There’s lots of things we’re known for in England. We’ve perfected the cuppa, we've got some pretty good pubs and we even managed to get a few medals at the Olympics this summer.
But when it comes to beaches – particularly sandy, pristine, sun-drenched ones – the UK isn’t quite so well regarded. Sure there’s some stunning parts of our coastline, but they don’t feel like much in comparison to the white-sand shores you can get over in Greece and Croatia. So it might come as a surprise to learn that one new ranking from travel insurance platform Quotezone.co.uk has named an English beach one of the best in Europe.
Bournemouth Beach is one of Europe’s top 10 beaches, according to Quotezone. The ranking looked at factors that included the number of five-star reviews and average sea temperatures in June. The Dorset beach apparently racked up a healthy 4.7 star review rating on Google and boasts some of the warmest temperatures in the UK, often averaging 15C in the summer months. That’s pretty balmy by British standards.
However, Bournemouth Beach didn’t quite compare to first-placed Nissi Beach in Cyprus, with its pristine waters and water temperature of 24.4C. Bournemouth Beach came ninth overall, with Nissi followed by Mellieha Bay Beach in Malta and Portoroz Beach in Slovenia.
The 10 best beaches in Europe, according to Quotezone
- Nissi Beach, Ayia Napa, Cyprus
- Mellieha Bay Beach, Malta
- Portoroz Beach, Slovenia
- Elafonissi Beach, Crete, Greece
- Zlatni Rat, Croatia
- La Pelosa Beach, Sardinia, Italy
- Praia da Falésia, Algarve, Portugal
- Playa de Maspalomas, Gran Canaria, Spain
- Bournemouth Beach, England
- Plage de Palombaggia, Corsica, France
Fancy a sandy escape?
Here’s a list of Time Out’s best beaches near London, and there’s 20 of them to choose from. Or if you’re looking for something more permanent, this is the cheapest seaside town to move to in the UK. And no trip the beach is complete without a visit to a fish and chip shop. Here’s the best ones in the UK according to the the Times.
Did you see? The entire city of entire city of Stoke-on-Trent might become a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
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