A stunning sandy beach in one of the sunniest parts of the UK has been added to a list of the world’s best. 

Yaverland Beach at Sandown on the Isle of Wight has made it onto Tripadvisor’s Best of the Best list, which was published this morning. Coming in at No. 15 on the list, the debut sees it top beaches in Turkiye, Indonesia, and Greece. Recognised as a British coastal gem, Yaverland Beach boasts a vast, golden, dog‑friendly shoreline with clear, shallow water and dramatic coloured cliffs. With excellent on‑site facilities and the award-winning The Beach Cafe close by, it’s a perfect day out any time of year.

There’s good reason why a trip to Yaverland is a good idea. The Met Office recently crowned the Isle of Wight as the sunniest place in the UK, with residents on the southern outcrop basking in five hours of sunshine on average a day. That compares to the most ray-deprived place in the UK, which is Lowther Hill in Scotland, which averages a few seconds short of 2 hours and 45 minutes of daily sunshine.

As of May last year, the sunniest spot in the sunniest part of the UK has officially been Shanklin, a popular seaside location on the east coast of the island that has seen a boom in visitors in recent years. Sandown sits just 2.5 miles down the coast from Shanklin, so it’s clearly soaking up a lot of rays itself.

The lovely Sandown Bay was crowned Britain’s favourite beach by readers of Countryfile Magazine in 2019. It stretches eight miles along the coast between Sandown and Shanklin.

Keen to take advantage of this sunny situation and the lovely beach, a local community group is in the process of building a new tidal sea pool on the beach at Yaverland. Described as “Olympic-sized and accessible”, it would also be the first of its kind to be built in the UK in a century, according to the group.

Another great local feature is Shanklin Chine – a surprisingly dramatic, mostly hidden tourist attraction that cuts through the cliffs that hang over the Shanklin end of the beach and runs down onto the sand. A chine is a local word for a stream cutting back into a soft cliff, formed over the last 10,000 years in the case of Shanklin’s, which runs for 400m and has a towering drop of 32m. It is a wooded coastal ravine which contains waterfalls, trees, and lush vegetation, with footpaths and walkways allowing paid access for visitors.

The coastal spot has hosted a number of famous visitors, including Charles Dickens, the poet John Keats, the American poet Longfellow, Lewis Carroll, and Charles Darwin, who wrote part of his book Origin of the Species there.

Top 10 Beaches in the World for 2026 according to Tripadvisor

1. Isla Pasion – Cozumel, Mexico

Good for Private island oasis, crystal-clear waters, marine life encounters, and snorkeling, which travelers can book through this Catamaran Snorkel Adventure to El Cielo and The Money Bar Beach experience. 

Best time to go: November-April

Unique features: Protected coral reefs, sea turtle nesting sites, exclusive day-trip destination

2. Elafonissi Beach – Crete, Greece

Good for: Pink sand phenomenon, shallow lagoons, protected nature reserve, and can be easily accessed from Chania through the Elafonissi Beach Trip from Chania tour.

Best time to go: May & September

Unique features: Rare pink sand created by crushed shells

3. Balos Lagoon – Kissamos, Greece

Good for: Turquoise lagoon waters, dramatic landscapes, and Instagram-worthy vistas like this Balos & Gramvousa Luxury Catamaran Sailing Cruise from Kissamos experience.

Best time to go: April-June, September-October

Unique features: Former pirate hideout, protected Natura 2000 site

4. Eagle Beach – Eagle Beach, Aruba

Good for: Pristine white sand, watersports paradise, activities like this 3-Hour Electric Scooter Island Tour in Arubadivi.

Best time to go: April-August

Unique features: Sea turtle nesting ground, iconic Ffofoti trees

5. Praia da Falésia – Algarve, Portugal

Good for: Ochre cliffs with spectacular views that can be experienced during this Benagil And Dolphins Tour.

Best time to go: April-October

Unique features: Dramatic red cliff formations

6. Banana Beach – Ko He, Thailand

Good for: Crystal-clear waters and vibrant coral reefs with amazing snorkeling that travelers can book through this Banana Beach Snorkeling Adventure.

Best time to go: November-March

Unique features: Part of Racha Islands, premier diving destination

7. La Jolla Cove – California, USA

Good for: Sea lion colonies, underwater park, kayaking adventures like this Sea Caves Kayak Tour.

Best time to go: March-May, September-November

Unique features: Protected marine reserve, year-round wildlife viewing

8. La Pelosa Beach – Sardinia, Italy

Good for: Caribbean-like waters, ancient watchtower views that can be experienced through this Half Day Catamaran Tour to La Pelosa with Aperitif tour.

Best time to go: June-September

Unique features: 16th-century Torre della Pelosa

9. Manly Beach – Sydney, Australia

Good for: Surf culture, beachside promenade, a scenic Sydney Harbour Ferry Ride.

Best time to go: September-May

Unique features: Historic surfing beach, pine tree-lined Corso

10. Boulders Beach Penguin Colony – Simon’s Town, South Africa

Good for: African penguin sanctuary, granite boulders that travelers can experience during this Table Mountain, Boulders Penguins and Cape point Day Tour.

Best time to go: September-April

Unique features: One of few mainland penguin colonies globally