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Daily Record
12-05-2025
- Daily Record
The UK's 'sunniest' seaside town has 7 mile beach and 241 hours of sun in May
The popular town has the second-lowest rainfall in the UK. With temperatures heating up, many of us will be getting excited for days at the beach. Seaside towns are already beginning to feel the buzz with thousands of British tourists flocking to their nearest beaches to enjoy the glorious May sunshine. As lovely as the weather has been already this month, May can sometimes be a hit or a miss in Britain. Many towns often still experience rain and thunderstorms in the spring, but one place that sunshine is almost always guaranteed is Southend-on-Sea in Essex. According to Aqua, its' officially the UK's sunniest seaside town in May and reportedly experiences around 241 hours of sunshine in this month alone. It also has the second-lowest rainfall, with just 41.6mm recorded on average. This also gives it a title as one of the driest places in the country in May. Southend, which is located on the Thames Estuary offers seven miles of beaches. The area is perfect for everyone as there is family-friendly spots and also quieter stretches that are perfect for relaxing. The area is home to nine distinct beaches, including Thorpe Bay, which has both Blue Flag and Quality Coast awards and is backed by a traditional promenade, according to the Express. Chalkwell Beach is popular for its open space and rock-pooling at low tide, while Shoeburyness offers a peaceful escape and is backed by grassy picnic areas and rows of beach huts. Southend Pier, the longest pleasure pier in the world, stretches over a mile into the estuary and comes complete with its own railway line and museum. But visitors will find plenty to do beyond the beaches. Sealife Adventure, described by Visit Southend as the southeast's leading aquarium, features sharks, penguins, otters, meerkats and even monkeys. Just next door is Adventure Island, a free-entry amusement park with more than 60 rides. For a slower pace, visitors can explore nature reserves like Two Tree Island and Belton Hills, or stroll through the town's award-winning parks. Culture lovers aren't left out either. Southend is home to theatres including the Cliffs Pavilion and Palace Theatre, and hosts exhibitions at its museums and art galleries. And it's all easy to reach. Direct trains from London Liverpool Street take less than an hour, and Southend Airport provides connections to a few European cities. With plenty of sunshine, low rainfall, and seven miles of coastline, it's no surprise Southend was also named the UK's "beer garden capital" by Aqua. The town reportedly has 281 beer gardens per 100,000 people, giving visitors plenty of places to enjoy a drink in the sun. In Scotland, one place that is in Scotland that is known for its high levels of sunshine is Dundee, which sees an average of around 1,520 hours of sun per year. According to the Visit Dundee website, it is the "sunniest city in Scotland". There is plenty to get up to around Dundee to make the most of the good weather. The most notable is Broughty Ferry Beach in the suburb of Broughty Ferry, four miles east of the city centre. Broughty Ferry Beach is an award-winning sandy bay that features incredible views out over the Tay Estuary to the north coast of Fife. It is a top destination for a day out, whether you're travelling with family or friends, with a huge expanse of sand to explore.
Daily Mirror
04-05-2025
- Daily Mirror
Seaside town with 241 hours of sun in May crowned 'beer garden capital' of UK
When summer approaches and the sun pokes its head out from behind the clouds, British people love to flock to their nearest pub — but where is the best place in the UK for beer gardens? If there's one thing us Brits love in the summertime, it's a pint or cocktail in the sun. Beer gardens are a firm favourite when it comes to where to enjoy the warmer weather — and as we enter May and the sun comes out more regularly, many of us will find ourselves on the hunt for a pub with the perfect outside space to gather with friends and family. But where in the UK has the best beer gardens? Looking at a range of factors like drink prices, average temperatures, amount of sunshine compared to the amount of rainfall, and the number of beer gardens, credit card brand Aqua dubbed Southend-on-Sea in Essex the winner. Crowned the 'beer garden capital in the UK' as a result of the research, Southend-on-Sea has a whopping 281 beer gardens per 100,000 people. The resort town, which is home to nine beaches and the longest pleasure pier in the world, also boasts the 'most sunshine of any city in the UK'. In fact, Southend residents soak up an average of 241 hours of sunshine in May, and the second-least amount of rainfall with 41.6mm measured in the month. Those hoping to head to a beer garden in Southend are in luck because the price of drinks is also something the area can boast about. Pints are priced on average at £4, cocktails at £8 and soft drinks at just £1.12. Southend is known for its award-winning Blue Flag beaches where you can paddle in the sea, enjoy fish and chips on the shore, and take in the scenery. On the Southend-on-Sea pier, which stretches for 1.33 miles, you can enjoy fishing, explore the museum, or take a trip on the pier railway. Other activities in the resort town include days out at Sealife Adventure, watching a show at the Cliffs Pavilion or Palace Theatre, and mooching around the art galleries. For adrenaline junkies there is Adventure Island, a free-admission theme park for the whole family. If you fancy a stroll after soaking up the sun in a beer garden, you can head to one of Southend's many parks, which offer space to play tennis, basketball, or football. Meanwhile, its nature reserves, such as Two Tree Island Nature Reserve, Barling Magna Wildlife Reserve, and Belton Hills Nature Reserve, present the chance to explore the local wildlife and scenery. Next on the list was Portsmouth, which came in second place when it comes to beer gardens. It has an average temperature of 12.8C in May and 682 pubs per 100,000 people. In third place was Crawley in Sussex, which has an incredible 2,312 beer gardens per 100,000 — the highest of any location in Aqua's analysis. However, it had 206 hours of sunshine in May on average, so couldn't quite beat Southend-on-Sea for first place.
