This is the UK's best beach

It’s no secret that the LC team is head over heels with our beautiful coastline…in fact if you have a few hours, days, weeks…we’d happily wax lyrical about our favourite sandy swathes found here in the South West of England. For us, our slice of the British shoreline is hands down the best in all the country – an opinion that could sound slightly biased…or is it?

Britain’s top 50 beaches revealed

This week, The Times revealed their list of the UK’s 50 Best Beaches for their 2024 regional guide (no easy task when you consider that there were 543 in the running), and after journeying just under 6,000 miles around the British coastline to rate each one individually, we’re beyond delighted to read that one of our most-loved has come up tops.

And the winner is…

Utilising an 11-point checklist that included criteria like dog-friendliness, facilities, cafes, natural beauty and of course, bathing water quality, the three-mile dune-backed sands of The Towans bowled Chief Travel Writer for The Times and Sunday Times, Chris Haslam over – and if you’ve witnessed the wild beauty and crystal-clear water of places like Gwithian (which is one of the beaches within the Towans), you may agree that there are few spots that can compare.

With fine sands undulating along the coast as far as the eye can see, rock pools exposing at low tide, giant rock formations towering overhead, and windswept dunes backing onto the shore – it’s a special place indeed…topped off by the turquoise-hued wave-lined waters of St Ives Bay which create the perfect conditions for surfers, kiteboarders and swimmers.

Surf, sea and wild coastal beauty

Holidays in Gwithian and Hayle are truly magical, with days being spent down on the unspoiled sands of The Towans or in the water riding waves, paddling and having fun. Global Boarders which is based above Gwithian beach, offers water sports equipment and rental. There are also two fab cafes in the area (Cove Café and Jam Pot Café), as well as Kabyn Cafe which is a street food van right on the sand where you can refuel after your surf sessions. Your days here will feel long, lazy and relaxed, and be rounded off with some of the most outrageously beautiful sunsets stretching across the sky above the bay.

Top beaches in Devon and Cornwall

And there’s more good news. Accolades have been awarded to even more of our favourite beaches in Devon and Cornwall including the very gorgeous Woolacombe in North Devon which is simply outstanding as a holiday destination both in and out of the summer season, Summerleaze in Bude, Porthcurno in Cornwall, and Budleigh Salterton in East Devon.