The French Riviera is an incredibly popular holiday destination with its beautiful coastal locations and stunning cities. But you don’t necessarily need to jet off abroad for turquoise waters and sandy beaches, with one town in the UK being dubbed the UK’s own version of the French Riviera.
Salcombe in Devon has been described as a stunning alternative to jetting off to France by one traveller. Taking to Instagram, UK travel content creator Hannah, who posts guides and reviews under @postcardsbyhannah, shared a video of the beautiful seaside spot. Questioning why Brits always moan about living in the UK when “it’s home to places like this,” she compared the town to the beautiful vistas of the French Riviera region, which includes Nice, Cannes, Saint-Tropez, Antibes and Monaco.
She wrote: “Welcome to South Devon… Salcombe to be exact! Once a quiet fishing village, it’s now one of England’s most sought-after seaside escapes, where pastel-coloured cottages sprawl down the hillside towards bobbing sailboats on turquoise waters.”
Hannah added that Salcombe offers a laid-back and understated luxury that feels almost effortless, with family-run boutiques, art galleries, ice cream parlours, and waterside pubs serving oysters fresh from the estuary.
She continued: “Salcombe’s estuary is stunning, surrounded by rolling green hills and sandy coves reached only by foot or boat. Have a wander round town and visit Cranch’s Sweet Shop, one of the most iconic establishments in the town, selling sweets since the 1800s.”
Salcombe has many stunning beaches, including Salcombe North Sands, with its rockpools and sweeping views of the ruins of the nearby Salcombe Castle, and Salcombe South Sands Beach, considered by many to be one of the most unspoilt beaches in South Devon.
Another popular beach in the area is Hope Cove Bay, where those who are into watersports can rent kayaks and paddleboards to take into the sea.
One visitor to Salcombe North Sands shared their love of the beach on TripAdvisor, writing: “Love this little place.
“Tide was in when we arrived but after a stroll around town and lunch at The Winking Prawn, it had started to go out revealing a beautiful sandy bay with low shallow water for paddling in. Dog friendly too!”
While another visitor to South Sands penned: “A lovely day to spend the day as a couple or with the family. Beautiful beach, especially when the tide goes out. Spectacular scenery from the beach.
“A small kiosk sells sandwiches and salads along with wine and tin beer and of course tea & coffees & soft drinks. You need to bring your own chairs (no deck chairs) A great place to visit!”
After visiting these beautiful beaches, you can head to Overbecks Garden, a Grade II registered garden dating back to the Edwardian Era that is full of tender and exotic sub-tropical plants that are well worth a stroll through.
One visitor wrote: “Stunning gardens with absolutely fabulous views. Couldn’t believe the size of the tropical plants! Nice route around the garden.”