It’s official, England is home to four of the top beaches in Europe according to the Tripadvisor’s Travellers’ Choice ‘Best of the Beach’ report.
Gorleston-on-Sea beach in Great Yarmouth, Norfolk was the highest-ranked UK beach and came 12th across Europe. Weymouth beach in Dorset came in at number 14. Fistral beach in Newquay, Cornwall ranked number 22 and Bournemouth beach took the number 24 spot.
So next time you’re looking for some sand, sea and (hopefully) sunshine why not stay closer to home? It’s official England is home to four of the top beaches in Europe.
Here are England’s top four according to Tripadvisor:
Gorleston-on-Sea Beach, near Great Yarmouth, Norfolk
Gorleston-on-Sea Beach, near Great Yarmouth has grassy cliffs with pitch & putt, bowling greens, tennis and basketball courts, trim trail, children’s playground and gardens leading down via slopes or stairs to a long promenade.
There are benches and undercover seating areas overlooking a stunning bay with a huge, wide curving, sandy beach with ramp access plus model yacht pond and children’s splashpad. With adjoining shops, cafes, amusements and amenity area, everything you need is close by.
The town centre is just five minutes away and cliff top walks overlooking the Lower Esplanade and sea are easily accessible.
“A stunning bay with a huge, wide curving, sandy beach with ramp access plus model yacht pond and children’s splashpad. With adjoining shops, cafes, amusements and amenity area, everything you need is close by.”
Weymouth Beach, Dorset
This award-winning sandy beach is overlooked by a magnificent Georgian seafront, located at the heart of the Jurassic Coast. Weymouth Beach was also award winner of the The Times’ 2023 Great British Beach Guide. You can read more and watch a 5 minute video to find out what makes Weymouth such a great beach to visit on The Times website.
Fistral Beach – Newquay, Cornwall
Fistral Beach is Newquay’s iconic beach, quite simply one of the most consistent and best surfing beaches in the UK and Europe. This beautiful beach is west facing, long and sandy and backed by rocks and cliffs. Fistral is the perfect family beach offering simple pleasures of sea and surf combined with first class beach and seafront facilities including surf equipment hire, lessons and boutiques, showers, toilets, car parking, restaurants and cafes.
Bournemouth Beach – Bournemouth
Bournemouth Beach is soft sand and very family friendly. The beaches at Bournemouth are some of the safest beaches in the UK with RNLI Lifeguards based there between April and September. Cliff Lifts are located at West Cliff and East Cliff. The lifts will transport you up or down the cliffs. If you are feeling energetic, you can use the zigzag paths next to the lifts (for free). Until 31 October, there is a Land Train running along the promenade which will take you from Bournemouth Pier to either Boscombe Pier or Branksome Chine.
Tripadvisor’s Travellers’ Choice ‘Best of the Beach’ in Europe 2023 – TOP 25 are as follows:
1. Reynisfjara Beach – Vik, Iceland
2. Praia da Falésia – Olhos de Agua, Portugal
3. Spiaggia dei Conigli – Lampedusa, Italy
4. La Concha Beach – San Sebastian – Donostia, Spain
5. Playa de Muro Beach – Majorca, Spain
6. Falassarna Beach – Crete, Greece
7. Nissi Beach – Ayia Napa, Cyprus
8. Balos Lagoon – Crete, Greece
9. Sotavento Beach – Fuerteventura, Spain
10. Plage du Sillon – Saint-Malo, France
11. Iztuzu Beach – Dalyan, Türkiye
12. Gorleston-on-Sea Beach – Gorleston-on-Sea, United Kingdom
13. Praia dos Três Irmãos – Alvor, Portugal
14. Weymouth Beach – Weymouth, United Kingdom
15. Playa de Ses Illetes – Formentera, Spain
16. Tropea Beach – Tropea, Italy
17. Sarakiniko Beach – Milos, Greece
18. Kalamaki Beach – Zakynthos, Greece
19. Praia Sao Rafael – Albufeira, Portugal
20. Fig Tree Bay – Protaras, Cyprus
21. Praia Da Rocha – Praia da Rocha, Portugal
22. Fistral Beach – Newquay, United Kingdom
23. Plage de Palombaggia – Corsica, France
24. Bournemouth Beach – Bournemouth, United Kingdom
25. Kleopatra Beach – Alanya, Türkiye
