The 40 best beaches in the UK (updated for 2026)

Best for: Heavenly views, wherever you turn.  

Cream sand, a whitewashed lighthouse, dunes scattered with wildflowers, a pine tree backdrop and silhouettes of Eryri National Park’s peaks in the distance – Traeth Llanddwyn offers a true dreamscape. We’re not the only ones to laud it as one of Britain’s best beaches, but thanks to its remote position and long 3.5-mile stretch of sand, it rarely feels crowded. At low tide visitors can access Llanddwyn Island, Wales’ official ‘Island of Love’. It’s the home of the aforementioned lighthouse and the 16th century church of St Dwynwen, the Welsh patron saint of lovers. Look out for the wild ponies that graze the sand dunes and help preserve the landscape. 

Insider tip: The conditions at Llanddywn are calm most of the time, making it a lovely place for a few peaceful hours of paddle boarding. You can rent a SUP for the day for £45 from Hiraeth Hire. 

Get there: Public transport options to Llanddwyn are very limited. A car is a necessity. 

Anglesey: the remote island with a game-changing food scene that is one of Time Out’s best places to visit in the UK in 2026.

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.

Insider tip: 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. 

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Best for: A bangin’ breakfast served while you look at the best view in Devon.

The small entry fee for Blackpool Sands is worth it for a spotlessly clean coastline despite a high number of visitors, while families will appreciate the modern and well-equipped facilities. The wide pebble beach is one of the cleanest in Devon and is sheltered by pine trees and evergreens, while rocks at the far corners provide shade. Feeling brave? Visitors can hire kayaks by the hour.

Insider tip: The kitchen at Gara Rock celebrates local produce including Dartmouth kippers, vegetables from its onsite allotment and locally foraged ingredients. 

Get there: Closest train station is Totnes, a 30-minute drive away. 

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.

Insider 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.  

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Best for: Old school seaside charm

With more than 80 miles of coastline to explore, Dorset is no stranger to a gorgeous beach. And while it might not quite be the most aesthetic of the bunch, Weymouth Beach is a place with some serious buzz: boasting a lively promenade, a historic harbour and those all-important golden sands. This beach feels romantically like the ‘good old days’, so go ahead and grab yourself an ice cream, roll up your trousers and paddle in the shallows – before drying off and enjoying a pint in one of the nearby pubs. 

Insider tip: For a dose of culture, head to Weymouth Pavillion: a theatre and cinema overlooking the waters.

Get there: Weymouth train station is a three minute stroll away. 

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Best for: Riding the salty waves on a surfboard.

You’ll find big waves at this lively bay, which makes it a magnet for surfers and thrill-seekers. The family-friendly spot is buzzing with extreme sports activities all year round; take surf lessons from Extreme Academy, or just spectate from your deckchair on the two-mile-long sandy shoreline. Events take place throughout the year. And dog owners can rejoice – there’s no seasonal ban and pooches are always welcome.

Insider tip: A day of watersports is gonna build up an appetite. So, throw on a cosy jumper, find a disposable or reusable grill and grab a pack of sausages – Watergate Bay is considered one of the best BBQ spots in the country. 

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

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. 

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. 

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Best for: Letting your four-legged friend run wild all year round.

Lots of beaches around the country ban dogs or require them to be on leads during the sunniest months of the year, which is obviously pretty limiting for mutt owners. Not Alnmouth. Here you can watch your pooch frolic in the sea and sand to their heart’s content year-round. Situated on the Northumberland Coast Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty, there’s plenty here for humans to appreciate too, from the excellent birdwatching to the coffee shops, pubs, restaurants in the pastel-painted village.

Insider tip: Fill up on coffee and kippers from Bistro23 for brunch before strolling down to the sand.

Get there: Alnmouth is the nearest rail station. From there it’s a 30-minute walk or a 10-minute ride on the 418 bus (which doesn’t run on Sundays).

Best for: Looking out for one of Europe’s largest bottlenose dolphin pods.  

Watched over by a quaint little 14th century church, Mwnt is a perfectly-formed caramel bay encased in sloping cliffs. Besides the car park on the headland and the kiosk that opens to sell toasties, coffees and Welsh cakes during peak months, there’s very little around Mwnt to indicate that you are in fact in the twenty-first century. But that’s part of its allure. In the summer, it’s one of the best places in the entire UK for spotting dolphins, as the waters of Cardigan Bay host the country’s largest residential pod (thought to contain 250-300 of the marine mammals). 

Insider tip: You will want to spend the whole day lounging on Mwnt. So, make sure you pack everything you’re going to need for the day before heading towards the sand – once you’ve set up base, you won’t want to clamber back up the several dozen steps for anything you’ve forgotten.

Get there: It’s particularly difficult to get to via public transport as the nearest station is in Carmarthen just over 34 miles away. Your best bet is getting there by car.  

‘Historic hub hiding a brilliant cultural and culinary scene’: Why this Welsh destination is one of the UK’s best seaside towns to visit in 2026.

Best for: Sand that seems to stretch on forever.

Camber Sands is perhaps 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. 

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