If you’re loving summer half as much as we are, you’ll be enjoying a few trips to the coast. With the lure of ice creams, golden sands and paddling in blue waters, what are the top 10 UK beaches you should be visiting this season? Let’s take a look.

Woolacombe Beach, Devon

With miles upon miles of golden sands, Woolacombe beach is perfect for sunbathing and a game of beach cricket. It’s also popular with surfers because of the wonderful breaking waves. You can teach the kids to bodyboard in the shallows and enjoy a classic ice cream from one of the vans on the sands.

Lytham St Annes, Lancashire

Miles of beautiful beach can be found on the Fylde coast in the North West of England. Lytham St Annes lets you escape the hustle and bustle and enjoy donkey rides, a Victorian pier and an annual kite festival. Situated between the excitement of Blackpool and the Ribble Estuary’s mudflats, you’ll also find attractive gardens and a boating lake.

Pelistry Bay, Isles of Scilly

One of Britain’s absolute gems, the Isles of Scilly allow you to make some amazing memories. The beaches are incredible and Pelistry Bay is exceptional. It’s remote enough that you might even have it to yourself when it’s not holiday season. The blue seas are a beautiful sight and you’ll love dipping your toes in. You can even paddle out to Toll’s island and explore. There’s a campsite right next to the beach for you tent fans.

Portstewart Strand, County Londonderry

We wouldn’t want to exclude Ireland in our list of the best UK Beaches and Portstewart Strand is wonderful. Voted one of the top 10 attractions in Northern Ireland, the beach is a couple of miles long and hugged by dunes filled with wildlife. It was even used as a filming location for Game of Thrones!

St Ninian’s Isle, Shetland

Venturing up to Scotland doesn’t mean you have to miss out on beaches. Find yourself walking right through the middle of the sea, across a natural sand causeway towards a blissful isle. It’s a place for incredible culture rather than ice creams. An interesting fact is that a Pictish treasure hoard was once found here, beside the ancient chapel site. The perfect place for an adventure!

Treyarnon Bay, Cornwall

It wouldn’t be a list of the best UK beaches without mentioning Cornwall. Voted the best family beach in the country, Treyarnon Bay has won awards for its water quality. Enjoy a dip in the sea and relax as the children enjoy playing in the shallows and exploring the rock pools.

Sandsend, Yorkshire

With views of Whitby and it’s abbey, you can enjoy Sandsend beach all year round. During the summer, an area of beach is marked out for swimming. It’s a popular spot for fossil hunters, fishermen and walkers. Great for families, there is a café, gift shop and pub nearby. Enjoy the rock pools and the clean sands.

West Wittering, Sussex

Beach huts have become a staple of UK beaches and West Wittering has some beautiful ones. Lots of glorious unspoilt sand, calm seas and lifeguards patrolling the shoreline to keep your mind at ease. It is said that you can find some of the highest water quality sea water in the country here. There are facilities here too if you need the toilet or want a hot meal.

Rhossili Beach, Gower

Making sure there’s a beach from every country in Britain, we look to Wales for Rhossili Beach. This Welsh wonder has been voted amongst the best beaches in the entire world. 3 miles of wonderful sand and coastline. Ideal for watersports, walkers and of course, those stunning panoramic views!

Porthcurno, Cornwall 

Porthcurno has won award after award and it’s easy to see why. Some people have even called it a paradise. It has spectacular fine soft white sand kissed by a sea that turns turquoise in the sun. Shelter is provided by high cliffs on both sides. You’ll also find the Minack Theatre up on the cliffs, built in the 1920s which you can visit all year round. You might even recognise the beach from the hit series Poldark.

With our list of the best UK beaches, where will you visit next?