THE summer holidays are still in full flow and there’s still plenty of time to head down to the beach.
If you’re stuck on which ones to visit, Skyscanner has just announced the best ones in the UK, making it much easier to decide where you head next.
The top picks were announced on its The Paradise Guide and were chosen from data like the average air and sea temperature to sun lounger availability and reviews.
At number one spot is Sandbanks Beach along the Dorset coast.
The beach is always highly regarded and has even been dubbed “The jewel in the crown of the English Coastline” by some.
Skyscanner said it was “ideal for families, swimming and watersports” thanks to its long and gently sloping sands.
It holds Blue Flag status and has done since the awards began in 1987.
The beach also has an average peak-season temperature of 20.8C and a Tripadvisor rating of 4.6.
For a bit of sightseeing afterwards, head to Panorama Road which is also called ‘Millionaires Row’.
It’s home to celebrities like Harry and Sandra Redknapp, Graeme Souness and Geoffrey Boycott.
Other famous Sandbanks residents include Celia Sawyer, J.R.R Tolkien, John Lennon and Liam Gallagher.
In second place is Kent’s Botany Bay.
Skyscanner described it as one of the UK‘s “most distinctive beaches” thanks to its “striking” white chalk cliffs.
Botany Bay sits between trendy seaside towns Margate and Broadstairs.
Even better news for anyone keen to visit Botany Bay is that it doesn’t get much rain compared to other spots in the country.
On average, Botany Bay gets 58 days of rainfall each year – to put that in perspective, the UK gets an average 164 days of rain a year.
It’s also one of the warmest beaches in winter thanks to where it sits on the Channel with average temperatures of 9.5C.
Not only that but it even saw bright blue bioluminescent waters back in 2023.
In third place was St Andrew West Sands in Scotland.
Found in Fife, the beach is a 15-minute walk away from the town centre with “rolling dunes”.
Skyscanner said: “Made famous by the opening scene of Chariots of Fire, it’s a favourite for long walks, beach games and taking in sea views.
“At low tide, the expansive shoreline offers plenty of space to explore, while the nearby West Sands boardwalk provides an easy way to enjoy the surrounding dunes and coastline.”
While the beach is a little chillier at 15.8C, it has an average Tripadvisor rating of 4.7.
Skyscanner has introduced its new ‘beach match’ tool so travellers can find the ‘beach destinations that match’ their travel style.
Just pick the month you’re planning to travel and then choose from four categories.
These are ‘quiet and relaxed’, ‘lively and social’, ‘family friendly’ and ‘adventurous’.
Then choose amenities, the airport you’re flying into, how far you plan on travelling from there and a budget before finding your beach ‘match’.
Here are Skyscanner’s best beaches…
The UK’s Best Beaches
- Sandbanks Beach, Dorset, England
- Botany Bay, Kent, England
- St Andrews West Sands, St Andrews, Scotland
The World’s most talked-about beaches
- Palm Beach, Oranjestad, Aruba
- La Jolla Cove, California, USA
- Siesta Key Beach, Florida, USA
The world’s most underrated beaches
- Embleton Bay, Northumberland, England
- Rendezvous Bay, Montserrat
- Castlerock Beach, Derry-Londonderry, Northern Ireland