There are perks to being an island. For instance, having your own mini-islands and territories, surrounding the bigger ‘main’ island, which in our case, is generally known as the UK. From the very top of the Shetlands to the bottom of the Channel Islands, we’re lucky to be near a lot of stunning off-land scenery.
There are over 6,000 islands in and around Britain, hundreds of which are worth visiting, but it would take a long time to actually get around them all. As such, you’ve got to prioritise only the best of the best when booking your next adventure. But don’t fret; you don’t need to pour over travel blogs to figure out where to go because the readers of Condé Nast Traveller (CNT) just crowned their top 10 islands in the British isles.
At the very top, taking the gold medal was Jersey. One half of the Channel Islands, which are not actually in the UK at all but instead ‘crown dependencies’, Jersey received a score of 95.29 out of 100. The readers weren’t asked to justify their choices, so we don’t know exactly why so many people loved Jersey, but it likely has something to do with its ease of access to both natural landscapes and beaches.
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In second place were the Isles of Scilly, which are off the coast of Cornwall. They were also voted as having the UK’s most scenic natural landscapes by Which?, explaining why they secured a score of 93.77 overall. The Isle of Wight, famous for its annual music festival, closed out the top three, earning 91.24.
The other Channel Island, Guernsey, also made the top 10, coming in seventh. Although it was rated lower than its sibling, receiving 81.90, it’s still worth a visit if only because it generally gets better weather than us back on the mainland. The UK’s crown dependencies, including Jersey, Guernsey, and the Isle of Man, all have their own governing bodies and systems, but remain ceremonially led by the King.
The top 10 islands in the British Isles
- Jersey. Score 95.29
- Isles of Scilly. Score 93.77
- Isle of Wight. Score 91.24
- Orkney. Score 90.95
- Hebrides. Score 88.33
- Shetland. Score 85.71
- Guernsey. Score 81.90
- Isle of Man. Score 74.29
- Lindisfarne. Score 73.52
- Isle of Arran. Score 72.80
You can read the full article here if you’re interested in where the best islands are beyond our waters.
Where to stay in the British Isles
Jersey isn’t the only place worth visiting – the mainland has plenty to offer too. Here’s our favourite family friendly holiday digs, and some tree houses you can rent out for something a little different. We’ve also got guides to the country’s cosiest cabins, and the coolest castles you can stay overnight in.
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