The ferry engine cuts out as you approach the jetty, and the only sound is the lapping of water against the hull and the cry of seabirds wheeling overhead. The United Kingdom has over 6,000 islands, ranging from uninhabited rocks to densely populated landmasses with airports and universities. Some are famous, like the Isle of Skye and the Isle of Wight, while others are barely known outside the communities that inhabit them. These ten represent the most beautiful islands in British waters, and each offers something unique to the traveller who makes the journey.

St Kilda: The Abandoned Archipelago

St Kilda is a UNESCO World heritage site located 66 kilometres west of the Outer Hebrides, the most remote part of the British Isles. The islands were inhabited for at least 2,000 years, but the remaining 36 residents were evacuated in 1930 at their own request. The abandoned village on Hirta remains intact, stone houses with their roofs gone, windows open to the Atlantic weather. The seabird colonies are among the largest in Europe, with the world’s largest colony of gannets and significant populations of puffins and fulmars. Access is by charter boat from the Isle of Skye or the Outer Hebrides, and sea conditions determine weather landing is possible. St Kilda is not an easy destination, but it is unforgettable.

Lundy: The Puffin Paradise

Lundy Island lies in the Bristol Channel, 12 miles off the coast of Devon. The island is three miles long and one mile wide, with a population that fluctuates between a handful of winter residents and the summer crowds of day trippers. The star attractions are the puffins that nest in burrows on the west coast from April to July. Lundy was designated the first Marine Conservation Zone in England in 2010, and the waters around the island are rich with seals, dolphins, and basking sharks. The island has a castle built by Henry III, a working lighthouse, and the Marisco Tavern, the only pub, which serves excellent local ale. Accommodation is limited to a few self-catering cottages and a campsite.

Isle of Skye: The Iconic Scottish Island

Skye is the most famous island in Scotland, connected to the mainland by a bridge since 1995. The Cuillin Ridge is the most dramatic mountain range in Britain, a jagged spine of black rock that challenges even experienced climbers. The Fairy Pools on the River Brittle are crystal-clear natural pools that draw photographers from around the world. The Old Man of Storr is a 50-metre pinnacle of rock that rises from the hillside like a sentinel. Portree is the main town, a colourful harbour village with excellent seafood restaurants. Skye is busy in summer, and accommodation should be booked well in advance. Visit in spring or autumn for quieter roads and the same dramatic scenery.

St Agnes: The Tropics of the Isles of Scilly

St Agnes is the southernmost inhabited island in the British Isles, part of the Isles of Scilly archipelago 28 miles off the coast of Cornwall. The climate is so mild that palm trees and subtropical gardens thrive. The beaches are white sand, the water is turquoise, and the pace of life is determined by the tides. The island has about 80 residents, one pub, and no cars. The only sound on a summer afternoon is the wind and the waves and the occasional call of a gull. The island is reached by boat from St Mary’s, the largest of the Scilly Isles, itself reached by plane from Exeter or Land’s End or by ferry from Penzance.

Lindisfarne: The Holy Island of Tidal Causeways

Lindisfarne, also known as Holy Island, is connected to the Northumberland coast by a causeway that floods twice a day. The tide times are posted at both ends of the road, and ignoring them leads to a wet car and a lesson in humility. The island was the site of the 7th-century monastery where the Lindisfarne Gospels were created, the most spectacular illuminated manuscripts of the Anglo-Saxon era. The ruins of the medieval priory stand on the same site. The castle at the end of the island was built in the 16th century and converted into a holiday home by the architect Edwin Lutyens in the early 20th century. The mead produced on the island is worth buying.

Isle of Mull: Whales, Eagles, and a Colourful Harbour

Mull is the second largest of the Inner Hebrides, reached by ferry from Oban. Tobermory is the main town, a harbour lined with brightly coloured houses that make it the most photographed town in the Hebrides. The island is known for its white-tailed eagles, which were reintroduced in the 1970s and now soar above the cliffs in significant numbers. The beaches at Calgary and the fossilised tree at Burg are attractions worth seeking out. The island is large enough to require a car, and the single-track roads demand patience and reversing skills. The seafood is exceptional, with oysters and langoustines harvested from the surrounding waters.

Rathlin Island: Puffins and Peace

Rathlin Island lies off the coast of County Antrim in Northern Ireland, reached by ferry from Ballycastle. The island is six miles long and one mile wide, with a population of about 150. The RSPB seabird centre at the western tip hosts puffins, razorbills, and guillemots from April to July. The seals haul out on the rocks below the cliff path. The island has one pub, one shop, and a profound sense of isolation despite being only 25 minutes from the mainland. The lighthouse at the western end was designed by Thomas Stevenson, the father of Robert Louis Stevenson.

Isle of Arran: Scotland in Miniature

Arran is often described as Scotland in miniature because the Highland Boundary Fault cuts through the island, dividing it into a mountainous northern half and a gentler, agricultural southern half. Goat Fell is the highest peak at 874 metres, a straightforward climb with panoramic views across the Firth of Clyde. Brodick Castle is owned by the National Trust for Scotland and set in beautiful gardens. The island has its own whisky distillery, cheese makers, and a brewery. The ferry from Ardrossan takes less than an hour, and a circuit of the island by car or bicycle can be done in a single day.

Brownsea Island: Red Squirrels and a Lagoon

Brownsea Island sits in Poole Harbour in Dorset, a five-minute ferry ride from the mainland. The island is owned by the National Trust and is one of the last strongholds of the native red squirrel in England. The lagoon on the island is an important site for wading birds and terns. The island was the site of the first Scout camp in 1907, when Robert Baden-Powell brought 20 boys to test his ideas about outdoor education. The castle on the island is private and occasionally used by the John Lewis Partnership as a holiday centre for employees. The island is a peaceful escape from the crowds of the Dorset coast.

St Michael’s Mount: The Tidal Island of Cornish Legend

St Michael’s Mount rises from Mount’s Bay near Penzance, connected to the mainland by a causeway that is walkable at low tide. The castle and medieval church at the summit have been occupied since the 8th century, and the island was a major pilgrimage site in the Middle Ages. The island is the Cornish counterpart to Mont Saint-Michel in Normandy, and the two share a similar design and history. The sub-tropical gardens on the terraced slopes are beautiful, and the views across the bay toward Penzance and the Lizard Peninsula are among the finest in Cornwall.

Which British island would you visit first, the remote seabird colonies of St Kilda, the tidal causeway of Lindisfarne, or the white sands of St Agnes?

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Category: United Kingdom Travel Guides. Updated: June 11, 2026.

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