7 unmissable UK beaches to visit this summer
Don't believe anyone who says the United Kingdom is a poor comparison to the likes of Australia, or South Africa when it comes to beaches. What the country lacks in palm trees or exotic wildlife, it makes up for in the sheer variety of its coastline. Somewhere in its four nations, your perfect beach awaits: places with birdlife or wild beauty and destinations where fish and chips with your feet in the sand is an essential part of the beach-going experience. You may need a windbreak but what could be more British than shrugging off a bit of weather? 1. Porthcurno, Cornwall
All of Cornwall's magic is concentrated in these couple of acres. The sand is a deep wedge, which expands at low tide, the sea is of a blue that would make a peacock blush and pillar-like granite cliffs ripple along the coast like fortifications. There's culture, too, at the open-air Minack Theatre, where the backcloth is the horizon of the Atlantic. The price of such beauty is crowds in the summer months — traffic jams on the approach lane are legendary. Arrive early- or mid-afternoon or try the quieter sister-beach, Pedn Vounder. It's accessible on foot around a headland at low tide. Porthcurno beach is located at the very tip of Cornwall, in southern England. Photograph by Getty Images, John Harper 2. Weymouth, Dorset
For 12 years, George III holidayed at Weymouth, transforming a fishing village into a resort for flaneurs — then, in the late-1800s, for the public arriving on the London train. Come for a classic English seaside experience — deckchairs on the promenade, donkey rides on the pampered beasts of West Hill Donkeys, pedalos, Punch and Judy shows twice a day and sand perfect for castles. Factor in toddler-friendly shallows and you have a favourite with young families. And for fish and chips? There are over a dozen options in town but there's a reason why family-owned Marlboro has been around since 1974.
(Welcome to Weymouth, the British seaside resort with a twist.) 3. Sanna Bay, Ardnamurchan
The Highlands are an idea of isolated beauty as much as a real destination. Enter Sanna Bay, the most westerly point in Britain. To get there, you take a pretty drive snaking along the shores of Loch Sunart. Beyond Kilchoan village, you're on a single-track lane — over moors and past white smallholdings, sheep and Highland cattle — to reach a remote carpark at the end of the road. Even so, you won't be prepared for the impact of walking through dunes to these icing-sugar sand arcs before turquoise shallows. Smaller beaches notch beyond headlands and sunsets are otherworldly. Better still, there's usually a breeze, which means none of Scotland's infamous midges. The isolated beauty of the Scottish highlands is what makes the beach at Sanna bay so appealing. Photograph by Getty Images, Simon Hodgkiss 4. Bamburgh, Northumberland
There's a debate to be had about the appeal of cosy coves versus epic beaches. If you lean towards the latter, this is your spot. Bamburgh beach is vast: four magnificent miles from Seahouses harbour to a monster castle at Bamburgh, all backed by silver-green dunes and dotted with rockpools to poke at with a shrimp net. Walk the lot and you can stop for king prawn chilli burgers at Creel & Reel food truck at the carpark in Waterford. You will also deserve a pint of Bamburgh Blonde at the Bamburgh Castle Inn back at Seahouses. 5. White Park Bay, Antrim
A public campaign raised £15,000 to safeguard this beauty for the National Trust. Now, otters gambol at dusk (a sure sign of eco-health), 17 species of butterflies and countless rabbits flit in the grasslands behind. Not forgetting the most-photographed cows in Northern Ireland, known for grazing on the beach, swaying along sands whenever a local farmer moves his herd. The squeaky 'singing sands' (the sand is known to produce a humming or buzzing sound) hold fossils — bullet-like squid and the shells of extinct mollusks, commonly known as devil's toenails. The absence of people will put you in mind of Australia rather than Antrim. Just be wary of swimming: the current can be vicious. 6. Holkham, Norfolk
On summer weekends, when up to 1,000 cars fill the parking area, it can seem like half of Norfolk has arrived. Through a fuzz of pine trees and a small sea of dunes, you will wonder where they all went. Holkham is big — two-miles long and 1,640-foot wide at low tide. Co-ordinate a visit for that time because it's the scale that wows at Holkham. This is a beach for cricket and kite-flying, to throw balls for madly excited dogs or to lie behind a windbreak and watch vast cloudscapes roll past like galleons under full sail. The beach at Holkham is one of the longest stretches of sand in the country. Photograph by Getty Images, Jackie Bale
(How to spend a weekend in North Norfolk, UK.) 7. Whitesands Bay, Pembrokeshire
Wales has bigger beaches like the Gower's Rhossili and pretty coves like Mwnt or Porth Iago. This stretch of coastline near St Davids wins because it has all you need from a beach. The pale sand gets emptier the further you go from the carpark. There's surfboard rental to ride friendly summer waves, plus seasonal lifeguards. Footpaths track to St Davids Head, the Land's End of Wales, marked by a neolithic tomb or to the rocky ridge of Carn Llidi hill, which rises above the beach. Save an ascent till dusk to see islands scattered in a sheet of golden sea. To subscribe to National Geographic Traveller (UK) magazine click here. (Available in select countries only).
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Yahoo
2 hours ago
- Yahoo
Discrimination in travel: What does the law say, and what actually happens?
'It's made us feel unwelcome, disrespected,' said Jemma Louise Gough, 38, after the host of an Airbnb in Manchester cancelled a booking for her and a friend because they are from Wales. 'We just wanted a bed for the night 'she told Stephen Nolan on BBC Radio 5 Live. 'It's also made us feel judged for something unrelated to our character or intentions as a guest. 'I was so shocked that this is still happening in this day and age. If this was about race or religion, there would be global outrage. It comes in many forms, discrimination. But it all warrants attention. It's all unacceptable and it deserves to be spoken out about." So how widespread is discrimination in travel? These are the key questions and answers. How bad were the olden days? Shamefully for an industry that celebrates freedom and is devoted to bringing people together, travel has a long history of discrimination based on nationality, skin colour, sexual orientation and other factors. After the Second World War, some British hotels advertised the fact that they banned guests from Germany and Austria, and did not employ people from those locations. South Africa codified racial discrimination with the apartheid laws, restricting the movements of Black citizens and excluding them from better forms of transport. In 1953 the South African minister C R Swart claimed that segregating whites and Black people on the railways and in accommodation was essential. He warned: 'If they are continually to travel together on the trains and sleep in the same hotels, eventually we would have racial admixture.' Segregation was also enforced across much of the US. For three decades until 1966, African Americans wishing to explore their own country had to rely upon the Negro Motorist Green Book to find motels, restaurants and service stations that would serve them; a film about the book later won an Oscar. As recently as 2018, two gay men aboard an Alaska Airlines flight from New York to Los Angeles were asked by cabin crew to move so that a heterosexual couple could sit together. In the same year, the Pontins holiday park chain instructed staff to decline or cancel bookings in the names of people who might be Irish travellers, including Gallagher, Murphy and Nolan. The firm has since said it is committed to comply with the Equality Act 2010. It's 2025: Anyone can go anywhere, right? The UK government says: 'It is against the law to discriminate against anyone because of age, gender reassignment, being married or in a civil partnership, being pregnant or on maternity leave, disability, race including colour, nationality, ethnic or national origin, religion or belief, sex [or] sexual orientation.' The statutes are augmented by case law. In 2011, a gay male couple were refused accommodation by B&B owners who said it was against their religious beliefs to allow two men to share a bed. The appeal court eventually decided in favour of the couple. Unfortunately, what the law requires and what actually happens can a long way apart. Consider a situation where somebody walks into a hotel and asks for a room for the night. It is possible that the person behind the desk may not like the prospective guest's accent, skin colour or T-shirt proclaiming a particular political view. They could simply say, 'Sorry, we are full'. Unless someone next in line without the same characteristics is immediately given a room, it would be impossible to prove discrimination. What do the accommodation platforms say? Both Airbnb and say they have zero tolerance for discrimination. reminds property owners that they are hosting people from different cultures and backgrounds who have different perspectives on acceptable behaviour. The firm tells owners: 'It's crucial that staff working at your property – especially guest-facing employees – are trained on what discrimination is and how to avoid it.' Airbnb concurs: 'Hosts may not decline guests based on their sexual orientation or gender identity. While your views may be different than those of your guests, please remember that being an Airbnb host does not require that you endorse how your guests live. 'Our dedication to bringing people together by fostering meaningful and shared experiences rests on the principles of respect and inclusion.' Same-sex group bookings are sometimes banned. For example Butlin's says: 'Butlins is a family resort and in keeping with this caravans may not be let to persons under the age of 18 or to groups of the same sex.' The aim is to keep a lid on rowdy behaviour. Where else does discrimination take place? Many disabled people feel airlines discriminate against them. 'We want to make sure everyone has fair access to air travel' – so says the Civil Aviation Authority (CAA). Yet some disabled travellers feel they get a raw deal. Disability Rights UK says: 'The CAA's current regime of oversight for accessible air travel is limited and ineffective.' Airlines can refuse to carry disabled passengers 'if the size of the aircraft or its doors makes the embarkation or carriage of that disabled person or person with reduced mobility physically impossible'. Campaigners say that aircraft should be redesigned to accommodate the needs of disabled passengers. There are also all-too-frequent reports of special assistance failing at airports. Carriers say they do all they can to facilitate aviation for all, but the nature of aircraft means they cannot deliver the same degree of support as terrestrial transport is able to provide. What about age? Many holiday companies impose age limits, usually out of concern for other customers or simply because they feel they are offering trips for which older or younger travellers would not fit in. At the Hans Brinker hostel in Amsterdam, for example, dormitory beds have an age restriction of 18-40 years. Car-rental firms exclude young drivers, especially for high-end cars, and some impose upper age limits as well. Adventure travel companies often have age restrictions. These are among the key ages for travellers: 8: Minimum age for the Sydney Harbour Bridge climb – but you must also be at least 120cm tall. 16: You can stay in a UK youth hostel without an adult. 23: Avis will rent you a car in the UK. 30: Hertz UK will now rent you a Ford Mustang, a Bentley GTC or a Lamborghini. 40: You are too old for G Adventures' 18-to-Thirtysomethings tours. 80: Explore will 'discuss the itinerary with you' before booking you on a trip and may ask 'additional questions about your health and fitness'. 99: Many car rental firms will no longer hire you a vehicle (but Europcar will from most locations in the UK). Discrimination based on your travel history Some nations may use evidence in your passport against you. A previous visit to Israel could prevent you from visiting a number of countries, including Iran. The United States insists that travellers who have visited countries designated as 'State Sponsors of Terrorism' must apply for a visa to travel to the US, rather than the usual online Esta. The rule applies to anyone who has been in: North Korea, Syria, Iran, Sudan, Libya, Somalia or Yemen on or after 1 March 2011. Cuba on or after 12 January 2021. Prospective visitors in the UK must attend an interview at the US Embassy in London or Consulate General in Belfast. They face a wait of at least two months for an appointment.
Forbes
4 hours ago
- Forbes
The Star Of ‘Crazy Rich Asians' Shares His Best Travel Tips And His Latest Project—A Travel Rewards Credit Card
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That early career taught Golding to see travel not just as an escape, but as a way to connect with people and cultures. And it's part of the reason why Citi hired Golding to help launch the new Citi Strata Elite Credit Card, a premium card designed for travelers who are looking for generous rewards and lifestyle perks. At a star-studded event in New York City, Golding sat down with me to talk about travel and how the Citi Strata Elite card aligns with the way he explores the world these days. 'Travel represents freedom,' Golding told me in an interview. 'It evolves as you get older. When we're younger, it's about checking off all the bucket list boxes. Now, it's about building memories with my kids.' Henry Golding in Bali with one of his children, reflecting his passion for global travel and cultural exploration. Courtesy of Henry Golding Golding has two young children with his wife, Liv Lo. He says his travel goals have shifted since becoming a father: Now he wants to help his kids see the world. 'I want to bring them to Asia—to Malaysia and Taiwan. I also want to take them to more out-there places for kids—to Greenland, to see the Northern Lights and more Northern Europe.' He also has a soft spot for Mallorca, where he recently vacationed with his family. 'The beaches are amazing, the mountains, the countryside, the people, the food—we'll be back.' Citi Strata Elite Card: Premium Travel Rewards That love of travel is a big part of what drew Golding to Citi's new offering. The Citi Strata Elite card is designed for premium travelers who want high-value rewards. Benefits include 1.5x points on every dollar spent, 6x on flights and restaurants on Friday and Saturday nights (plus 3x on dining all other times) and 12x on hotels, car rentals and attractions booked on Citi Travel (the highest earn rate of its kind in the industry). Besides the points, there are other perks like an annual $300 hotel credit, four American Airlines Admirals Club passes, complimentary Priority Pass Select membership at more than 1,500 airport lounges worldwide and a $200 splurge credit that can be used at a variety of merchants including Live Nation, Best Buy, 1stDibs, Future fitness training and more. 'The Citi Strata Elite card hits all the things that I love to spend my money on, which is travel and dining experiences,' says Golding. 'Usually I just pay out of pocket. So to be rewarded for having those amazing experiences, that's a natural.' Henry Golding at the New York City launch of the Citi Strata Elite, a premium travel rewards credit card offering generous perks for frequent travelers. Courtesy of Citi Pam Habner, head of U.S. Branded Cards and Lending at Citi, says that choosing Golding to help launch the Citi Strata Elite Card was a no-brainer. 'He is a true world traveler, both personally and professionally who values making the most out of his journey,' Habner told me in an interview. 'Long before his acting career took off, Henry was hosting BBC's The Travel Show and sharing his passion for adventure with audiences around the world. That spirit of discovery and authenticity makes him a natural fit to launch the Citi Strata Elite card.' And of course, it doesn't hurt that Crazy Rich Asians has such a huge following. Habner points out that it's 'steeped in luxury, travel and culture—it's a film that invites audiences to enjoy a luxurious journey while on their way to their own adventure, which is why I think it's had such strong staying power with travelers.' Henry Golding's Best Travel Tips While the new partnership may be the headline, Golding's travel advice is refreshingly down-to-earth. He's a big believer in following personal passions when exploring a destination. For instance, he'll go to local jujitsu gym in whatever country or city he's in and train. 'Then you meet people there and you become fast friends,' says Golding. Henry Golding vacationing in Mallorca with his wife, Liv Lo—one of the destinations he calls a personal favorite. Courtesy of Henry Golding He also uses social media to his advantage. 'I'm a big Instagrammer. I just love sleuthing on the internet,' he says. 'Sometimes I'll hit up a creator or somebody prolific in some sort of area of expertise in that particular place. Like, 'Oh, hey, I'm coming into town. If you're up for coffee, I would love to pick your brains.'' For the average travel who might not have that kind of clout, Golding encourages stepping outside your comfort zone. 'Once you start saying 'yes' to certain things that maybe aren't in your wheelhouse, you never know where it's going to take you,' he says. 'Some of the most magnificent nights are the unexpected ones.' The Citi Strata Elite, a premium travel rewards credit card offering high earn rates on travel and dining, plus flexible lifestyle perks. Courtesy of Citi For Citi, the launch of the Citi Strata Elite isn't just about a new product—it's a response to how people are traveling now. The card was built 'in direct response to customer demand for premium travel and dining rewards that are delivered with simplicity, flexibility and convenience,' says Habner. For Golding, helping launch a new travel rewards credit card is about amplifying the way he already approaches travel: with the belief that every journey has the potential to create lasting memories. 'The more opportunity that you open yourself to, the more that's going to come across your path,' he says. MORE FROM FORBES: Forbes How A Small Hotel In Jamaica Is Making A Big Difference By Laura Begley Bloom Forbes An Insider's Guide To One Of The Most Famous Neighborhoods In Paris By Laura Begley Bloom Forbes How This Hospitality Visionary Is Rewriting The Rules Of Luxury Travel By Laura Begley Bloom
National Geographic
10 hours ago
- National Geographic
See this British lake on a 1920s-inspired sailing trip
This article was produced by National Geographic Traveller (UK). Formed by glacial erosion and meltwater during the last ice age, Windermere is England's largest lake. It's been popular with travellers since the Napoleonic Wars, when the upper classes couldn't travel abroad and it became part of an English equivalent of the Grand Tour. Family-owned stone boatsheds still dot its shores, as do the grand mansions of English lords, ladies and millionaires, some dating to the 18th century. William Wordsworth, Beatrix Potter and Arthur Ransome are just some of the famous wordsmiths who have been touched by the romance of Windermere over the centuries. Today, the east-shore towns of Windermere and Ambleside — with their cafe terraces and upmarket shops — still attract nature-lovers, with high fell walking trails accessible on foot from many back doors. Meanwhile, small marinas and public jetties provide launchpads for exploration by water. The experience Stay on the lakefront and early in the morning you might spot locals in rowing boats line fishing for perch. After breakfast, the ritzy yachts anchored in the water start to bob in the wake of public ferries. Small, gaily decorated motorboats putter around Windermere's 18 islands, while wobbly paddleboarders skirt the shallow shorelines dodging the ducks. But to experience the lake as Arthur Ransome did when he was inspired to write his classic 1930 adventure novel Swallows and Amazons, take a trip on the Albatros. Built in Berlin in 1928 for a German sea captain, this beautiful vintage motor yacht has been restored by the waterfront Langdale Chase hotel, just south of Ambleside on the lake's east shore. It launched as a Windermere pleasure boat in spring, running three times a day for 1.5-hour trips which are open to the public. Built in Berlin in 1928 for a German sea captain, the Albatros has been restored by the waterfront Langdale Chase hotel, just south of Ambleside on the lake's east shore. Photograph by Langdale Chase Despite being 10.5 miles long, Windermere is only about half a mile wide — as you chug along, the skippers will happily point out landmarks on both shorelines and may even let you take the wheel. On the less-developed western shore, look for the turrets of Wray Castle — an ostentatious mansion built for a retired surgeon in the 1840s, now open to visitors through the National Trust — and Claife Viewing Station, a gothic-style folly that was built as Windermere's first viewing platform 50 years earlier. Closer to the middle of the lake, the boat will glide between islets inhabited by Canada geese. Where to stay Launching the Albatros on Windermere is just one way Langdale Chase is aiming to revive the lake's 1920s and 30s golden era. There's an art deco-themed bar spilling onto an expansive waterfront terrace for Gatsby-esque cocktail-sipping. Several of its 30 rooms — all revamped in 2023 in contemporary English-country style — overlook the lake, including a very special suite in the Victorian boathouse that sits directly above the water, with a copper whirlpool bath on the rooftop above. Some lake-view rooms have dual aspect windows; you can read Beatrix Potter from your small in-room library while propped up in bed, one eye on the glittering water. Some lake-view rooms have dual aspect windows; you can read Beatrix Potter from your small in-room library while propped up in bed, one eye on the glittering water. Photograph by Langdale Chase At Langdale Chase's 2AA Rosette Dining Room restaurant — open to both residents and non-guests — feast on reworked classics, such as treacle-cured British beef fillet and sticky toffee souffle, in a room with floor-to-ceiling lakeview windows. The hotel also offers a generous Swallows and Amazons-themed afternoon tea with dishes that evoke moments from the novel, including gooseberry choux buns, crispy ham hock, and mace-buttered shrimps on delicate, hot crumpets — all served on artisan crockery from local potters. Windermere is on the main line from Manchester Piccadilly, with direct Northern trains taking around two hours. Rooms at Langdale Chase start from £300 per night, B&B. Scheduled sailings on Albatros range from £40 to £70 per person; private charters are available on request. This story was created with the support of Langdale Chase hotel. Published in the September 2025 issue of National Geographic Traveller (UK). To subscribe to National Geographic Traveller (UK) magazine click here. (Available in select countries only).
