The UK has heaps of regions to explore, cities to visit and national parks to explore. It’s incredible, and the British Isles are some of the most diverse islands in Western Europe to visit. That being said, we’re not always guaranteed sunshine… or so they say! I call that codswallop! There are heaps of the sunniest places in the UK to visit, and you don’t even have to leave the country to visit them.
From the glorious Isles of Scilly, stunning white sand beaches, to the incredible cities that aren’t always the obvious choices! Yes, we could just mention all the places in Cornwall, but we’ve tried to show you some gems all across the UK. Honestly, there is something for everyone to see in the UK. Best of all, these are some of the sunniest places in the UK where you can explore without ever needing a passport.
Take a look, below, at our favourite sunniest places in the UK that you can’t miss. Have fun in the sun!
1.) Isle of Wight
Just off the south coast of England is the Isle of Wight, a picture-perfect island that’s amazing for a day trip or a weekend jaunt to explore the island’s beaches, history and stunning little villages. Best of all, it’s one of the sunniest places in the UK due to its southerly location and almost microclimate that creates warmer, sunnier weather than most other places in the UK.
Once here, make sure to spend some time at the stunning and unspoilt Yaverland Beach (Google Maps pin). It’s a sandy haven that’s perfect to visit on a sunny day. Plus, don’t forget to visit the quaint village of Godshill and Compton Beach (Google Maps pin) on the south coast of the Isle of Wight.
Finally, make sure to stop off at Mermaid Gin (Google Maps pin) for some of their declines libations and lunch. We had a tasty crab and fries, and it was so good.
Now, the best way to get around the Isle of Wight is by car, and you can take this over on the ferry from nearby Portsmouth.
Read more: Best things to do on the Isle of Wight
2.) Pembrokeshire
Tucked away on the south-west fringes of Wales, Pembrokeshire is an absolutely stunning region to visit whilst on a wider Wales road trip. You see, it has one of the UK’s only coastal National Parks and it’s so picturesque to drive around.
Best of all, Pembrokeshire is one of the sunniest places in the UK to visit on the west coast of Great Britain. Now, typically, the west coast can be a little wetter than the east coast of Great Britain – it has something to do with the Atlantic Ocean hitting the higher mountains on the west coast, which causes rain. Thankfully, Pembrokeshire only really has rolling hills and nothing that causes a big burst of rain.
Once you’ve arrived in Pembrokeshire, make sure to visit the tiny city of St. David’s, which is perfect for strolling around. Plus, you can visit ancient sites like Pentre Ifan (Google Maps pin), which is said to be almost 5,000 years old. It’s incredible to see and totally free.
If it’s beaches and shorelines you’re after, stop by the Green Bridge of Wales and visit Newgale Beach (Google Maps pin) or White Sands. Both are stunning and totally natural beaches.
Read more: Best places in Pembrokeshire to visit
3.) Lacock
Perched in the countryside of Wiltshire, Lacock is a small and historic village that is too stunning to miss. Around a 45-minute drive from the fringes of the Cotswolds, it’s the perfect little village to wander around and visit for an afternoon trip. Plus, it’s one of the sunniest places in the UK that’s blessed with warmer summer days (due to its southerly location).
Once here, take a wander around Lacock and explore the little tea houses, honesty shops and cute little stores that line the streets. It’s a picture-perfect place to visit in England.
Read more: Best places in Wiltshire to visit
4.) Isles of Scilly
If the Isles of Scilly haven’t been on your radar, well, they really should be! Around 30 miles off the western coast of Cornwall, the Isles of Scilly are one of the sunniest places in the UK to visit, best reached by flight or ferry.
Now, what makes the Isles of Scilly so warm and sunny is the Gulf Stream that directs warmer currents from the Caribbean to the shores of Cornwall. The Isles of Scilly get a direct hit from this stream and it keeps the islands toasty, sunny and allows for even tropical plants to grow.
Read more: 1-week itinerary to visit the Isles of Scilly
5.) Cambridge
Known as a historic university city, Cambridge is the perfect venue for culture vultures to explore the many galleries and museums that make it so special. Not only that, it’s just 45 minutes on a train from London, making it the perfect stopping point for a day trip from the big city.
Not only that, being an easterly city typically means that it can be much drier and sunnier than the west coast of Great Britain. It’s the perfect little city break!
Once here, make sure to visit some of the Colleges, like King’s College and head to The Backs for a picnic. For a more peaceful spot, visit the Botanic Gardens or hop on board a punt boat and push your way down the River Cam.
Read more: Best things to do in Cambridge
6.) Hastings
With around 248 hours of sunshine, Hastings is an East Sussex town, is one of the sunniest places in the UK to visit. Best of all, it’s a great spot to visit if you’re already exploring nearby Brighton or the wider south coast of England.
Known for its antique shops, cute boutiques, the Hastings Castle and heaps of little cafes, it’s a great place to visit for a day trip or an overnight stay.
Oh, and don’t forget about the Hastings Contemporary Art Gallery, too. Here, you’ll be able to explore local and national art, which is so great. Talking of museums, you can also head to the nearby Hastings Fishermen’s Museum, which is a pretty popular spot for all the family.
Finally, don’t forget to visit the newly renovated pier or the shingle beach of Hastings. It’s lovely, even if it isn’t a sandy bay.
Read more: Best beaches in England to visit
7.) London
It might surprise you, but London is one of the sunniest places in the UK. Not only that, it gets nowhere near as much rain as people like to moan about. For instance, it’s much drier than cities like Paris or New York and perfect to visit if you want to see some of the world’s most iconic sights!
There are so many amazing areas in London to visit; from historic neighbourhoods like Greenwich, the fringe neighbourhood of Camden and the lively lanes of Covent Garden. London has something for everyone! You’ll have the best time, especially with all the iconic spots in Central London you need to see.
We wrote a whole blog post on the amazing places you need to see in London, so make sure to check it out if you’re planning on visiting.
Read more: Best places in London to visit
8.) Brighton
One beautiful place to visit when summer comes is Brighton. It’s a stone’s throw from London (well, about 75 minutes on the train) and a perfect place for a beach city break whilst in England.
Known for the Lanes, filled with cute cafes and restaurants and the long, stretching Brighton Beach, the city has so much going for it. Not only that, it’s one of the sunniest places in the UK where heaps of Londoners visit for a day trip by the seaside. Grab a ’99’ ice cream, some candyfloss and some picky bits for the seaside. It’s glorious!
Now, the beach might be pebbly, but that doesn’t dampen the fun. The city is a hive of culture, arts and has a big LGBTQ+ community and family attractions that make it a great place for everyone!
Read more: Best things to do in Brighton
9.) Canterbury
With almost 1,690 hours of sunshine each year, Canterbury is one sunniest places in the UK. You can visit it quite easily when in Kent or even London. This is a UNESCO World Heritage Site and is also a cathedral city, and steeped in history, which is so incredible to explore for a day trip.
Once here, make sure to visit the ruins of St Augustine’s Abbey, the King’s School, a Norman Castle, St Lawrence Ground and Marlowe Theatre, among others. Not only that, you can easily wander around the city centre (no car is needed) and pop into the many little shops and cafes that line the streets. We love it for a day trip, and it’s honestly such a great bite-sized city to visit.
Read more: Best things to do in Canterbury
10.) Bristol
Maybe one of the most-loved cities in the whole of the UK is Bristol, and with good reason! The vibrant music and fantastic art scene of this city make it obvious why. Maybe you’ve heard of Bristol as the place where you’ll find heaps of street art, with the most famous being from Banksy, who is said to reside in the city!
Along with this artistic scene are the picture-perfect landmarks and waterfront harbour area, which is great to explore on a sunny day. Talking of the sun, Bristol is one of the country’s sunniest places in the UK and well worth a gander whilst in the wider area, visiting the nearby city of Bath or even the Cotswolds.
Read more: Best things to do in Bristol
11.) Durham
Don’t be fooled by Durham’s northerly location in England! Not only is it surprisingly sunny, it’s actually pretty dry to boot. Although small, it packs a mighty punch with all the historic sights to see. For instance, the Norman cathedral, a Roman fort and the medieval town hall and castle are some of the beautiful architectural structures you can’t miss.
Not only that, if you are more of a nature lover, you can always head to the Hamsterley Forest and the Heritage Coast. There are also glasshouses in botanical gardens to give you an experience of a tropical rainforest’s atmosphere. We love the city so much.
Read more: Best places in the North of England to visit
12.) Dundee
Described as the city of discovery, Dundee is one driest cities in the UK. Now, with it being much further north (in Scotland), temperatures won’t reach the highs of London or more southerly spots. Though that doesn’t stop the sunshine, it’s one of the sunniest places in the UK, especially with its long summer days.
Once here, make sure to visit the V&A Dundee, explore the waterfront and visit Discovery Point to learn all about the perilous voyage of Captain Scott. It’s a great little spot to visit for a half-day trip, especially if you’re travelling through wider Scotland.
Finally, if you’ve got time, take a day trip over to Fife and stop by the gorgeous town of St. Andrews. It’s only about a 25-minute drive from Central Dundee, and it’s so picturesque.
Read more: Best things to do in Dundee
13.) Bognor Regis
Known as England’s sun king, Bognor Regis has an average of nearly 2,000 hours of sunshine each year! Now, that might not seem wild, but considering some parts of Scotland only get 900 hours or below, it makes Bognor Regis pretty special.
Now, over the years, Bognor Regis has had something of a bad rap – but don’t let that put you off, there’s plenty to see and do around the shoreline for a little seaside trip. For instance, Aldwick Beach is amazing, long and totally beautiful to visit for a day at the seaside. Yes, it might be a shingle beach, but it’s still worth a gander when in the area.
Also, Bognor Regis is a great place to visit if you’re looking for a more affordable seaside location to soak up the sun.
Read more: Best beaches in England to visit
14.) Eastbourne, East Sussex
Deemed as Brighton’s bustling cousin, Eastbourne is a cheaper alternative to Brighton but still a pretty epic place to visit. Best of all, you will get to experience the same sunny days and sunshine present in Brighton, but for a more affordable budget (if you head to Eastbourne).
Here, there are almost 1,900 hours of sunshine per year, so this is a great place to explore for you to find good beaches you can take a dip in or where you can watch the sun set or shine. The coastline here is beautiful.
As you explore the wider area, make sure to stroll the cliffs at Birling Gap and Seven Sisters Cliffs. It’s absolutely stunning. Though never venture close to the cliff edge. These cliffs are crumbly and erode very often, which makes them very dangerous. Always listen to local advice and stay safe.
15.) Aberpoth/Tresaith
Known as a natural suntrap and a champion of West Wales, Aberporth and Tresaith are two, side-by-side, beautiful places where you can relax and enjoy nature and the Cambrian coastline that’s so special
Now, for me, Tresiath, although small, is the winner when it comes to places to visit. Not just because it’s one of the sunniest places in the UK, but it’s oh so quaint. It’s only got one lovely pub (The Ship Inn) and a gorgeous beach and waterfall that make it a great spot to chill.
Best of all, you can see some of the most awe-inspiring sunsets from Tresaith. It’s stunning, and the sun sets right over Cardigan Bay.
Read more: Best places in West Wales to visit
16.) Salcombe, Devon
Perched on the south coast of Devon, Salcombe is a historic fishing town that hugs the shores. Although relatively small, Salcombe is one quintessential British holiday that’s totally beautiful. Plus, with it being one of the sunniest places in the UK, Salcombe is perfect to visit in summer, with the long days and sunny evenings.
Also, if it’s a beach you’re after, head to Strete Gate. It’s a long stretch of sandy beach that’s totally unspoilt and beautiful on a sunny day. Have the best time!
Read more: Best places to visit in Devon
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