Met Office

This beautiful town gets 573 hours more sunshine a year than the UK average

At this time of year, it can seem as if the weather in the UK is particularly miserable. The cold, wet weather isn’t helped by the fact the sun continues to set early in the day.

But this won’t be the case forever, with clocks set to go forward in March giving us much longer days. And some parts of the country will get even more sun than others.

Certain areas typically get more sunshine due to their location and local climate. Taking the top spot in the UK for this is a “small” but charming town you may not have heard of.

Located on the Isle of Wight off the south coast of England, Shanklin boasts the most sunshine hours a year. Based on Met Office data, it gets 1,976 hours of sunshine per year.

This is 573 hours more than the UK average and 44 more than the runner-up of Folkestone in Kent. This data was analysed by Sunsave Energy, which said on its website: “The Isle of Wight receives the gold medal for sunshine.

“Located just off the south coast of England, this little island is famous for its sunny weather, seafront promenades and beach huts. It’s no surprise that Queen Victoria regularly chose to retreat here.

“The Met Office has several climate stations on the Isle of Wight, but it’s the one in the small town of Shanklin (population: 9,000) that tops the UK sunshine charts. With 1,976 hours of sunshine per year, the Isle of Wight is a whopping 573 hours up on the UK average (1,403).”

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Shanklin is a well-established holiday spot that can be found on the south-east coast of the island. Families can enjoy its beautiful sandy beach, amusement arcades, and shops.

For nature lovers, Shanklin Chine is a must-see coastal ravine, featuring waterfalls, trees and lush vegetation. Visit Isle of Wight, the island’s official tourist information site, explains: “One of the jewels of Sandown Bay, the town of Shanklin has long been known as a traditional holiday destination and has everything you need for a great family holiday or to go to with friends or as a couple. With lots of seafront hotels, amusement arcades and crazy golf, it is the epitome of the British beach resort.

“But Shanklin these days is so much more than that. It has a thriving town centre with a host of independent shops, restaurants and pubs and its own theatre.

“Then there is the history of the town, from it being the home of the poet Keats to its vital role in the Second World War. Whatever you like to do on holiday, then Shanklin is certainly a place to ‘Say Yes’ to.”

The other sunniest places in Britain, as per Sunsave Energy, were:

• Folkestone, Kent – 1,932 hours of sunshine a year
• Bognor Regis, West Sussex – 1,919 hours
• Hastings, East Sussex – 1,915 hours
• Weymouth, Dorset – 1,904 hours
• Eastbourne, East Sussex – 1,892 hours
• Southend-on-Sea, Essex – 1,884 hours
• Ramsgate, Kent – 1,846 hours
• Walton-on-the-Naze, Essex – 1,824 hours
• Swanage, Dorset – 1,806 hours
• Bournemouth, Dorset – 1,779 hours

This island offers the perfect winter escape with average temperatures of 20C in January – and it’s just a four-hour flight from London

As murmurs of snow and icy conditions intensify, and the January weather settles in, it’s hardly surprising that many are dreaming of escaping to warmer climes – minus the peak-season throngs.

Those blessed with sufficient funds and holiday allowance might contemplate Cancun, but there’s a secret paradise much nearer that can be reached for a fraction of the price: an island hailed as the “Hawaii of Europe”, merely a four-hour journey from London (which is due to crash down to -3C this week).

Positioned 500km from Africa’s shores and 450km north of the Canary Islands, Madeira is renowned as Cristiano Ronaldo’s homeland – not, bewilderingly, the English sponge cake bearing the same moniker. The Portuguese island chain comprises four territories: Madeira, Porto Santo, the Desertas, and the Selvagens.

It serves as a perfect winter retreat, offering average temperatures as high as 23C on the warmest January days. The Met Office reports that the archipelago typically basks in six hours of daily sunshine throughout winter. Nevertheless, weather patterns differ considerably across mountainous areas, influenced by elevation. Even during quieter months, the heavily populated isle can still appear bustling, particularly following its social media fame as a breathtaking oceanic sanctuary competing with tropical paradises.

“If you’re looking for winter sun, you won’t have much trouble finding it in Madeira in January. Daytime temperatures can be 20°C in the south below what’s called the ‘banana line’, the best place for cultivating the fruit. Yet look at the mountaintops from Funchal, and you may well see snow glittering in the sunlight. Madeirans take their first sea swims of the year, but you might want to wait a few months,” explains Responsible Travel.

Even during the quieter months, the heavily populated island can still seem busy, particularly following its social media fame as a breathtaking oceanic retreat competing with tropical hotspots, according to the Express.

As a delightful perk, Madeira operates on the UK’s timezone, meaning you won’t squander valuable time off wrestling with jet lag.

Madeira, the main island, is bursting with attractions and adventures crammed into its compact area, ideal for those seeking more than simply lounging in the sun and making their friends back home envious. Must-see experiences include trekking up Pico Ruivo, wandering through the lush gardens at Monte Palace, and visiting local wineries to discover the area’s fascinating wine-making heritage.

The island’s famous Madeira wine found its way to England during the 1800s and was traditionally served alongside lemon and almond-flavoured madeira cake – remarkably giving the dessert its name despite having no other link.

According to Visit Madeira, Ponta do Sol boasts the island’s highest annual sunshine hours. It’s described as a “place much appreciated by those seeking to enjoy sunny days on the beach or in contact with some idyllic spots in nature”.

For culture enthusiasts, Ponta do Sol Beach is unbeatable during their visit. Boasting excellent water quality and a charming setting, this compact 160-metre stretch is ideal for tranquillity seekers. Meanwhile, Madalena do Mar Beach sits nestled near dramatic rocky cliffs and is adored by swimmers. Visit Madeira explains: “This bathing resort is a combination of pebbles and black sand. It is bathed by crystal-clear waters with mild temperatures all year round, and low swell.”

In terms of how long to stay, Lonely Planet’s Austin Bush suggests: “Because Madeira’s highlights are found at all over the island, you shouldn’t plan a stay of under four days. Consider a night in Funchal to get oriented, then supplement this with stops in one or two more destinations elsewhere on the island. Dedicate a day to active pursuits, followed ideally by a day to recover on the beach. Tack on at least another two nights if you plan to hit Porto Santo, the other inhabited island that forms part of the Madeiran archipelago.”

Direct flights to Madeira operate from numerous major UK airports, including Manchester, Liverpool, Leeds, Bristol and Gatwick. From northern England, the journey to Madeira takes roughly four hours, compared to approximately 19 hours to reach Hawaii – which has no direct connections from the UK. Right now, there are flights from Bristol for £17, Manchester for £24 and Birmingham for £32 this January.