Top 10 beaches

Bournemouth

Where: Dorset
Bournemouth benefits from 7 miles of pure gold. One of the best city beaches in the UK, its soft sand and acres of space are perfect for families. It’s won awards for cleanliness and on a clear day you can see out to the Needles on the Isle of Wight. True, it’s not a deserted paradise, but you can’t ask for much more so close to a major town. And with the building of Europe’s first artificial surf reef, the beach is set to become one of the UK’s premier surfing spots.
Web: Bournemouth

West Wittering

Where: West Sussex
West Wittering near Chichester manages to please all comers with expansive sands, superior water quality and a thriving dune ecosystem. The beach shelves gently towards the sea making it ideal for safe swimming and when the tide is out you can bask in shallow tidal pools warmed by the sun. If you feel restless you can walk around East Head, a sandy spit populated by absorbing coastal flora and fauna.
Web: West Wittering Beach

Abereiddi Blue Lagoon

Where: Pembrokeshire
Not strictly a beach, the Blue Lagoon is actually an old quarry with a tidal channel to the sea. The quarry forms a satisfying circle, protecting and enclosing a disc of shimmering azure water. It’s a romantic spot reached by walking past ruined slate workers’ cottages and quarry buildings. Surrounded by cliffs, it’s popular with cliff jumpers and coasteerers.
Web: Abereiddi Blue Lagoon

Holy Island

Where: Northumberland
One of the most haunting and beautiful places in Britain, Holy Island was an early centre of Christianity in the UK. Cut off from the mainland twice a day by the tide, it has a castle, an evocative ruined priory and mile upon mile of deserted sand. If you’re in a reflective mood, this is the one for you. Watch out for grey seals and rare birds.
Web: Holy Island

Holkham

Where: Norfolk
Draped in dunes, Holkham is a deliciously secluded beach backed by scented pine forest. Sunbathe, horseride or explore 3 miles of seemingly measureless, creamy sands. And if you come to Holkham, you’ll be in illustrious company. The Queen likes to walk her Corgis here and Gwyneth Paltrow strode across the sands for the final scene of Shakespeare in Love.
Web: Holkham

Croyde Bay

Where: North Devon
Hammering surf and excellent surf schools and shops have sealed Croyde Bay’s reputation as North Devon’s best beach for catching waves. The village has retained an old world charm despite the influx of young surfers keen to party and the beach is big enough for sunbathers and swimmers, too.
Web: Croyde Bay North Devon

Great Bay

Where: St Martin's, Isles of Scilly
Short on Kiss Me Quick hats and sickly sticks of rock but with charm to spare, Great Bay is the best beach in the Scillys. You can only reach it on foot, so the holiday hordes generally stay away. It’s only a 20 minute walk from the quay and the journey’s certainly worth it. Offshore, kelp forests sheltering colourful fish wave lazily in a cobalt sea and the arcing white sands are distinctly tropical.
Web: Great Bay

Blackpool

Where: Lancashire
Ice creams, saucy postcards, fish ‘n’ chips, rock, donkey rides and deckchairs – Blackpool beach is the essence of the traditional British seaside. Apart from miles of sand you’ll find slot machines, shows and some of the biggest and scariest rollercoasters in the UK.
Web: Visit Blackpool

Sinclair’s Bay

Where: Caithness
This all but deserted beach just south of John O’Groats has soft white sand that’s lapped by waters tinged an otherworldly blue. It’s hard to find a more atmospheric beach. This one’s guarded by two 16th-century castles and welcomes porpoises and whales. With 4 miles of uninterrupted sand you won’t have any problems bagging a good spot.
Web: Sinclair's Bay

Porthcurno

Where: Cornwall
This glorious, unspoilt beach hugged by craggy cliffs has fine white sand made from sea shells. There are cliff-top paths, rock pools to discover and a stream trickling down the beach – ideal for paddling children. Nearby, the extraordinary Minnack Theatre hosts open-air plays with views of the ocean.
Web: Visit Cornwall