The UK is home to some of the most beautiful beaches in the world. From dramatic cliff-lined coves in Cornwall to stunning white-sand beaches in Scotland, there are beaches to rival anywhere in the world.  Here are just some of Britain’s best beaches, from secluded sands to traditional seaside shores.

The best beaches in the UK:

Pentle Bay, Scilly Isles

This sheltered bay is on the eastern tip of Tresco on the Isles of Scilly, 30 miles south-west of Land’s End. It’s a picture-perfect spot for swimming, sunbathing and paddling. With its gentle waves, soft white sand and clear turquoise waters, Pentle Bay looks more like the Caribbean than Cornwall.

Holkham Beach, Norfolk 

This vast stretch of shining golden beach backed by sand dunes and pine trees is one of the most popular in Norfolk. The enormous beach – four miles – is part of the Holkham estate and nature reserve, making for a wild and unspoilt landscape where BBQs and campfires are forbidden.

Blackpool Sands, Devon 

Set in a sheltered cove surrounded by pine trees, Blackpool Sands is one of the most popular beaches in Devon. The tranquil clear blue waters are perfect for swimming and there are plenty of activities on offer, including kayaking, windsurfing and stand-up paddleboarding.

Fistral Beach, Cornwall

Popular with surfers, Fistral Beach is where the British Surfing Championships are held every year. The beach is located just south of Newquay in Cornwall and is a great place to learn how to surf as there are plenty of schools in the area offering lessons. The waves at Fistral Beach can get pretty big, (up to 40ft) so it’s best to be a confident swimmer.

Whitstable Beach, Kent

Whitstable is a traditional seaside town with a working harbour, charming beach huts and a pebble beach. Oysters are a big draw here: from the stalls dotted around the town to the popular annual oyster festival.

Bamburgh Beach, Northumberland 

This Northumbrian beach is frequently voted one of the best seaside resorts in the UK.  With its dramatic castle towering over miles of golden sand backed by sand dunes, and its clear blue waters and rock pools, it’s no wonder Bamburgh is a family favourite. 

Porthcurno, Cornwall

Porthcurno beach is one of the most spectacular beaches in Cornwall. Granite cliffs topped by the Minack Theatre fringe a white shell beach and stunning clear turquoise sea. Take care of the steeply shelving beach and powerful waves. 

Sandbanks, Dorset

Sandbanks, the Dorset peninsula as popular with millionaires as it is holidaymakers,  is widely considered one of the best beaches in the UK. Its golden sands that are lined with some of the most expensive properties – and beach huts – in the UK,  shelve gently into clear blue water. 

Aldeburgh, Suffolk

Aldeburgh is a beautiful coastal town in Suffolk well known for its Blue Flag shingle beach.  Pick up fish and chips or fresh catch from the fisherman’s huts and enjoy the big skies – look out for red kites wheeling overhead.

Kynance Cove, Cornwall 

Kynance Cove on Cornwall’s Lizard Peninsula is seen by many as one of the most spectacular beaches in the UK, and possibly the world. Its white sandy beach and crystal-clear turquoise water is dotted with rock stacks. It gets extremely busy in the summer, and be aware of being cut off by the tide if exploring at low tide.

West Bay, Dorset

West Bay is home to two beaches, East Beach and West Beach. East Beach’s sloping shingle beach is backed by 50m spectacular golden sandstone cliffs fans of Broadchurch may recognize. The cliffs form part of the Jurassic Coast, a World Heritage Site, and walkers along the South West Coast Path can enjoy views over to Chesil Beach and Portland. West Beach is smaller and popular with families. 

Rhossili Bay, Wales

Frequently voted one of Wales’ best beaches, Rhossili Bay is a stunning beach on the Gower Peninsula.

Its three miles of fine golden sand are popular with families, while surfers come for the Atlantic swells. It’s also home to the shipwreck of the Helvetia, which makes it a popular spot with divers.

Bournemouth Beach, Dorset

Bournemouth Beach is one of the most popular beaches in England, attracting thousands at the weekend in the summer.  Its seven miles of golden sand, long promenade and clear blue water are family favourites, and it’s lined with bright beach huts you can hire for the day or week.

The beach is also home to a number of attractions, including the Bournemouth Pier, Oceanarium, and the Bournemouth Eye.

Sennen Cove, Cornwall 

Sennen Cove is a stone’s throw from Land’s End, the most westerly point in mainland England.  Its mile-long stretch of sand curves around in a crescent. As it’s exposed to a lot of swell from the Atlantic Ocean, it’s a popular surf spot.  Look out for dolphins riding the waves, too. 

Balnakeil Beach, Scotland

Balnakeil Beach is a beautiful, secluded beach located in the far north of Scotland near Cape Wrath. Its wide beach of pristine sands backed by sand dunes wraps around a crescent bay. It’s a great place to watch the sun set. 

Weymouth Beach, Dorset

Weymouth Beach in west Dorset is a traditional seaside resort, popular since the Victorian era. It’s well known for its three miles of golden sand, clear blue water, and its pier.

It’s home to a number of attractions, including Weymouth Sea Life Centre and Weymouth Pavilion. The beach is also home to one of just three remaining full-time Punch and Judy shows left in the UK. 

Joss Bay, Kent 

Joss Bay in Broadstairs is one of the best beaches in Kent for surfing, with its gentle waves and sandy bottom making it ideal for beginners.

It’s also home to a surf school. Halfway between Margate and Broadstairs, the beach is also a good starting point for walks – although take care, as the beach gets cut off at both ends at high tide.