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This bank holiday weekend is going to bless us with some absolutely glorious sunshine. Temperatures in some parts of the country will soar as high as 30C and in that kind of weather, one of the best things you can do is head straight for the beach.
There are roughly 1,500 beaches that line the British coast, some layered with pebbles, others covered in soft white sand, some backed by big lights and fairground rides, others that feel a million miles from the rest of civilisation. To help you pick your perfect beach for the bank holiday – and the rest of summer 2026 – Time Out’s writers and editors have compiled a list of their 40 all-time favourites.
Our 2026 edition of the UK’s best beaches features five new entries and a brand new number one. Time Out’s best beach for 2026 is Traeth Llanddwyn (‘traeth’ means beach in Welsh) in Anglesey.
When you see Llanddwyn for yourself, you’ll think you’ve just stepped inside a dream. From the remote 3.5 mile stretch of white sand you have outstanding views of the Irish Sea and of the peaks of Eryri National Park on the Welsh mainland. Behind the bay is a sprawling forest of Corsican pine (one of the best places in Wales to spot red squirrels) and rolling dunes dotted with wildflowers.
🏖️ Explore all 40 of the best beaches in the UK here.
At low tide, you can cross to the Llanddwyn Island where you’ll find 16th century church ruins and the pretty Tŵr Mawr Lighthouse. The island is nicknamed the Welsh Island of Love as the church is dedicated to St Dwynwen, the Welsh patron saint of lovers. To add to the romance, there are often wild ponies calmly roaming the island, too.
Llanddwyn isn’t an easy beach to get to, but that means it rarely feels crowded. You’ll be best off getting there by car but if that’s not an option, there’s the number 42 bus. The nearest bus stop is at Niwbwrch but you’ll still have to trek another 5km to get to the sand.
Did you see that this beach is banning traditional donkey rides?
Plus: Take a look at Time Out’s guide to the UK’s best seaside towns.
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