37 brilliant beaches in the UK, for sandy bays and stunning views

Best for Pretending you’re in a Famous Five novel.

There’s no denying Kynance Cove is iconic. With fine white sand, bright turquoise waters and dramatic rock formations sticking out of the sea, on a good day it would be easy to mistake this beach for somewhere far more exciting, like Thailand. Growing up in Cornwall, my family would often make the long drive followed by the intrepid walk down to the sand to spend the day exploring the many rock pools and mysterious caves of Kynance, which lore has it were used by smugglers back in the day.Need to know Make sure to plan your trip to coincide with low tide. When the tide is high the beach almost disappears under water.

🤫 Insider tip: ‘In summer, the National Trust car park is often full before 11am – get there early to be sure of bagging a spot.’

Get there You’ll definitely need a car for this one – it’s just under an hour’s drive from Penzance. 

Stay here Right next to the Kynance Cove Café is a cosy cottage that sleeps four. It’s decorated in soothing seaside shades, there’s a wood-burning stove and the garden has its own picnic bench – what more could you ask for?

📍 Discover more of the best beaches in Cornwall

Best for Windswept bliss on one of the most tranquil beaches on the western coast.

I might be biased because I’m born and raised in Scotland, but you really can’t do much better than Camusdarach. This rugged coastline boasts one of the cleanest beaches on the western coast, with a crescent of pillow-soft white sand hugged by clear-blue waters and framed by dramatic, jagged rocks. Sure, there’s not a lot in the way of facilities, but the nearby town of Morar (an eight-minute drive) offers home comforts in the way of cafés, restaurants and hotels. Drive a little further north to Mallaig where The Jacobite steam train (as seen in the Harry Potter movies) calls by. Have a meal in the old dining cars or even stay over in the restored carriages.

💡 Editor’s tip: ‘Bring a picnic – there are no facilities here, save for a small car park.’

Get there Closest train station is Morar, a 10-minute drive away.  

Stay here There’s no TV, no wi-fi and no phone at The Wee Lodge – and they make no apologies for it. What it does have is a cosy double bed, the sound of the birds singing and a stunning view of Loch Morar. Set on the grounds of a working farm, this secluded hideaway is the perfect place to switch off and recharge your batteries.

📍 Discover more of the best beaches in Scotland
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Best for Sand that seems to stretch on forever.

Along with Blackpool, Camber Sands is pretty much Britain’s most famous beach – namechecked in hit pop songs, featured in several movies, and absolutely packed out on sunny weekends. But despite its popularity, its vast size – almost three miles long and more than a mile wide when the tide’s out – means there’s usually somewhere to lay your towel, if not park your car (but really, the only quiet time is mid-week or off-season). With its backdrop of tufty dunes, sand stretching as far as the eye can see, and a scattering of dog-walkers (note the restricted zones from May to September) and horseback riders, it’s a hugely atmospheric bit of seaside – and perfect for combining with a day trip to the cobbled streets and medieval pubs of Rye.

🤫 Insider tip: ‘If you are looking to escape the hordes, the western end, towards Dungeness, tends to be a bit quieter – just follow the windsurfers.’

Get there Closest train station is Rye, a 12-minute drive away. 

Stay here Right by the dunes, boutique hotel The Gallivant has a restaurant that sources virtually all of its ingredients from within a ten-mile radius. When the weather isn’t beach-worthy, guests can lounge by log fires, read in the book-lined snug, or prop up the bar – which is dog-friendly, by the way.

📍 Discover the best things to do in Rye

Best for Surfer dudes and Potterheads. 

Freshwater West is potentially the most stunning place in the world when the sun is shining. So for three days of the year, it reigns supreme. The surfer’s beach has all the waves of an Aussie spot and doesn't come with a Jaws warning.

It’s also where Dobby the house elf is laid to rest. A makeshift shrine has been erected on the sand, with socks and pebbles decorated with Harry Potter references paying tribute to the little guy. Just make sure to respect the space or risk the wrath of pilgrimaging Potterheads.

Get there The 387 and 388 bus passes by the beach, or it’s a 35 min drive from Milford Haven train station. 

Stay here The Globe House is a little hotel in the Pembrokeshire countryside where can you rent the whole place or just a room, and it’s less than a 10 minute drive from Freshwater West. 

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Best for Feeling a million miles away from civilisation.

Easily one of the best-looking beaches in the UK, Holkham would be flooded with visitors if it were just that little bit closer to London – or, like, anywhere. It’s surrounded by a massive nature reserve of pinewoods and salt marsh, full of orchids, sea lavender and rare birds (this is the only place besides the Tower of London that I’ve ever spotted a raven). The beach itself is an enormous sandy stretch dotted with dunes, and it’s at least a half-hour’s walk from the car park to the shoreline, meaning you see nothing but nature and sea. Oh, and maybe the odd film crew: Holkham has deservedly starred in many a movie (Shakespeare in Love, for one). 

Need to know The car park and Lookout Café (with toilets) are operated by Holkham Hall. For more facilities, drive or walk up to the Hall itself, where there’s a play area, café, museum and a deer park. 

Get there The closest train station is Sheringham, a 45-minute drive away. It’s linked by bus to Wells-next-the-Sea, whose (also very nice) beach connects with Holkham.

Stay here The perfectly polished Victoria Inn has 20 rooms with a posh contemporary-cottage feel. Live your best life and stroll through the walled rose gardens, dine in the restaurant for fresh shellfish with samphire from the Holkham coastline, or walk the few minutes to the golden sands of the beach.

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Best for A fun-filled foodie day out. 

Unlike some of the other more rural beauties on this list, Tankerton is not a huge, sprawling, sandy beach that can only be reached by an hour-long car ride. Instead, it’s instead a cute, compact, colourful little beach that’s only about 15 minutes walk from the nearest station. But the vibes all the way from Tankerton to Whitstable beach are unmatched, and the sunset is spectacular – this particular patch of sky even made it onto our list of the most beautiful places in the UK. Both beaches are best enjoyed whilst tucking into fish and chips from Ossie’s or some oysters from Wheelers, followed by a beach walk and a pint at the Old Neptune. 

Need to know Between May 1 and September 30, it’s a dog-free zone.

Get there Closest train station is Whitstable.

Stay here With the beach literally on its doorstep, The Marine Hotel is the seaside retreat dreams are made of. Splash out on a superior sea-view room, with refined, classic decor and double doors that swing open onto a private balcony overlooking the ocean.

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📍 Discover the best things to do in Kent

Best for Beachfront beer stops and a big ol’ day out. 

Brighton beach can hardly compete with the dramatic shores of Cornwall or the sandy bays of Wales, but obvious beauty isn’t everything, guys. What Brighton beach lacks in classic coastal scenery it makes up for in unmatched atmosphere, and despite its party-party, slightly tacky reputation, it remains my firm favourite. Grab some late lunch at Halisco on Preston Street (to avoid the sea-view premium), before heading down to the seafront and copping a spot on the beach to sit and catch some rays (ideally between the West Pier and the Peace Statue). At sunset, settle in at Fortune of War for a beachfront pint (and possibly even a DJ set). 

Need to know The spot between Brighton Palace Pier and the West Pier gets ridiculously chocker-block when the sun comes out, but head east in the direction of the marina or even (whisper it) into Hove, and you’ll find much more space and much less litter.

Get there Brighton Station is only a 15 minute walk to the seafront (you can see the sea as soon as you step outside)

Stay there Drakes is arguably the classiest hotel in Brighton, and nestled on Madeira drive in Kemptown, it has some of the best sea views in town.

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🐟 Discover the best fish and chips in Brighton

Best for: Showing off your nicest walking boots and possibly spotting someone off the telly 

There are plenty of good beaches for spending a whole day on sandy shores, but if you fancy, simply mooching, Southwold’s beach is the perfect place to start. Southwold is a very trendy town indeed, but its beach, harbour and little seaside cafés and pubs are particularly glorious. It’s the perfect beach to start off your morning with a two-hour dog walk, admire a long string of beach huts and stomp around in your wellies before heading off into town for some trinket shopping. Our top tip? Take the scenic route down to the harbour in time for lunch at Sole Bay Fish Company, where you can fuel up with a cold seafood platter and share a pitcher of Adnams. 

Need to know No dogs allowed from April to September in the area that stretches from Gun Hill Café up to the promenade. Outside of that your pooch can run free. 

Get there Either drive (and make use of the beach’s large car park) or get the train to Halesworth and jump on a bus or a taxi to the beach – about 20 minutes. 

Stay here The Swan is a plush but unpretentious hotel in Southwold town with an on-site brewery out the back and a very nice restaurant. 

Best for Movie-worthy views

The UK has got some really cracking coasts, but few have such dramatic and iconic backdrops as Cuckmere Haven, which is nestled in the shadow of the Seven Sisters. The cliff faces have appeared in none other than Atonement, A Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy and a Harry Potter movie, and you can see the appeal – with the Sisters on one side and Seaford Head on the other, this beach is popular with walkers but remains remarkably untouched, with only a handful of buildings visible.

Need to know The Cuckmere River’s final few meanders reach the sea at this beach, meaning the shore itself is split in two, and the only way to cross to the other side is by walking all the way up to the Exceat Bridge (about 20 minutes each way), but the Cuckmere Inn is a decent pit stop.

Get there The nearest station to Cuckmere Haven is Seaford, which is just under 5 km away from the beach. For services from London, you’ll have to change in Lewes and the journey will be a little under two hours.

Stay here To make sure you can really, really switch off, Skylark is a quaint little spot tucked away not too far from Cuckmere Haven.

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Best for Breathtaking rambles through the dramatic cliffs of the Gower Peninsula.

Remote but by no means overlooked, Rhossili Bay has a list of accolades longer than its sandy shore, with titles like ‘best beach in Europe’ and ‘top ten beaches in the world’ among its plaudits. One visit here and it’s easy to see why – the steep, winding walk down to the coast from Rhossili village is stunning, with panoramic views over three miles of golden sand, and on clear days, to the coastline of North Devon. The beach itself is all about the unspoilt nature, but there are facilities nearby: visit the National Trust shop and visitor centre near the village, or pop into the Bay Bistro for homemade soups and sandwiches if you’ve forgotten your packed lunch.

Need to know Dog-friendly all year round.

Get there Closest train station is Gowerton, a 37-minute drive away. 

Stay here The views from The Worm’s Head Hotel are so staggering, you’ll barely notice the dated decor. We’re not fussed about a few mad carpets when every room has a view over the cliffs of Rhossili Bay. Take advantage of the view with their restaurant’s cliff-top terrace – bagsy a table and settle in for some proper pub grub.