Best UK Beaches to Drive To 2023

In this article: The top 20 best beaches to drive to The top 10 most affordable seaside locations Tips for driving to the seaside

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The top 20 best beaches to drive to this year

*The data for petrol prices was collected in July 2023 

 

 

There was some tough competition among our short-listed beaches, but the top 20 proved to be fantastic all-rounders for a road trip that guarantees a sandy beach and the approval of plenty of visitors who have come before. Find out how to get to each one with our route planner.

1. Abersoch Beach – Wales

A picturesque Welsh location, top place goes to this sandy beach which is dog friendly and also manned by lifeguards. This may not be the best choice for the budget conscious, as our affordability analysis below found that this location was among the pricier options. There are 2 nearby tourist attractions; the Porth y Swnt interpretation centre, and Nant Gwrtheyrn which is home to the National Welsh Language and Heritage Centre.

2. Seilebost Beach – Scotland

Our first Scottish entry, Seilebost Beach can proudly claim a perfect 5 out of 5 when it comes to visitor ranking score, and while there may not be a lifeguard presence, it’s conveniently close to the nearest town. 2 Nearby attractions provide something else to see once you're done with the beach; these are Amhuinnsuidhe Castle and St Clement's Church.

3. Freshwater West Beach – Wales

Charming in name and even more charming in nature, this Welsh beach located in Castlemartin boasts a visitor rating of 4.8 and plenty to do nearby. It’s also dog friendly and manned by a lifeguard. Once you're done catching a tan, why not take a short drive over to the Clerkenhill Adventure Farm for a great day out, especially if you have a family in tow.

4. Porthcurno Beach – England

Dog friendliness is unfortunately in short supply for this location, but don't let that put you off. This beach is one of Cornwall's most picturesque locations, and that's saying something! Our pick of the 11 nearby tourist attractions would be St Michael's Mount. Make sure to visit this tidal island for even more amazing scenery.

5. Scarista Beach – Scotland

Located on the Isle of Harris, this beach may be a little far-flung for most, but a quick Google search will likely entice you into wanting to see it for yourself. This sandy beach is absolutely stunning to look at, but be aware that there are no lifeguard services and often not many people around.

6. Bamburgh Castle Beach – England

The clue’s in the name with this charming beach and you’ll be sharing the sandy shore with a real-life castle. An unbeatable photo opportunity, this location rightfully earns its place on our list of best UK beaches. We recommend pre-booking admission tickets for Bamburgh Castle itself so you can enjoy the full experience on your day out.

7. Rhossili Bay – Wales

Visitors rank this sandy Welsh beach almost perfectly, with a score of 4.9. Furry friends are allowed to join you, and nearby activities (including the Wreck of the Helvetia) will keep the rest of the family suitably entertained. Again, there are no lifeguard services in place for this beach so make sure to take extra care if you're braving the waters.

8. Holkham Beach – England

A sandy English beach with a visitor rating of 4.7 and 5 nearby tourist attractions to enjoy, Holkham Beach is both dog friendly and has a lifeguard on watch, so it’s a great family pick. For stunning scenery in the area, check out the Scolt Head Island National Nature Reserve. Alternatively, the stately home of Holkham Hall is worth seeing.

9. Black Rock Sands Beach – Wales

Located close to Morfa Bychan in Wales, Black Rock Sands Beach boasts 6 nearby tourist attractions, earning it a comfortable place in our top ten best UK beaches. If you're not sick of castles yet, head over to Criccieth Castle and take in the sights.

10. Lunan Bay – Scotland

Close to Redcastle in Scotland, Lunan Bay is perfect for a slow walk across the sand with man's best friend. A long and varied beach, you can spend the best part of the day walking along taking in the cliffs, caves and rock formations. Sitting to the north of Dundee, there are as many as 17 nearby tourist attractions if you fancy something else in the area.

11. Kingsbarns Beach – Scotland

A charming Scottish beach located between Edinburgh and Dundee, Kingsbarns Beach has a visitor rating of 4.7. Thanks to its proximity to the cities, it also boasts the 2nd highest number of nearby tourist attractions (22), so you won't be short of interesting things to do. Kingsbarns Golf Links sits just slightly away from the beach, so fans of the sport will be able to enjoy stunning views while playing a few holes.

12. Harlech Beach – Wales

Harlech Beach lies close to the town of the same name and is also close to Porthmadog for those looking for a larger town to base themselves in. While the beach is dog friendly, there isn’t a lifeguard presence. There are 5 nearby tourist attractions to see, but our pick of the bunch would be the Llanfair Slate Caverns, for something a little different.

13. St Andrews West Sands Beach – Scotland

A fantastic option for those who want to explore the famed Scottish town of St Andrews. Unfortunately, there are some restrictions on those visiting with dogs, but there is a good amount of local parking. St Andrews West Sands Beach also features the highest number of local tourist attractions to keep you busy, with a whopping 30 different options.

14. Benllech Beach – Wales

Heading back to Wales for our fourteenth spot, Benllech Beach gained a high score of 4.7 among visitors and while dogs are restricted, there are other attractions nearby. If you've got kids, a trip to Pili Palas Nature World (a petting zoo) could keep them busy for a while.

15. Woolacombe Beach – England

This southern beach boasts a high visitor score of 4.8. You’ll also find lifeguard services here, but be sure to pay attention to the time of year if you plan to bring your four-legged friends – from May-October, they’ll only be allowed in the designated zones. There are 8 nearby tourist attractions for those looking for something else to do, but our favourite pick of the bunch would be a short walk over to Baggy Point for stunning view of nature at its finest.

16. Huisinis Beach – Scotland

Another Scottish entry, Huisinis Beach is well-liked with a ranking of 4.8. Situated on the island of Harris, you'll have to board your car onto a ferry if you're planning to drive here yourself, but the awe-inspiring landscape in this area is probably well-worth it!

17. Lligwy Beach – Wales

Paddling and rockpool exploring are a-plenty at this sandy Welsh entry into our top 20. Situated in Rhos Lligwy, you can easily spend all day at this beautiful, dog-friendly beach.

18. Camber Sands Beach – England

A hugely popular location with families, make sure to arrive early at Camber Sands Beach to claim your parking spot (as well as a good spot on the beach itself!). Although there are some restrictions on bringing pets, there's enough variety in the area when it comes to nearby tourist attractions. Visit the majestic Camber Castle for a change of pace.

19. Llanddwyn Beach – Wales

Clearly, Wales is blessed when it comes to nice beaches. Llanddwyn Beach is close to the town of Llanfairpwllgwyngyll. With a visitor score of 4.8, you're almost guaranteed a lovely day out at this spot. There are plenty of other attractions nearby if you're planning a slightly longer getaway, like Anglesey Sea Zoo.

20. West Wittering Beach – England

This classic sandy English beach features superb views and dozens of traditional multi-coloured beach huts. It's well-liked with a visitor ranking of 4.6, and while dogs face some restrictions, road trip makers are well catered to with ample parking available.

 

 

Top 10 Most Affordable Seaside Locations in the UK

Of course, while the best UK beaches may boast sandy shores and dog-friendliness, sometimes the best beach is the one that suits your budget. So, here are some of the most affordable coastal towns for you to consider if your beach-bound road trip includes an overnight stay or meal out.

Newport came in as the most affordable seaside town, with an average meal cost at an inexpensive restaurant coming in at just £10 and some of the cheapest costs in terms of petrol to see you safely home again. Although if dining is what’s drawing you to the seaside then Lowestoft meals out averaged just £5.50. In terms of accommodation, Sunderland came into its own, with a 5-night Airbnb rate coming in at £594, notably lower than others on the list.

Perhaps unsurprisingly, urban locations like Southend-on-Sea, Cardiff, and Exeter failed to make the top 10, mostly due to the higher rate of accommodation.

 

 

 

Tips for Driving to the Seaside

So, now you have a plan for where to head, let’s make sure you get there safely!

• Do make sure you’ve got up-to-date breakdown cover. It’s relatively likely you’re going to meet a lot of like-minded drivers on your way to the UK’s best beaches so traffic, stop-start driving, and maybe a few days of no use once you arrive can lead to unwanted breakdowns. The AA can make sure that you’re back on the road in no time.
• Do rinse your car once you’re back home before you start scrubbing, this can make sure that you don’t accidentally cause scratches with any abrasive salt or sand that may still be on the paintwork.
• Don’t head straight back to the car after a day at the beach. Take your time shaking and brushing off any excess sand to minimise how much you carry into the car.
• Don’t drive on sand, there is a serious risk of getting stuck and/or causing damage to your car. In addition, your insurance may not cover you in the case of an accident or problem with your vehicle.
• Don’t drive through salt water, it’s corrosive and can damage the underside of your car. If it’s unavoidable, make sure to rinse your car well with fresh water as soon as you can.

 

 

Is it legal to drive on the beach in the UK?

Driving on the beach is not allowed in most cases, so as to protect both the visitors and the local environment. If you do have cause to drive onto the sand, check with the local authorities first and be mindful of the risk of getting bogged down.

 

Methodology and sources

Best beaches to drive to

To begin our research, we conducted an in-depth analysis of the most beloved beaches across the UK, totalling 30 locations. Our goal was to identify the ultimate driving destinations for this summer, based on seven key factors. These factors included:

• https://www.thebeachguide.co.uk/beach-list - Visitor rating/Dog friendliness/Availability of lifeguard service
• https://carparkmaps.co.uk/carparks/ - Number of conveniently located car parks
• https://www.numbeo.com/cost-of-living/ - Cheapest cost of petrol per litre from the beach
• https://www.google.com/maps - Distance from the nearest city or large town centre
• https://www.datathistle.com/ - Number of nearby activities recommended by the AA

Using these factors, we created a total index score for each beach, allowing us to rank them in order.

* The 10 top-rated beaches in England, Wales, and Scotland were used in the analysis.

Most affordable seaside towns to visit

In our campaign, we also undertook an analysis of 40 coastal towns to identify the most affordable destinations. We evaluated each location based on the following criteria:

• https://www.airbnb.co.uk/ - Airbnb average price for a 5-night stay
• https://www.numbeo.com/cost-of-living/ - Petrol cost per litre in the area/Cost of a summer dress in popular chain stores like Zara or H&M/Average cost of a meal in an inexpensive restaurant/Average cost of a regular cappuccino coffee