Summer is here, and it’s a fantastic time to explore the UK! While sunshine isn’t always guaranteed, picking the right spot can make all the difference.
If you’re planning a summer trip or looking for the best UK summer holiday destinations, we’ve found 10 amazing places to visit in the UK this summer that truly come alive in the warmer months. Whether you prefer bustling cities or quiet coastlines, there’s a perfect place to go in summer UK for you.
Here are our top picks for UK summer holiday destinations:
1. Isle of Wight
One of the sunniest places is this charming island off the south coast of England! It has beautiful coastlines, charming villages, old ruins, and great walks. With its rocky cliffs and sandy bays, half of the island is protected. A sunny town called Ventnor on the south coast is highly rated for its beaches and food.
- Destination Guide: Explore coastal paths, find hidden coves, and visit places like Ventnor and its famous Botanic Garden.
- Travel Tip: It’s closer to London than Cornwall, making it an easy trip. Great for walking holidays!
- Imagine this: feeling the sea breeze on your face as you walk along the Tennyson Heritage Coast, just like the famous poet might have done!
- Average peak temperature in June: 19°C
- The duration of sunlight is 7.4 hours per day
- Highlights: The Tennyson Heritage Coast, 57 miles of coastline, chocolate box towns, haunting ruins, and amazing hikes are all part of it.
2. St Davids, Wales
Known as the UK’s smallest city, in addition, St. David’s is Wales’s sunniest town! Visitors love its culture. The Ventnor Botanic Garden, known as “Britain’s hottest garden,” is located there. It’s also close to the stunning Pembrokeshire coast. This is one of the best places in UK for summer holiday if you like history and nature.
- Destination Guide: Visit the historic cathedral and palace, then take a short walk to beautiful golden beaches and quiet coves.
- Travel Tip: Perfect if you love history and exploring wild, natural coastlines nearby.
- Personal Touch (Simulated): Standing by the ancient cathedral, you can almost feel the centuries of history around you before heading to the refreshing coast.
- Average peak temperature in June: 17°C
- Bright sunlight in June per day: 7.2 hours
- Highlights: Wales’s sunniest town and London’s tiniest city. Rated well in a UK city breaks poll, with tourists being captivated by cultural attractions including the ruins of Bishop’s Palace and the ancient cathedral. A 15-minute stroll from the beaches and quiet coves along the Pembrokeshire coast.
3. Tenby, Wales
This charming old town in southwest Wales is a maze of little streets with a castle ruin and a harbor filled with colorful houses. It’s famous for its three sandy beaches, which visitors rave about! These are great places to go in summer UK for classic seaside fun.
- Destination Guide: Wander the cobbled streets, see the castle and harbor, and spend time on the award-winning beaches. When the tide is low, you may even walk to a small island fort.
- Travel Tip: The beaches are a major highlight—perfect for families. There are also great walks along the coastal path starting here.
- Imagine this: The view of the brightly painted houses overlooking the harbour on a sunny afternoon—postcard perfect!
- Average peak temperature in June: 17°C
- June: seven hours of bright sunlight each day
- Highlights: Medieval town in southwest Wales with cobbled streets, a ruined Norman castle, and a walled harbor. In a survey of seaside communities, its three sandy beaches scored full points, while its beauty and attractions earned four stars. provides wonderful hikes along the coast path of Pembrokeshire.
4. Southwold
Down in East Anglia, you’ll find Southwold, a seaside town that visitors love! It’s known for its charming pastel-colored beach huts and a classic Edwardian pier. It gets a good amount of sunshine in June, around 7 hours a day. It’s one of the best places to visit in England in summer.
- Destination Guide: Walk past the charming beach cottages and onto the pier along the waterfront. The pier has a quirky arcade filled with unique, homemade slot machines that are fun to see. Additionally, you may join excursions to discover more about the town’s lighthouse or the long-standing Adnams brewery.
- Travel Tip: Don’t miss the pier’s eccentric arcade—it’s a bit different from normal ones! Exploring the seafront and pier is a must-do.
- Imagine this: Walking past those colorful beach huts on a sunny day, with the smell of the sea in the air and the old pier stretching out before you.
- Average peak temperature in June: 18°C
- June: seven hours of bright sunlight each day
- Highlights: Known for pastel beach huts and an Edwardian pier with a quirky arcade, this coastal town was ranked as the best in East Anglia in a study. The pier and waterfront were lauded by visitors. The 19th-century lighthouse and the Adnams brewery are open for tourists.
5. Scilly Isles
These lovely islands off the coast of Cornwall have some of the mildest weather in the UK. They are highly praised for their stunning scenery, great walks, and amazing wildlife, from puffins to seals. These are truly beautiful places to visit in UK in summer. Getting there takes effort, but it’s worth it!
- Destination Guide: The main island, St. Mary’s, has charming towns and soft sandy beaches. You can hop on ferries to explore other islands with old ruins and beautiful gardens.
- Travel Tip: Prepare for a journey, and you’ll be rewarded with a unique, peaceful escape that feels almost tropical.
- Personal Touch: Stepping onto those powder-soft beaches feels like arriving somewhere truly special and far away from everything.
- Average peak temperature in June: 17°C
- June sunlight duration: 6.9 hours per day
- Highlights: Some of the mildest UK temperatures may be found in the archipelago off the coast of Cornwall. Earned five stars for landscapes, hikes, and wildlife, such as grey Atlantic seals and puffins, in a study of the UK’s most beautiful places. The biggest island, St. Mary’s, has an old-world capital and powder-soft beaches. The five inhabited islands, which include natural beaches, a subtropical garden, and Tudor remains, are connected by ferries.
6. Cambridge, England
Cambridge, one of England’s sunniest cities, is a great place to visit in the summer. It’s famous for its historic university buildings with beautiful gardens and, of course, punting on the River Cam! It’s rated as one of the best places to visit in England in June.
- Destination Guide: Explore the impressive college grounds, visit famous spots like King’s College Chapel, go for a punt on the river, and enjoy the diverse food scene, especially on Mill Road.
- Travel Tip: Punting is a must-do summer activity! A fantastic opportunity to get a behind-the-scenes look at the colleges.
- Imagine this: A relaxing afternoon gliding down the river on a punt, watching the world go by from the water.
- Average peak temperature in June: 20°C
- June: 6.8 hours of bright sunlight each day
- Highlights: One of the UK’s sunniest cities. Summer is ideal for exploring historic college buildings and punting on the River Cam. Cultural attractions like King’s College Chapel have made this city one of the greatest in the UK for a quick getaway. The food and drink scene, particularly on Mill Road, was also highly rated.
7. Gower Peninsula
This beautiful corner of Wales was the UK’s first-ever Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty, and visitors love its wild scenery, walks, and wildlife. It boasts 19 miles of sandy beaches! It’s one of the best places to visit uk summer if you love the outdoors.
- Destination Guide: Explore stunning beaches like Rhossili, walk along the Gower Coastal Path for incredible views, and find more secluded bays.
- Travel Tip: It’s more about natural beauty and outdoor activities here. While the beaches are lovely in summer, the sea is still quite cool in June!
- Personal Touch (Simulated): Feeling the vastness and wildness of the landscape on a walk overlooking the coastline—truly breathtaking.
- Average peak temperature in June: 17°C
- June sunlight duration: 6.7 hours per day
- Highlights: Wales’s remote region boasts 19 kilometers of sandy beaches. Wales’ top-rated region in a study and the first site in the UK to be named an area of outstanding natural beauty. Visitors loved its scenery, walks, and wildlife. Features popular spots like Rhossili Beach and secluded areas like Broughton Bay.
8. Windsor, England
Windsor is a town that gets a good amount of sunshine. It is most well-known for its enormous and ancient castle, the oldest still inhabited in the world! It’s one of the best places to visit in England in summer.
- Destination Guide: You can visit the amazing castle and see its grand rooms and valuable paintings. But there’s more! Enjoy walks in the ancient woods of the Great Park, have a picnic by the river in Alexander Gardens, or take a relaxing boat trip on the River Thames. It’s also where you’ll find the popular Legoland theme park.
- Travel Tip: It’s really easy to visit Windsor as a day trip if you’re staying in London. If you plan to go to Legoland, it’s a good idea to book your tickets early.
- Picture this: Walking through the grounds of that ancient castle, feeling like you’ve stepped back in time, or simply enjoying a peaceful moment by the river.
- Average peak temperature in June: 20°C
- June sunlight duration: 6.7 hours per day
- Highlights: renowned for Windsor Castle, the world’s oldest occupied castle, and its cultural attractions, which leave the biggest impression on tourists. Offers more than the castle, including walks in the Great Park, picnics in Alexander Gardens, and boat trips on the Thames. From London, it’s a simple day journey to Legoland.
9. North Berwick, Scotland
While Scotland isn’t always known for endless sun, North Berwick on the east coast gives you a good chance of catching some rays, with over 6 hours of sunshine daily in June. Edinburgh is only a short train ride away. It’s a great place to go in summer UK if you’re in Scotland.
- Destination Guide: This town is well-liked for its beaches, food, attractions, and scenery. It’s home to the Scottish Seabird Centre, where you can learn about birds and even take boat tours to nearby islands to see puffins and other seabirds during summer. The main street is full of local shops, traditional tea rooms, and delis.
- Travel Tip: This is a great spot if you’re based in Edinburgh and want a quick, sunny escape to the coast. Perfect for bird watchers!
- Imagine this: Taking a boat trip out onto the water, hoping to spot some puffins hopping around the islands!
- Average peak temperature in June: 17°C
- Six and a half hours of bright sunshine per day in June
- Highlights: It’s a half-hour train ride from Edinburgh and one of the sunniest areas on Scotland’s east coast in the summer. The high street is lined with independent shops, tearooms, and delis. It earned four stars in a study for its landscape, food and drink, beaches, and tourist attractions. The Scottish Seabird Centre is located there and provides boat cruises. The high street is lined with independent shops, tearooms, and delis.
10. Strangford Lough, Northern Ireland
The largest marine lough in the UK, Strangford Lough, is located not far from Belfast. One part near the southern tip, Downpatrick, gets about 6 hours of sun a day in June—more than Belfast itself! This is one of the unique UK places to visit in summer.
- Destination Guide: This lough is filled with little islands and is a special marine reserve, making it fantastic for seeing wildlife like seals and lots of seabirds. You can drive along the edges, take a ferry across the water, visit the lovely Mount Stewart house and gardens, or go for scenic walks by the coast. There are great local cafes and restaurants too.
- Travel Tip: This is a top spot for anyone who loves nature and wildlife. It’s very easy to reach from Belfast by car.
- Picture this: Looking out over the water dotted with islands, hoping to see a seal pop its head up, or enjoying some delicious local food after a walk.
- Average peak temperature in June: 17°C
- Every day in June, there are six hours of bright sunshine.
- Highlights: Belfast is 20 minutes away by car from the largest sea lough in the UK. A marine reserve with excellent wildlife-spotting opportunities, including seals and seabirds. Visitors can drive along the banks, take a ferry, visit Mount Stewart, and enjoy scenic coastal rambles. It consists of welcoming cafés and five-star restaurants that provide local products.
Tips for Your UK Summer Adventure
Planning your summer trips UK? Here are some quick, helpful travel tips:
- Prepare for All Weather: UK summers are unpredictable. Pack light layers, a rain jacket or umbrella, and don’t forget sunscreen and sunglasses. Being ready for anything helps you enjoy the day!
- Book in advance: Summer is peak tourist season. Secure your accommodation, train tickets, and attraction passes early to save money and avoid missing out. This is key for visiting the best places to visit in June UK.
- Use Public Transport: Trains, buses, and the underground are convenient ways to explore UK cities without the hassle of parking.
- Enjoy the Outdoors: Take advantage of longer days by visiting parks, beaches, and local festivals. Fresh air and nature are a must!
- Stay Flexible: Weather changes? Have a backup plan, like a museum or indoor market, to keep the fun going. These are all part of the fun places to go in the summer UK.
Conclusion
So there you have it – ten fantastic UK summer holiday destinations where you have a great chance of enjoying some lovely sunshine this summer! From charming islands and beautiful places to visit in UK in summer along the coastlines, to historic cities and vibrant cultural hubs, the UK offers so many different kinds of summer adventures. Even with the famous British weather, these spots come alive with longer daylight hours and plenty to see and do. We hope this list gives you some brilliant ideas. Pick your favourite, pack your bags (don’t forget those layers and maybe an umbrella!), and get ready to make some wonderful summer memories in the UK!
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