[image]
[title]Sometimes, the holiday of your dreams is about one thing and one thing only: absolute relaxation. Here at Time Out, we’ve got just the place to make that dream come true – but it might not be where you would expect.
No, we’re not talking about the Caribbean or the Maldives. In fact, what if we told you you could get the tropical island vibes of your wildest holiday dreams, right here in the UK? Say hello to the Isles of Scilly, the ultimate ‘destination dupe’ for more far-flung island holiday destinations – no long-haul flight necessary.
Of course, it's a given that an island holiday is all about checking out of the busyness of daily life – which is where Lloyds comes in. As your unexpected travel partner, Lloyds helps to make the whole experience of planning, booking and spending on your trip easier, whether that’s finding great deals on flights in their app or budgeting for your getaway.
Ready to explore everything the Isles of Scilly has to offer? Here’s our ultimate guide – and why you should visit in 2026.
Discover the islands
The Isles of Scilly are a sleepy archipelago just off the coast of Cornwall, made up of five main islands: St Mary’s, St Agnes, Tresco, St Martin’s and Bryher, with plenty more uninhabited islands surrounding them. And it feels as if you’ve transported yourself to the Caribbean – just without the 12-hour journey. In our eyes, this is the kind of place the term ‘destination dupe’ was made for – it’s scarcely believable you’re not abroad, let alone on the Cornish coast. Think you‘ve ‘done Cornwall’? Unless you’ve ventured to the Isles of Scilly, you haven’t scratched the surface. This is one of the most criminally underrated places in the UK – not just to the most un-travelled of Londoners, but even to some of Cornwall’s closest neighbours.
How to get there – and where to book for your stay
Once you’ve got a train to Cornwall, one of the things that makes the Isles of Scilly feel so otherworldly is that they’re only reachable from Penzance by SkyBus (an incredibly cute 19-seat plane), or by boat. Unless you’ve got a particular hankering for mini planes, we always recommend going by boat – it’s part of the experience. The ferry journey is 2.5 hours on the beautiful Celtic Sea, surrounded by views of the Cornish coastline. On a clear spring or summer day, it’s idyllic. Keep an eye out on the top deck and you might even spot a dolphin.
To stay, our favourite is the Star Castle Hotel, which is a short walk from the busy centre of St Mary’s but feels completely secluded, with fantastic views of the sea and neighbouring islands. For something more affordable, Tregarthen’s is right in the centre of Hugh Town, with a lovely homemade breakfast spread to be enjoyed on its glass veranda. If you’re looking to secure a great deal, book your stay through Lloyds Travel Booking in their in-app Travel Hub. The Best Price Guarantee feature means that if you find a cheaper deal elsewhere within 24 hours of booking, let them know and you could be refunded the difference in travel credits, ready for your next trip.
What to eat, drink and do on the Isles of Scilly
The beauty of coming to the Isles of Scilly is getting to see so much, with so little effort – and an itinerary that pretty much plans itself. Let’s face it: social media means we’re so bombarded by choice, it’s easy to end up spending holidays trying to fit in endless activities and tick off every viral food spot we’ve ever saved on TikTok.
But coming here, it’s all about slowing down. Simply pitch up at your hotel, and spend your days island-hopping to your heart’s content. Each of the islands are around a 15-minute boat ride from the centre of St Mary’s, and these run daily until 5pm. Take it slow, sunbathe, walk and explore, and head on a boat back in time for dinner each day. Dreamy.
If that all sounds a little too slow for you, there are plenty of unexpected adventures that might be more your speed too. Head out into the crystal clear waters to snorkel with seals, or dive deeper below to the surface to discover the shipwrecked Lady Charlotte. With the assistance of a local scuba guide, you can explore the steamer, weighing more than 3500 tonnes, which sank on a voyage from Cardiff to France way back in 1917.
All that diving is likely to work up an appetite. Luckily, the islands are known for their (yes, you guessed it) local fish – and lots of it. Head to St Mary’s terrace restaurant on the Quay for seriously hearty seafood dishes – lobster, bouillabaisse, and good old fish and chips for the less adventurous in your pack – and Dibble & Grub for homely Mediterranean tapas. To drink, the quirky Mermaid Inn pub is a classic for a reason. Back in the day, this was the favourite haunt of pirates on the island, and there’s plenty of history to be unearthed by little ones while you relax overlooking the harbour. There’s no need for you to spend hours worrying about your budget throughout your trip either: you can easily keep track of your spending with Spending Insights on the Lloyds app. Result!
Plan, book and spend with Lloyds, your unexpected travel partner.
Small print:
Lloyds Travel Booking, powered by Hopper.
Fee-free debit card spending and cash withdrawals abroad are valid for Club Lloyds, Silver, Platinum and Premier accounts. Monthly account fees may apply. For Premier account, eligibility criteria also applies. UK residents, 18+. When you’re abroad, choose to pay in the local currency, that way you avoid the overseas provider’s currency conversion fees.
Best Price Guarantee is offered in connection with flight and hotel bookings made through Lloyds Travel Booking. If you find the same itinerary on another competing site at a lower price and claim within 24 hours of booking, you’ll get the difference back in Travel Credits, ready for your next trip. The price must be available to the general public. For example, this means that the rate doesn’t need you to log into a site or have a special membership or an available discount personal to you.
The Price Prediction tool is built into Lloyds Travel Booking within their app. It suggests when to book or when to wait. Then, if you book your flights through the Lloyds app and the tool says you’ve got a great price, it will continue to track your flight booking after you’ve locked it in. Should the price drop below what you paid, you’ll automatically receive up to £50 in travel credits towards the difference.
Order travel money in the Lloyds app by 3pm for next-working-day delivery. Free delivery on orders over £500. You need Internet Banking or Mobile Banking app access and a Lloyds current or savings account.
Request a Payment limits apply. Ask for up to £150 each time and get up to £500 a day.