The sand at Rhossili Bay is so fine and so golden that it squeaks beneath your bare feet as you walk toward the sea, and the surf rolls in from the Atlantic in long, clean waves that have made this beach a favourite for surfers and families alike. Britain’s south coast stretches nearly a thousand kilometres from Land’s End to the North Foreland, and these five beaches are the best it has to offer. The water may be cooler than the Med, but the scenery more than makes up for it.
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Rhossili Bay, Gower Peninsula, Wales
Rhossili Bay has been voted the best beach in the UK multiple times by TripAdvisor, and it earns the title every year. The beach stretches for nearly five kilometres of golden sand at low tide, backed by dunes and the green slopes of Rhossili Down. At the western end, the Worm’s Head, a three-kilometre tidal island, extends into the sea. The walk to the Worm’s Head takes about two and a half hours and is only possible at low tide. Check the tide times carefully before setting out. Getting stuck on the Worm is a genuine risk. The surf at the northern end of the bay, near Llangennith, is the best on the Gower Peninsula. A surf school offers lessons for about 35 pounds, and the waves are consistent enough for beginners and intermediates alike. The Worms Head Hotel at the top of the cliff serves a good pint with the best pub view in Wales.
Porthcurno, Cornwall
Porthcurno is a small cove of crushed-shell sand that glows white in the sunlight, framed by granite cliffs and turquoise water. It is widely considered the most beautiful beach in Cornwall. What makes it exceptional is the Minack Theatre, an open-air theatre carved into the cliff face above the beach. The theatre was built by Rowena Cade in 1932, who spent her own money and worked with a single assistant to create a performance space on the edge of the Atlantic. Watching a play at sunset, with the sea behind the stage and the sky turning pink and orange, is one of the most memorable experiences the British coast has to offer. Tickets cost about 10 to 20 pounds and sell out weeks in advance during the summer. The beach below the theatre is perfect for swimming between acts.
Bournemouth Beach, Dorset
Bournemouth Beach is the best urban beach in the United Kingdom. Seven miles of golden sand stretch along the coast, backed by the Victorian and Edwardian architecture of the town. The pier extends into the English Channel, and the beach is lined with colourful beach huts that have become an iconic image of the British seaside. The water quality has improved dramatically in recent years, and the beach has been awarded Blue Flag status consistently. Bournemouth is easily reachable from London Waterloo in about two hours by train, making it the best option for a day trip from the capital. The beach is busy in summer, but the sheer length of it means you can always find a quiet spot if you walk far enough from the pier.
Durdle Door, Dorset
Durdle Door is the most photographed coastal feature in the United Kingdom. The limestone arch, carved by the sea over thousands of years, stands at the western end of a beautiful shingle beach. The walk down to the beach from the car park is steep, but the view from the top of the cliff is worth every step. The arch frames the sea beyond it, and on a calm day the water is a deep turquoise. Durdle Door is part of the Jurassic Coast World heritage Site, and the cliffs contain fossils that date back 185 million years. Lulworth Cove, a short walk to the east, is a perfect horseshoe-shaped bay that demonstrates the power of coastal erosion. The car park costs about 10 pounds in summer, and arriving before 9 am is the best way to avoid the crowds.
West Wittering, West Sussex
West Wittering is the best family beach in the southeast of England. The sand is clean, the water is shallow for a long way out, and the dunes provide shelter from the wind. The beach is part of Chichester Harbour, an Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty, and the sailing and windsurfing here are excellent. The facilities are good, with a café, toilets, and a large car park that costs about 8.50 pounds. The beach is popular, and the car park fills up by mid-morning on summer weekends. Arrive early or consider visiting on a weekday. The walk along the spit toward East Head, a sand dune system that shifts with the tides, is one of the best coastal walks in the south east.
Which of these south coast beaches would you visit first: the surf of Rhossili, the theatre above Porthcurno, or the arch at Durdle Door?
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