The 10 best beaches in the UK have been revealed — the top 2 are in same part of country, like this one at Barafundle (Image: Getty)
The 10 best beaches in the UK for 2025 have been named, as many Brits continue looking for the perfect summer staycation. Holiday rental service Holidu has conducted a study into the highest-rated beaches in the UK. To find the best spots, travel experts analysed Google Maps user data for over 9,500 beaches, taking into account both ratings and reviews.
The results show that Wales might be a strong contender for a coastal holiday, with the top two beaches in the list being in this beautiful corner of the UK. Barafundle Bay beach in Pembrokeshire took the crown, with the high ratings backed by plenty of accolades, including the cleanest beach in the UK award (2024), the Seaside Award (2019) for its high standards of cleanliness and facilities, and the Green Coast Award (2019). It’s stunningly beautiful, boasts clean, golden sands and turquoise waters, achieving the Blue Flag status partly thanks to its remoteness, as it’s only accessible by a half-mile walk.
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Traeth Mwnt (Mwnt beach) took the second spot on the best UK beaches list (Image: Getty)
Not far away, Traeth Mwnt, in neighbouring Ceredigion, took second place thanks to its stunning setting as a hidden cove with golden sands and the potential for dolphin spotting.
This Green Coast Award winner also features a scenic walk to the top of Foel y Mwn and the emblematic Mwnt Church overlooking the bay for unmatched views.
Woolacombe Beach in Devon is the highest-rated beach in England this year, with rockpools, soft sands, and great conditions for surfing – which earned it the recognition as a World Surfing Reserve in 2022.
Dunraven Bay in the Vale of Glamorgan, also in Wales, came fourth, with its cliffs and rugged coastline often attracting visitors interested in geology and fossil hunting.
Woolacombe Beach is one of three Devon beaches that made it to the top ten (Image: Getty)
The rock formations, including fossil-rich layers found embedded in the rocks along the shore, date back millions of years.
Trebarwith Beach on the Devon coast claimed the fifth position. Its most prominent feature is Gull Rock, a large rock formation that sits just offshore, and it’s particularly popular with photographers and surfers.
The top 10 best beaches in the UK (2025)
- Barafundle Bay Beach – Pembrokeshire, Wales
- Traeth Mwnt – Ceredigion, Wales
- Woolacombe Beach – Devon, England
- Dunraven Bay – Glamorgan, Wales
- Trebarwith Beach – Devon, England
- Cuckmere Haven – East Sussex, England
- Man O’War Beach – Dorset, England
- Bigbury Beach – Devon, England
- Gullane Beach – East Lothian, Scotland
- Benone Beach – County Londonderry, Northern Ireland
Barafundle Bay is a stunningly beautiful and remote beach (Image: Getty)
What the researchers said about the UK’s top beaches
1. Barafundle Bay Beach, Pembrokeshire
Google Maps Rating: 4.9
Number of Reviews: 1,668
“Barafundle Bay in Pembrokeshire, Wales, is one of the UK’s most celebrated beaches due to its preserved natural beauty. Thanks to the fact it can only be accessed by a half-mile walk, the beach has remained relatively wild yet pristine, boasting golden sands and turquoise waters.
“As a result, it’s often praised as offering ‘Caribbean-esque’ views. This Blue Flag beach has won multiple awards, such as the cleanest beach in the UK (2024), the Seaside Award (2019) for its high standards of cleanliness and facilities, and the Green Coast Award (2019) for its beautiful natural environment and great water quality. Barafundle Bay is truly a family favourite!
2. Traeth Mwnt, Ceredigion
Google Maps Rating: 4.9
Number of Reviews: 722
Traeth Mwnt, another entry for Wales, is a charming hidden cove known for its golden sands and the iconic Mwnt Church overlooking the bay. Visitors can relax in this sheltered cover, or enjoy a spot of dolphin watching – Mwnt is actually one of the best places to see dolphins in the UK!
Those who prefer hiking can also embark on a scenic walk to the top of Foel y Mwnt, where they can catch panoramic views of the bay of Cardigan. The beach has also won numerous awards, including a Green Coast and Seaside Award.
Mwnt beach also has this stunning landmark white church above the cove (Image: Getty)
3. Woolacombe Beach, Devon
Google Maps Rating: 4.8
Number of Reviews: 32,006
Woolacombe Beach in Devon is the highest-rated beach in England for 2025. With the village of Woolacombe perched as a backdrop, this picturesque beach is a popular destination renowned for its cleanliness and family-friendly atmosphere. The beach has Blue Flag status as well as a 3-mile stretch of stunning coastline.
Woolacombe beach is perfect for children to explore due to its rockpools, soft sands, and regular lifeguard patrols. It’s also a very popular surfing spot – its consistent waves led it to be recognised as a World Surfing Reserve in 2022!
Dunraven Bay beach on the south coast of Wales (Image: Getty)
4. Dunraven Bay, Vale of Glamorgan
Google Maps Rating: 4.8
Number of Reviews: 18,412
Dunraven Bay, located in Glamorgan, is a haven for fossil hunters and photographers thanks to its unique geology and dramatic cliffs. Located on the Jurassic coast of South Wales known for its limestone cliffs, this beautiful bay offers an abundance of fossils as well as exciting rock pools to explore.
Hikers can also enjoy breathtaking coastal walks above the bay that lead them to the ruins of Dunraven Castle, a Grade II listed manor that was demolished in 1963.
5. Trebarwith Strand Beach, Devon
Google Maps Rating: 4.8
Number of Reviews: 1,666
Trebarwith Strand Beach, Devon, is a beautifully wild beach with unique rock formations. Although completely submerged during high tide, the beach transforms into a sandy haven at low tide, with the receding tides revealing long stretches of golden sand, countless rock pools, and interesting caves to explore.
The beach is also dog-friendly all year round, making it a popular spot for dog walkers. In fact, Trebarwith Strand Beach is so beautiful that it’s appeared in several films – from Saving Grace (2002) and Oscar and Lucinda (1997), to Shakespeare’s Twelfth Night (1996).