Sea temperatures in the UK can range from single digits in the winter to the high teens in the summer. At their warmest they can almost touch 20C.
At Brighton Beach in August, for example, you can expect waters to reach 18C, which is still deemed ‘fresh’ by the Outdoor Swimming Society, though more than comfortable for ‘lazy-hazy summer swimming’.
So as warmer weather arrives, making swimming without a wetsuit possible, here is our guide to Britain’s best beaches, chosen by travel writers and travel industry experts.
We hope these suggestions spark a trip or two to the seaside…
Cleethorpes beach, in a Victorian resort town, is often overlooked but it is full of kitschy charm
Cleethorpes, Lincolnshire
When the skies above are the right colour, the four miles of custard-coloured sands at Cleethorpes beach, on Lincolnshire’s north-east coast, wouldn’t look out of place in California.
Flanked in part by a smooth, wide promenade (bring your rollerskates) then a slimmer, meandering dune path, this oft-overlooked Victorian resort town has a striking lifeboat station and newly revamped Pier Gardens.
Head to the north end for seaside kitsch – penny slots and eight fish and chip shops in a 300-metre radius – or walk south of the pier and find a spot on these soft sands that, even on a busy day, can feel like they’re all yours.
CHOSEN BY: Joanna Tweedy, travel writer.
Owned by the National Trust, this beautiful dog-friendly beach in Devon is right next to a nature reserve
South Milton Sands, Devon
When it comes to the perfect beach, it’s hard to beat South Milton Sands in Thurlestone, Devon. It’s owned by the National Trust so it’s beautiful and clean and right next to a nature reserve – so it has lots of lovely wildlife.
It’s also dog-friendly and surrounded by glorious coastal walks including one to the picturesque Hope Cove. When the tide is low, you can walk out along the pier to the majestic Thurlestone Rock or go crabbing in the rock pools. The Beach House cafe sadly suffered a fire in 2025 but there’s a great pop-up there this summer which does fresh seafood and cocktails.
CHOSEN BY: Georgina Fuller, travel writer.
Scarborough’s South Sands has the best of both worlds – with one end right in the heart of the town’s hustle and bustle, and the other filled with quiet rock pools
South Sands, Scarborough
This is a vast, sandy beach that you can use according to your mood. The ‘town’ end suits a Saturday: you’re adjacent to the bustle of the harbour, the clangour of amusement arcades and the smell of fish and chips. The other end is more Sunday-ish, with its quiet rock pools redolent of Edwardian holidays and the genteel gardens of the South Cliff rising behind.
CHOSEN BY: Andrew Martin, author of To The Sea By Train.
This is in no manner a seaside resort, says Benjamin Parker. Twin Beaches, off Scotland’s west coast, is a place of pure escapism
Twin Beaches, Inner Hebrides
Floating in the Atlantic between Scotland’s western coast and the island of Islay is Gigha, a tranquil sliver of land that few visit. Fewer still venture to Gigha’s north, where a pair of glorious beaches await.
The Twin Beaches are a natural bridge – linking the rocky islet of Eilean Garbh – and the bright sand is a brilliant contrast to the rugged landscape.
It is in no manner a seaside resort: your company could easily be little more than the odd seal bobbing in the sea. It’s a place of escapism: embrace the sea-salted breeze and (hopefully) warm sun.
CHOSEN BY: Benjamin Parker, head of travel.
A pebbly beach that’s far less crowded than Brighton… Rye Harbour is a birdwatcher’s heaven
Rye Harbour, East Sussex
It’s fun to watch boats come into tidal Rye Harbour while lazing on the unspoilt pebbly beach which sits alongside a protected nature reserve with rare saltmarshes. It’s a birdwatcher’s paradise.
Try breakfast at the unpretentious Bosun’s Bite cafe before a round trip (dog-friendly) walk alongside the beach via Winchelsea with stops to look at the World War II pillbox and red-roofed former fisherman’s hut. Round off the day with a pint in the Shepherd Neame pub William The Conqueror. A huge free park (with voluntary donations box) and toilets at the top of the beach make life easy.
CHOSEN BY: Lesley Bellew, travel writer.
Boasting the second longest pier in Britain after Southend, Southport Beach is perfect for a scenic seaside stroll
Southport Beach
At low tide, the sands on Southport Beach stretch so far into the distance that the sea vanishes almost out of sight, creating one of the most immense, widescreen coastal views in Britain.
The pale yellow sands were a favourite training ground for legendary racehorse Red Rum, who exercised here with his trainer Ginger McCain.
I love giving my less revered legs a stroll on Southport Pier, Britain’s second-longest after Southend. It’s partially closed at the moment for safety reasons but I’m hoping it won’t be long before I can meander to the end again; stopping off on the way to play on the Edwardian era arcade games and watch the ever optimistic local fishermen, dangling their hooks over the end in search of flounder, bass and plaice from the pewter-coloured Irish Sea.
CHOSEN BY: Rob Crossan, travel writer.
There’s more to Sandbanks than glitzy mansions and crowds of tourists – head further down the beach in the late afternoon, and its quiet beauty might surprise you
Sandbanks, Dorset
The Sandbanks peninsula might be known for its glitzy residences that sell for millions to footballers and business tycoons, but walk a bit further down the beach from those mega-mansions and you will find an uncrowded stretch of yellow sand with beautiful views towards Old Harry Rocks and Brownsea Island.
Yes, the traffic getting there can be nightmarish and parking requires persistence, but wait till late afternoon and most day-trippers are heading home, leaving you to enjoy the late rays and a quiet beach. Best of all for pet lovers, it is dog-friendly all year round.
CHOSEN BY: Annabel Venning, travel writer and author.
Tenby’s North Beach stands out for its attractive surroundings, from a Norman castle to colorful houses and quirky independent shops
North Beach, Tenby
Tucked beneath clifftops lined with pastel-coloured houses and quirky independent shops, Tenby’s North Beach, with its soft, golden sands, is a great spot for a summer’s day by the sea.
The shores themselves offer fabulous views of Carmarthen Bay and the striking Goscar Rock or, if you’re feeling adventurous, join the windsurfers and waterskiers out on the water. When you’re sufficiently sunned and windswept, Oh My Cod in Tenby’s pretty town does tasty fish and chips, which you can eat while meandering along the coastline towards the 12th-century Norman castle.
CHOSEN BY: Genie Harrison, executive travel editor.
Enjoy rock pools, picturesque golden sands and nostalgic beach huts on the Scottish Borders
Coldingham Sands, Borders
British beaches invariably are awash with nostalgia. We return to our favourites again and again – and, for me, that means Coldingham Sands in the Scottish Borders. My grandparents introduced me to this sheltered stretch of golden sand and today I bring my own grandchildren, although persuading them to enter the North Sea is not always easy.
I love the old-fashioned beach huts, the rock pools when the tide is out, the roofs of St Abbs just visible around the corner. And, nowadays, there’s even a cafe serving decent coffee.
CHOSEN BY: Mark Palmer, travel writer.
Home to George Orwell before he made his name as a writer, this East Anglian town is steeped in history
Southwold Beach, Suffolk
Aside from its long golden sands, rolling dunes, wide East Anglian skies and softly breaking waves, Southwold Beach – and the town itself – holds another attraction for me. On the side of its 190-metre pier is a mural depicting George Orwell, who lived on-and-off in Southwold from 1921, when he was aged 18, to the early 1930s.
It’s almost eerie to imagine him walking along the sands before he made his name – and now quotes from his books are on the piece by his portrait, while there’s a plaque on his family home in town.
CHOSEN BY: Thomas Isacke, travel writer.
Reminiscent of Enid Blyton’s Five Go Down To The Sea, this Devonshire beach has a timeless ‘English resort of yesteryear’ feel, writes York Membery
Bigbury-on-Sea, Devon
A visit to the beach at Bigbury-on-Sea always conjures thoughts of Enid Blyton’s childhood Five Go Down To The Sea. The seaside village, on a gorgeously picturesque stretch of the south Devon coast, boasts that timeless ‘English resort of yesteryear’ feel and some locals still don’t bother locking their front door.
The big sandy beach is popular with windsurfers but it’s also a wonderful spot to go for a refreshing summer dip, and I braved the still cool late spring sea only last month.
The depth of the water varies depending on the tide: at low tide you can walk across the beach to nearby Burgh Island but the beauty of the scenery remains the same, regardless of the tide.
CHOSEN BY: York Membery, travel writer.
For those after an uninterrupted adventure, Gyllyngvase Beach is ideal – located close to Falmouth’s iconic Pendennis Castle and the Explorers Cove
Gyllyngvase Beach, Cornwall
For me, this Falmouth beach conjures early morning breezes, sandwiches with a crunch of sand and one particularly adventurous rocky walk from a hazy summer spent with friends in Cornwall.
On arrival, you’ll be overwhelmed by the hectic town, busy shores and tourist overload. Head, instead, to nearby Pendennis Castle, the Explorers Cove and the much quieter parts of the area that will see your adventure uninterrupted.
CHOSEN BY: Erin Deborah Waks, travel writer.
This Welsh beach gets its unusual name from the squeaking noise made as you walk across the sand there
Whistling Sands, North Wales
This crescent-shaped bay on the Llyn Peninsula, sheltered by grassy cliffs and known locally as Porth Oer, gets its name from the squeak made as you walk across its crystalline golden sand.
Access is via a steep path (the last bit only for walkers or we cyclists – no cars, hurray!) Reward lies in a slab of homemade cake at the little cafe and a view of rocky islets and occasional grey seals. Heaven.
CHOSEN BY: Angela Epstein, travel journalist and broadcaster.
This northern gem boasts dramatic scenery and, for those who fancy a tipple, there’s a quaint pub right on the shore
Marsden Beach, South Shields
You reach this tucked-away sand-and-pebble beach either via cliff steps or by the lift operated by the inviting Marsden Grotto pub, which is 30 metres below at shore level.
The scenery is dramatic, with sea stacks and arches, plus you can explore rock pools when the tide is out. Watch out for kittiwakes, cormorants, fulmars and gulls while enjoying a tipple on the Grotto’s terrace and taking in the dreamy scenery.
CHOSEN BY: Tom Chesshyre, author of Wild Peaks: A Journey On Foot Through England’s First National Park.
Hardly a house in sight, stretching golden sands, and the roar of crashing waves – Constantine Bay could be the perfect getaway
Constantine Bay, Cornwall
You don’t mess about when it comes to swimming at Constantine Bay in north Cornwall. The rip tides can be lethal and there’s a constant roar from the Atlantic waves as they break off-shore.
Conversely, you can snuggle down in a sand dune, close your eyes and float in your own sea of happiness. There’s hardly a house in sight and the beach is so long and wide that even in the height of summer there’s room for everyone.
This is not Brighton Beach on a Bank Holiday weekend.
CHOSEN BY: The Inspector, Daily Mail hotel reviewer.
While these stunning white sands might look like a Caribbean coastline, it is actually a remote paradise on Scotland’s Isle of Lewis, in the Outer Hebrides
Bosta Beach, Isle of Lewis
The older I get, the more boring I find beaches, especially the palm tree and white sands variety. But Bosta (or Bostadh) on the north coast of Lewis has got lots going on.
You pass a lonely cemetery to a sheltered, grass-fringed bay of perfect sand. There’s a strange object in the water – a bell, in fact, part of a series of installations by sculptor Marcus Vergette.
Across a wooden walkway you reach a recreated Iron Age house. And over the waters is Little Bernera, where the late Queen used to enjoy a private picnic.
CHOSEN BY: Mark Jones, currently writing a book searching for Narnia in England and Ireland.
If you are a keen surfer – whether a beginner or more advanced – try the waves at Harlyn Bay
Harlyn Bay, Cornwall
Harlyn Bay in North Cornwall is a wonderful beach, the wide bay of gently shelving sand framed by rocky outcrops is perfect for families.
Equally the year-round surf attracts novices and more proficient surfers too.
Located on the coastal path it provides wonderful scenic walks in both directions. A community of eateries, bars and the ubiquitous sauna trucks have popped up in the car park in recent years, which somehow seem entirely appropriate for this location.
CHOSEN BY: Robin Hutson, founder of The Pig hotel group.
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