LONDON, UK. – 21 February 2018 – Bournemouth Beach in Dorset is named the best-rated beach in the UK in the Travellers’ Choice® awards for Beaches, announced today by TripAdvisor, the site that helps you find the latest reviews and lowest prices.
Not just a favourite in the UK, Bournemouth beach also celebrates the title of fifth best-rated in Europe and 14th in the world, ranking above beaches in locations world famous for their miles of golden sands and crystal clear waters, including the Seychelles, Australia, Turkey and Sicily. Bournemouth’s seven mile stretch of sandy beach has something to offer everyone with its traditional seaside attractions, famous beach huts for hire, water sports and stunning views of the Isle of Wight and the Purbecks. The bay also boasts its own micro-climate, giving it some of the warmest sea temperatures in the UK.
In the world ranking, Grace Bay in Providenciales, the main island of Turks and Caicos in the Caribbean, takes the title of world’s best rated beach and it’s not difficult to see why. Seven miles in length, this beach has all the marks of a world class beach – turquoise water, powdery snow-white sand and glorious sunshine year-round.
The second best rated beach in the world is Baia do Sancho in Brazil’s Fernando de Noronha, an archipelago with UNESCO world heritage status.
“Year after year UK beaches continue to beat many others located in exotic destinations around the globe, proving that it’s not just good weather that makes a cracking beach. Even with the lack of hot weather that the UK is known for, our beaches still stand up as some of the best rated in the world – and all right on our doorstep. For those however who want guaranteed sunshine and sand, TripAdvisor hotel pricing shows that travellers can find great value on warm-weather escapes to these popular beaches this year,” commented Hayley Coleman, TripAdvisor spokesperson.
For those who want to visit a beach outside of the UK that is a little closer to home than the Caribbean or Brazil, La Concha Beach in San Sebastian, Europe’s number one beach, is located in the centre of the city and boasts 1,500 metres of white sand. In addition, in the centre of the bay is the small island, Isla Santa Clara. Beachgoers at La Concha can swim out to the island, which has its own small beach, a lighthouse, picnic tables and a bar.
The second best rated beach in Europe is Elafonissi Beach in Elafonissi, Crete.
Spotlight on UK winners: Dorset comes out on top
Dorset celebrates more wins than any other county in this year’s awards. In addition to the victory of Bournemouth Beach climbing six places from last year to be named number one in the UK in 2018, the county is also home to two other winners in the UK top 10 – Weymouth Beach, which takes fifth place and Hengistbury Head coming in seventh.
Councillor Pat Oakley, Portfolio Holder for Tourism, Leisure and Arts in Bournemouth, said, “We’re delighted and honoured to top the TripAdvisor list! We’re especially thrilled with our international ranking. As the UK’s Best Seaside Town, we’re immensely proud to offer world class beaches on British shores without the need to travel abroad.
We have four Blue Flags and two Seaside Awards which reflect our commitment to maintaining high standards across our beaches. I’d also like to thank Bournemouth’s residents for their part in the protection and promotion of our award-winning seafront. The beaches are a precious and special part of the area’s natural environment and constant vigilance is required in their protection.
This accolade couldn’t have come at a better time – we’re now working jointly with our colleagues in neighbouring Poole and combined we are able to offer a total of 10 miles of sandy beaches.”
Second place in the UK winners’ list this year goes to Scotland’s Luskentyre on the Isle of Harris, which also comes in 16th in Europe, while Rhossili Bay, located in Swansea County, Wales, comes in third in the UK and 25th in Europe.
Travellers’ Choice Beaches award-winners were determined based on the quality and quantity of traveller reviews and ratings for beaches on TripAdvisor gathered over a 12-month period.
For the complete 2018 Travellers’ Choice Beaches Awards winners and more reviews, opinions and candid traveller photographs, go to http://www.tripadvisor.co.uk/TravellersChoice-Beaches. (Please note this link will be live with 2018 results on Wednesday 21st February).
To help travellers plan their next beach trip, TripAdvisor has identified highly-rated value hotels near the award-winning beaches this March.
Top 10 Beaches in the World
- Grace Bay, Providenciales, Turks and Caicos
Beachfront bargain hotel nearby: Ports of Call Resort, from £192 per night on TripAdvisor
- Baia do Sancho, Fernando de Noronha, Brazil
Beachfront bargain hotel nearby: Beco de Noronha Pousada, from £211 per night on TripAdvisor
- Varadero Beach, Varadero, Cuba
- Eagle Beach, Palm - Eagle Beach, Aruba
Beachfront bargain hotel nearby: Amsterdam Manor Beach Resort, from £212 per night on TripAdvisor
- Seven Mile Beach, Seven Mile Beach, Cayman Islands
Beachfront bargain hotel nearby: Compass Point Dive Resort, from £178 per night on TripAdvisor
- La Concha Beach, San Sebastian – Donostia, Spain
Beachfront bargain hotel nearby: Hotel de Londres y de Inglaterra, from £122 per night on TripAdvisor
- Clearwater Beach, Florida, United States
Beachfront bargain hotel nearby: Pier House 60 Marina Hotel, from £209 per night on TripAdvisor
- Seven Mile Beach, Negril, Jamaica, Caribbean
Beachfront bargain hotel nearby: Firefly Beach Cottages, from £48 per night on TripAdvisor
- Bavaro Beach, Bavaro, Dominican Republic
Beachfront bargain hotel nearby: Ocean Blue & Sand, from £145 per night on TripAdvisor
- Playa Norte, Isla Mujeres, Mexico
Beachfront bargain hotel nearby: Hotel Bucaneros Hotel & Suites, from £64 per night on TripAdvisor
Top 10 Beaches in Europe
- La Concha Beach, San Sebastian – Donostia, Spain
- Elafonissi Beach, Elafonissi, Greece
- Falesia Beach, Olhos de Agua, Portugal
- Fig Tree Bay, Protaras, Cyprus
- Bournemouth Beach, Bournemouth, Dorset
- Kleopatra Beach, Alanya, Turkey
- Spiaggia dei Conigli, Lampedusa, Sicily, Italy
- Balos Beach and Lagoon, Kissamos, Crete, Greece
- Playa de Ses Illetes, Formentera, Spain
- Playa de Las Canteras, Las Palmas de Gran Canaria, Spain
Top 10 beaches in the UK
- Bournemouth Beach, Bournemouth, Dorset
- Luskentyre, Isle of Harris, Scotland
- Rhossili Bay, Rhossili, Wales
- Brighton Beach, Brighton, East Sussex
- Weymouth Beach, Weymouth, Dorset
- St. Brelade’s Bay Beach, St Brelade, Jersey
- Hengistbury Head, Bournemouth, Dorset
- Three Cliffs Bay, Swansea, Wales
- Fistral Beach, Newquay, Cornwall
- Barafundle Beach, Stackpole, Wales
Methodology
Highly-rated value hotels have at least four out of five bubbles on TripAdvisor with a nightly rate less than £214 per night, based on TripAdvisor prices in March 2018.
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