more of Dorset’s top beaches, travel from here to the nearby Lulworth Cove and Man O’War Beach; there must be something in the sea in this area.
4. Scotland’s Sandwood Bay.
Only the most devoted beach bums enjoy the remote benefits of Sandwood Bay, a secluded location in northern Scotland. A desolate moorland track that extends approximately 6.5 kilometres (4 miles) from the nearby hamlet of Blairmore ends at the beach.
The fact that Sandwood Bay is so far away from civilization might be its best feature; on any given day, you might have the entire 2 km (1.5 km) of beach to yourself. Some people refer to it as the UK’s best beach. One glance makes it difficult to object.
5. Plymouth Cornwall Beach
Would you go to the ends of the earth (or, at least, all of Britain) in search of the ideal beach? For the pristine sands of Cornwall’s Porthcurno, you might have to. One of Cornwall’s top beaches, Porthcurno is renowned for its crystal-clear waters reminiscent of the Caribbean, fine, golden sand, and the rugged cliffs that properly protect the bay from the weather.
But appearances alone are not everything. No other beach in Britain can match Porthcurno’s ability to boast an outdoor theatre. The Minack looks out over the beach and the Atlantic Ocean’s crashing waves. It is carved into the rock and located on a cliff top. How dramatic is that?
6. Huisinis, Offshore Isles.
The secluded beach of Huisinis, located on the west coast of Harris in the Outer Hebrides, is a little farther away than some of the other locations described here. If the weather were perfect, you might mistake this location for the Med with the crystal-clear waters and golden dunes; all that’s lacking are the palm palms.
The attractiveness of Huisinis resides in part in what you won’t find here, together with the abundance of beaches in this region of Scotland. There are no fish and chip shops, garish amusement arcades, or other forms of entertainment but what nature offers, such as eagles, deer, cormorants, and occasionally even seals, dolphins, and whales. The Outer Hebrides’ islands are accessible by ferry both from the mainland and between them.
