The iconic seaside cliffs that are one of the most beautiful places in Britain

Have you seen Time Out’s roundup of the 23 most beautiful places in the United Kingdom? Our team of writers and editors have chosen the buildings, towns, mountain ranges, beaches and woodlands that have left them most in awe on their travels across Britain – and put them all in one long list for you to feast your eyes on. 

There are breathtaking man-made landmarks like Castell Coch in Wales, Wells Cathedral in Somerset and Neasden Temple in London alongside a number of natural beauties, like the 280-million-year-old Thor’s Cave in the Peak District, the majestic Glen Coe in Scotland and the Benone Strand in Northern Ireland. 

Another absolute stunner on the list? The gorgeous, glistening Seven Sisters in Sussex. The parade of white chalk cliffs is one of the longest stretches of undeveloped shore on the south coast, spanning from Seaford to Birling Gap. Their beauty has long been celebrated – in Rudyard Kipling’s 1902 poem ‘Sussex’, he describes a ‘half-wild and wholly tame’ turf which ‘cloaks the white cliff-edge’. Years later, the poet was involved in a campaign to stop a town being built above the cliffs.  

Time Out travel writer Liv Kelly said: ‘The chalky geology of the area (which is why the cliffs are so brilliantly white) doesn’t just make it beautiful, it’s also responsible for a remarkably diverse ecosystem – head here in the summer and keep an eye out for some of the 20 species of butterfly that flutter around.’

The landscape became a designated National Nature Reserve in March this year, meaning it’ll continue to be protected and revived for decades to come. Beyond the butterflies, visitors should keep an eye out for skylarks and yellowhammers, and look at the sea below for a chance of spotting grey seals (peak season is between September and March). It’s also home to Cuckmere Haven, which is one of Time Out’s top beaches in the UK. 

Check out the rest of the 23 most beautiful places in the UK to visit in 2026. 

Plus: This ancient Bristol marketplace is one of the UK’s coolest neighbourhoods right now.