AROUND the UK there are so many beautiful beaches from sandy coves to sprawling shingle stretches.
But experts have revealed where you can find the absolute best – and it is even one of the driest in Britain.
Condé Nast Traveller announced the 60 best beaches in the UK.
And Kent’s Botany Bay nabbed the top spot.
The publication called the coastal stretch “one of Kent’s most blissful hideouts”.
It said: “Viking Bay is beautiful and all, but, despite its size, securing a peaceful spot on the balmiest of summer days is all but impossible.
“Imagine how smug, then, the local folk of Kent feel, cool bags hooked onto their arms and towels flung over their shoulders, and they descend on Botany Bay.”
It continued to add: “At low tide, wade through the puddles in search of fossils and, come high tide, take a plunge knowing how shallow and rock-free many parts of the beach are – so much so, it has long been a favourite among families.”
Botany Bay sits between trendy seaside towns Margate and Broadstairs, and its beach is easily recognisable thanks to its tall white limestone cliffs and sea stacks.
Even better news for anyone keen to visit Botany Bay is that it doesn’t get much rain.
A study conducted by Parkdean looked at the rainfall patterns over the duration of one year at some of the UK’s most popular beaches.
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.
And while it isn’t hot, Botany Bay is also one of the warmest beaches in the UK in winter thanks to its location on the Channel with average temperatures of 9.5C.
While Botany Bay doesn’t have a pub, nearby you’ll find the Captain Digby.
The authentic British pub where you can get a pint and burger is at Kingsgate Bay and it sits on top of the cliff and overlooking the ocean.
For those who want to take a coastal walk, you can go via Botany Bay on the 32-mile Viking Coat Trail from Margate to Broadstairs.
Here are the 60 Best Beaches in the UK…
- Botany Bay, Kent
- Trevone Bay, Cornwall
- Sennen Cove, Cornwall
- Walberswick Beach, Suffolk
- Pentle Bay, Scilly Isles
- Crantock Beach, Newquay, Cornwall
- Mothecombe, Plymouth, Devon
- Mwnt Beach, Cardigan, Wales
- Holkham Beach, Norfolk
- Durdle Door, Jurassic Coast, Dorset
- Dunwich Beach, Suffolk
- Pedn Vounder Beach, Cornwall
- Hunstanton, Norfolk
- Shell Bay, Studland, Dorset
- Southwold, Suffolk
- Mudeford Sandbank, Dorset
- Cuckmere Haven, Seaford, East Sussex
- Whitstable beach, Kent
- Aldeburgh, Suffolk
- Brancaster Beach, Norfolk
- Dungeness, Romney Marsh, Kent
- Polzeath, Cornwall
- Bantham Beach, South Devon
- Filey Brigg, North Yorkshire
- West Wittering Beach, Chichester
- Sandbanks, Dorset
- St. Bees, Cumbria
- Woolacombe Sands, Devon
- Cromer Beach, North Norfolk
- Whitley Bay, Tyneside
- South Bay, Scarborough, Yorkshire
- Sheringham beach, North Norfolk
- Ventnor, Isle of Wight
- Viking Bay, Broadstairs
- Lantic Bay, Cornwall
- Scarista Beach, Lewis & Harris, Scotland
- Achmelvich Beach, North-west Scotland
- Machir Bay, Islay, Scotland
- Uig beach, Isle of Lewis, Scotland
- St Cyrus, Aberdeenshire, Scotland
- Luskentyre, Outer Hebrides, Scotland
- Three Cliffs Bay, Wales
- Aberfforest Beach, Wales
- Llanddwyn, Anglesey, Wales
- Barafundle Bay, Pembrokeshire, Wales
- Rhossili Bay, Gower Coast, Wales
- Harlech, Gwynedd, Wales
- Penbryn, Ceredigion, Wales
- Whitesands Beach, Pembrokeshire, Wales
- Benone, Ulster, Northern Ireland
- Mill Bay, Rathlin Island, Northern Ireland
- Magilligan Point, Ulster, Northern Ireland
- Whiterocks, Portrush, Northern Ireland
- Whitepark Bay, Antrim, Northern Ireland
- Blackpool Sands, Devon
- Seven Sisters, Sussex
- Camber Sands, Essex
- Cley next the Sea, Norfolk
- Hastings Beach, Sussex
- Hengistbury Head
For more on coastlines, here are the best ‘one-of-a-kind’ beaches around the world have been revealed – and two in the UK make the list.
And here are our 26 must-visit UK beaches for 2026 – including tropical-feel spots and family-friendly finds.