The 11 sunniest beaches in the UK for summer 2026

Sure, if you’re searching for picture-perfect white dunes and crystal clear waters, you may have to hop on a plane and head off somewhere tropical. But if you want to feel the sand between your toes tout suite, Britain’s beaches will more than do. The UK has a wealth of pretty coastlines, offering everything from chalky cliffs to pebbled shores, rock pools and great surf spots.  

Here at Time Out, we’re big fans of a local seaside getaway. Which is why, when we heard that new research had been done to find the UK’s sunniest seaside destinations, we immediately reached for our swimming cozzies. 

Solar energy firm Sunsave has dug into Met Office data between 1990 and 2020 to find the places in the UK with the most sunshine hours per year. Based on the results, we’ve picked out the nearest beaches where you can soak up that all-important vitamin D.

As for the sunniest spots, Weymouth Beach, located halfway along the Jurassic Coast, ranked in fifth place with 1,904 hours of sunshine per year. The Dorset town was also named among the best beaches in Europe this year, applauded for its great fish and chips, the spotlessness of the beach and its calm waves.

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Hastings in East Sussex came in fourth place. Best known for battle-related reasons, the historic fishing village's beach has an impressive 1,915 hours of annual sun. Plus, the town is a hotspot of modern art, great restaurants and a calendar packed full of cultural and community events – what’s not to love?

Third sunniest were the shores of fellow Sussex town Bognor Regis, with 1,919 hours of sun. We should warn you though, that the beach has been named among the worst in the country for water quality in 2026, so we can’t necessarily recommend a dip.

As for the silver medal, that went to the Kentish shoreline in Folkestone. The Met Office’s climate station at Folkestone ski station, three miles outside the historic port town, recorded an average of 1,932 hours of sunshine a year between 1990 and 2020 – making it the UK’s mainland sunniest spot.

As for the British beach which catches the most rays? That title goes to Shanklin on the Isle of Wight. Its 1,976 hours of sunshine per year averages at five hours and eight minutes every day, an impressive figure considering how accustomed us Brits are with the rain. 

Eastbourne in East Sussex, Shoeburyness in Essex, Ramsgate in Kent, Walton-on-the-Naze in Essex and Swanage and Bournemouth in Dorset also made the list of sunniest beaches. 

The 11 sunniest beaches in the UK, according to Sunsave

1. Shanklin, Isle of Wight
   
2. Folkestone, Kent
   
3. Bognor Regis, West Sussex
   
4. Hastings, East Sussex
   
5. Weymouth, Dorset
   
6. Eastbourne, East Sussex
   
7. Shoeburyness, Southend-on-Sea, Essex
   
8. Ramsgate, Kent
   
9. Walton-on-the-Naze, Essex
   
10. Swanage, Dorset
    
11. Bournemouth, Dorset

Did you see that the most beautiful places in Europe have been named – and this stunning British road makes the cut?

Plus: this magnificent castle has been crowned the UK’s greatest UNESCO site.