YOU don’t need to jet off abroad to guarantee a golden tan this summer.
With summer 2026 already showing up as an absolute scorcher, most of us are itching to get out and soak up the rays while they last.
We’ve rounded up the sunniest spots in the UK that see nearly 2,000 hours of sunshine per year.
Plus we’ve paired each spot with a cheap hotel deal, so you can book yourself a budget-friendly seaside staycation this summer.
Bognor Regis, West Sussex
With over 1,900 hours of sunshine per year, Bognor Regis has been crowned as one of the sunniest places in Britain by the Met Office.
The seaside town has plenty to see and do, including a town centre packed with traditional sweet shops, book shops and boutiques.
Read more on seaside towns
Make the most of the sunshine down at the seafront, where you’ll find a historic promenade train and traditional pier with its own arcade and casino.
You can also buy day passes to Butlin’s Bognor Regis, and make use of unlimited fairground rides and the indoor waterpark with a Helter Skelter waterslide.
Plus you could even have a go on the resort’s brand new giant claw machine, which has been awarded a Guinness World Record as the largest in the world.
For a cheap place to stay, Premier Inn have opened up a new hotel with fancy Premier Plus rooms right on the seafront.
Staying at the new hotel also gives you access to its glamorous lounge ‘The Social’, decked out with pink and neon decor, offering late night food and 2-for-1 cocktails.
Book a stay at the Premier Inn Bognor Regis from £102 per night.
Eastbourne, East Sussex
With a warm microclimate protected by the South Downs, Eastbourne consistently ranks as one of the sunniest places in the UK.
The town enjoys 1,890+ hours of sunshine per year, which is 500 more than the average UK town.
The seaside town is bursting with exciting attractions, like the rainbow-coloured Tower Art Gallery and Royal Hippodrome Theatre showing music and comedy events.
Soak up the sunshine with an ice cream out on the Victorian pier, or take a ride on the miniature steam railway through the 12-acre EMSR adventure park.
Plus the town’s three-mile stretch of beach is backed by pretty beach huts and dotted with deck chairs and loungers, giving you plenty of spots to sit and sunbathe.
Book a stay at the Pearl & Pebbles Eastbourne from £52 per night, or £26pp per night.
Shanklin, Isle of Wight
Shanklin in the Isle of Wight has been crowned as the sunniest place to live in the UK, seeing 1,976 hours of sunshine per year.
The picturesque seaside town is known for its pretty thatched roof cottages, traditional tearoom and quaint shops and cafes.
Shanklin Beach is a golden stretch of sand perfect for families with a beachfront chippy, ice cream shops and a pirate-themed mini golf.
There’s even a clifftop lift that will transport visitors down from the town centre to the esplanade, making this beach a great accessible option.
Visit nearby Shanklin Chine to see the island’s oldest tourist attraction – a wooded ravine with charming narrow paths and bridges that take you to see waterfalls.
Book a stay in The Belmont hotel from £109 per night, which also offers discounts for the ferry to and from the island.
Southend-on-Sea, Essex
With an impressive 1,884 hours of sunshine per year, Southend consistently ranks as one of the sunniest destinations in the UK.
The seaside city is home to the longest pleasure pier in the world, packed with restaurants, arcades, and kiosks selling sticks of rock and hot doughnuts.
You can brave the near two-mile walk out over the Thames Estuary, or simply hop on the quirky pier train to reach the very end for panoramic sea views.
You could also grab a wristband for Adventure Island for £30pp and make use of unlimited rollercoasters and fairground rides.
For a cheap place to stay, Premier Inn has a well-located hotel on the Eastern Esplanade, putting you just steps from the sand.
Book a stay at Premier Inn Southend On Sea (Eastern Esplanade) hotel from £52 per night.
Prices correct at the time of publication.