Looking for a relaxing beach break? That water villa in the Maldives may be on hold for a while but there’s a plethora of beautiful coastal spots to explore right here in the UK. Leave your passport at home, grab your swimmers and discover the dreamiest bucket and spade destinations Blighty has to offer.
1. St Michael’s Mount, Cornwall
This amazing tidal island is jewel in Cornwall’s crown. Steeped in history and folklore, this fairy tale fortress has romantic getaway written all over it. Follow in the footsteps of the pilgrims across the cobbled causeway to the medieval castle or take a ferry boat to the island for unparalleled views of the picturesque bay and majestic gardens. It ticks all the staycation boxes.
2. Holkham, Wells-Next-The-Sea, Norfolk
You may recognise this famous golden beach from the closing scenes of the iconic 1998 flick Shakespeare In Love when Viola de Lesseps (Gwyneth Paltrow) walked across the sand at low tide. With its endless swathes of sand, open landscape and pine forest walks, it’s one of the most beautiful stretches of unspoilt sand dunes in the country. Hey, if it’s good enough for Hollywood!
3. Whitstable Beach, Kent
For those that don’t like sand in between their toes, this is the beach for you. Backed by stripy picturesque beach huts and pastel-coloured shop fronts, it represents the best of traditional British seaside getaways. Head to The Neptune, or the Neppy as it’s commonly known, for a quick bev and be sure to book a table at The Sportsman well in advance for fresh fish caught that morning. It’s a must-eat experience for a hungry foodie.
4. Luskentyre Beach, Isle of Harris, Outer Hebrides
For staycationers on the hunt for a slice of the Caribbean in Scotland, you’re in luck. Luskentyre may not have swaying palm trees for a backdrop, but it does have crystal clear – albeit very cold – azure waters, postcard-worthy scenery, miles of secluded gleaming white sandy beaches and wild horses roaming the dunes. It’s so picture-perfect, you’ll have to pinch yourself to believe it.
5. St Ives, Cornwall
Famed for its art scene and sweeping white sand beaches, St Ives has it all. If you want to try your hand at surfing the waves, there’s no better place to learn than with St Ives Surf School folk. Hop to it, your seascape paradise awaits.
6. West Wittering Beach, West Sussex
Chichester or California? Same, same, this is a favourite beauty spot amongst beach-goers across the country, and it’s really not hard to see why. With its rolling white sand dunes, salt marshes, blue flag rating and spectacular sunsets, it’s the perfect staycation setting for the whole family.
7. Botany Bay, Kent
The bay is just a stone’s throw away from the picturesque seaside towns of Margate and Broadstairs. With views of the iconic chalk stacks and plenty of opportunities for rock pooling and fossil hunting when the tide’s out, it’s a coastal gem.
8. Brighton beach
We couldn’t do a beach staycation round up without including our very own bright town. It might not boast the sandy shores of its Cornish counterparts but in the Summer months, you can’t beat a weekend trip to Brighton. Grab some sugar-coated doughnuts from the pier, head to The Salt Room for a slap-up seafood feast before retiring to neighbourhood hangout Clubhouse at The Artist Residence for a night cap.
