12 of the best islands in the UK for a summer getaway

Craving an island escape? With so many brilliant islands in the UK to discover, your dream getaway might be closer than you think.

Scotland tends to steal the spotlight for British island escapes, with the Inner Hebrides leading the way for their jaw-dropping landscapes (Skye) and world-famous whisky (Islay). Skip them and you’d be missing out, but there’s also no shortage of lesser-known islands with fewer crowds to explore.

Go beyond the usual stomping grounds and you’ll find tidal islands in Devon, overlooked Scottish outposts and palm-fringed paradises off the coast of Cornwall.

From the Caribbean-esque Scillies to historic Anglesey, these UK islands are perfect for a summer escape. Who needs Bali?

1. The Isle of Wight

The ferry crossing from Southampton to the Isle of Wight’s East Cowes port takes under an hour, and while that makes it perfect day-trip material, this island deserves more of your time.

Top of your holiday list should be a visit to the Needles – three chalk stacks rising from the seafloor near the island’s western tip. For the best views, take the chairlift down to Alum Bay, famous for its multicoloured sand.

Kids will love the nearby Blackgang Chine theme park, although a fossil-hunting walk along Compton Bay, where you’ll find fossilised dinosaur footprints, will also capture their imaginations.

Where to stay: The big news for summer 2024 relates to the seriously chic Albion Hotel, a new luxury property in Freshwater Bay that’s set to open at the end of June. Alternatively, consider the Queensmead Hotel, which is close to both the beach and Shanklin Chine, a wooded ravine that hides dramatic waterfalls.

2. The Scilly Isles

One visit to the Scilly Isles and you’ll be vowing to spend less time on long-haul flights and more time exploring islands in the UK.

There are five inhabited Scilly Isles but we’ve got a soft spot for the smallest, Bryher – it’s just 2km long and 1km across at its widest point. It’s scribbled with footpaths and at certain times of year, you’re even able to walk to the two nearest islands (Tresco and Samson) at low tide. Shipman Head is Bryher’s most northerly point, and where you’ll find a brilliant phone box mini-museum, an art gallery and some of the island’s best picnic spots.

If you’re keen for an island-hopping adventure, St Mary’s is a fantastic base. Getting there is surprisingly easy – there are flights from Land’s End, Newquay and Exeter, or you can opt for a three-hour ferry journey from Penzance. History buffs should walk St Mary’s historic garrison walls in Hugh Town, while adrenaline junkies can sign up for some water-based fun – head to Porthmellon Beach’s sailing centre to hire dinghies, windsurfers and kayaks.

Even better? The islands will soon become even easier to get to, with a new ferry service between Penzance and the islands on the cards for the end of 2024.

Where to stay: The historic 38-room Star Castle Hotel is surrounded by star-shaped ramparts and has fantastic facilities, including a tennis court and an indoor heated swimming pool. The hotel even has its own boatman, who will help you plan visits to nearby islands. Bag a castle room if you can – they’re built into the castle’s ramparts and the views over the ocean are breathtaking.

3. Tiree, Scotland

Just 16km long and 8km wide, Tiree is a remote, flat island known for its birdlife and beautiful beaches.

It’s also one of the sunniest and driest islands in the UK (in fact, it’s one of the sunniest and driest spots overall) thanks to its position in the path of the Gulf Stream.

There are plenty of fantastic walking routes, although retail therapy won’t go amiss here either – the island has several small galleries and boutiques. Dot Sim Studio is a favourite for its rockpool-inspired artwork.

Planning a visit in July? Head to the island’s Tiree Music Festival – previous performers have ranged from indie-folk acts to local electronic bands, and a packed calendar of activities includes beach yoga and gin-tasting sessions.

Where to stay: The beautiful Reef Inn boutique hotel brings a splash of luxury to the most westerly island in the Inner Hebrides of Scotland. The hotel’s owner, Sian Milne, recommends keeping your eyes peeled for the basking sharks from the shore, or from a kayak, or learning to surf in the crowd-free waves of what’s often referred to as the ‘Hawaii of the North’.

4. Burgh Island, Devon

Burgh Island Hotel, the only thing on this tiny tidal island, was once a favourite hangout of Agatha Christie. The tide cuts the hotel off from the mainland twice a day, but don’t panic if you’re running late – the hotel’s sea tractor ferries guests to the hotel during high tides.

Inside, it’s a wonderful explosion of art deco-inspired fabulousness, packed with everything from vintage cocktail shakers and a billiards table built in the thirties to scallop-backed armchairs and more velvet than you can shake a stick at.

There are 30 bedrooms, but the pièce de résistance is the 6-person Agatha’s Beach House, built as a retreat for Agatha Christie.

Where to stay: The only place you can! A stay at Burgh Island Hotel starts from £455 per night with breakfast included.

5. Skye, Scotland

The Skye Bridge connects Kyleakin with Kyle of Lochalsh on the mainland, which is handy as you’ll probably want a car to explore this wind-bashed chunk of land.

Destinations worthy of your hit list include Uig, which has a small ferry port and is a popular base for hikers keen to scramble up the Trotternish Ridge; the 13th-century Dunvegan Castle, the former home to the MacLeod clan; and Waterloo Beach, which is close to countless caves and awe-inspiring sea stacks. For more beach time, try An Corran, where you can see the fossilised footprints of dinosaurs.

There are numerous options for accommodation, although it’s worth considering the pretty village of Portree, with its pastel-hued row of fishermen’s houses and gorgeous views of the Isle of Raasay, just across the water.

You can also reach Skye via ferry, and there are several services that will sail you there, including one from Mallaig on the mainland and another from the island of Raasay.

Where to stay: The Toravaig House Hotel might not be a castle but don’t let that put you off – this four-star hotel on the Sleat Peninsula has stunning views over the water and feels truly luxurious.

6. Raasay, Scotland

Getting to this windblown Scottish island is half the fun – you’ll need to hop over via Skye, joining a boat at Sconser that will whisk you to Raasay in just 25 minutes (keep an eye out for sea birds, dolphins and porpoises).

The island’s always been popular with adventure seekers, who come to bounce across the waves on boat tours of Raasay Sound or to hike and cycle their way along the island’s trails. A great way to blow away the cobwebs is with a kayak across Loch a’ Mhuilinn, a pretty lake originally built as a water source for the Raasay House Hotel.

The island has several historic sites to check out, including Brochel Castle, built by the fearsome MacLeod Clan in the 1500s.

Fancy a dram? Make a beeline for the Isle of Raasay Distillery, famous for its smoky single-malt whiskies.

Where to stay: A true home-from-home, where menus are filled with dishes such as wild Raasay venison and Skye scallops, Raasay House Hotel dates back to the 1500s. Fun fact? It recently served as the operations base for hit TV series SAS: Who Dares Wins.

7. Rathlin Island, Northern Ireland

The trip to Rathlin Island is surprisingly easy. Departing from Ballycastle Harbour on the mainland, crossings take around 30 minutes for the passenger ferry and 40 minutes for the car ferry.

Rathlin is a paradise for twitchers – it’s got large populations of guillemots, kittiwakes, razorbills and fulmars, and the fantastic RSPB-managed Seabird Centre is a great place to find out more about these winged wonders. Make sure you check out the centre’s cliffside viewing platform, which is a brilliant spot for admiring Northern Ireland’s largest seabird colony.

Where to stay: The ridiculously cosy four-star Manor House on Rathlin Island dates back to the 18th century and is managed by the National Trust. Once the home of the island’s laird, it has 11 bedrooms (all with sea views) and a coveted position overlooking the harbour.

8. Anglesey, Wales

Two beautiful bridges provide easy access to Anglesey, a Welsh island packed with historic sites and pretty sandy bays. Anglesey’s top attractions include the Amlwch Copper Kingdom, where visitors can learn more about what was once the world’s largest copper mine, and Aberlleiniog Castle, in the heart of a beautiful forest.

The island is especially popular with watersports fans, who come here to sign up for everything from RIB boat rides to kite-surfing sessions, while a walk along the Isle of Anglesey Coastal Path is a great way to soak up some seriously breathtaking views (get lucky and you’ll spot a dolphin or two – they’re regularly seen frolicking just offshore).

Where to stay: A Grade II-listed castle straight off the pages of a fairytale, five-star Château Rhianfa has 24 rooms split between the main chateau and a lodge, although there are three larger cottage suites, too.

9. Jura, Scotland

Keen to really get away from it all? Head to Jura, which has a population of around 200 (along with 5,000 wild deer).

Located off the west coast of Scotland, it’s one of the UK’s wildest places, with soaring mountains, thundering tides and a famous whirlpool. The Corryvreckan Whirlpool is one of the world’s largest permanent whirlpools, and several local Jura boat tour operators offer guided trips to this natural phenomenon, which can be heard 16km away.

Jura is also famous for its whisky, produced at a distillery founded in 1810. Join one of the guided tours to sample what many regard as Scotland’s finest tipple. A fun fact? The distillery produces 2.2 million litres of the stuff every year.

To get to Jura, hop on the ferry from Tayvallich in Argyll and Bute for a crossing that takes around one hour.

Where to stay: Stay at three-star Jura Hotel and you’ll be within walking (or should that be staggering) distance of the Jura Distillery.

10. Monkey Island Estate, Bray

Credit: Monkey Island Estate

For something truly tiny, consider Berkshire’s Monkey Island Estate, a pretty plot of land in the middle of the Thames where you’ll find Grade I-listed buildings, frescos dating back to the 17th century and a floating spa (treatments are carried out in rooms on a barge connected to the island). There are 41 rooms at this historic hotel, which is surrounded by fragrant gardens and can only be accessed via footbridge.

Although this British island is tiny, there’s plenty to do and see nearby – Bray is just a 15-minute drive from Windsor Castle, and a similar distance from the National Trust-owned Cliveden House. Despite its tiny size, the village of Bray is also great for fine dining. Its restaurants include the Waterside Inn and Fat Duck (both have three Michelin stars) and The Crown, which has two AA rosettes.

Fancy staying put? Take some time to explore the gardens, where you'll find a herb garden, salmon smokehouse, four beehives and resident hens, named after iconic female figures that have visited in years gone by.

11. Mersea Island

There might not be any five-star hotels on Essex’s Mersea Island, but that doesn’t diminish its appeal – this small chunk of land 14km (8.7 miles) southeast of Colchester has bucket-loads of charm, fantastic seafood and a wide range of watersports to try.

It’s also incredibly easy to get to thanks to the causeway that connects the island to the mainland, although you’ll need to brush up tide times. Tides of 4.5m (14.7ft) or higher will almost certainly cover the road, so make sure you do your research – leaflets listing tide times are available at most shops, cafés and restaurants.

And if the worst happens? There are worse places to be marooned. Sign up for one of the brilliant boat tours that sail out of Brightlingsea Harbour, on the mainland, to learn all about the island’s connections with smugglers, or explore the island on foot. It takes just under five hours to walk around its perimeter, a route that takes in deserted beaches and wildlife habitats, including Cudmore Grove Country Park.

Bonus points if you spot a Cetti's Warbler, a small brown bird known for its warbling birdsong.

Where to stay: For cosy charm, it’s hard to beat the Victory at Mersea, a boutique B&B near the island’s southern tip with rooms from just £109 per night. The owners will happily prepare packed lunches for keen hikers.

12. Jersey

Full disclosure: Jersey isn’t technically part of the UK, but actually what’s known as a British Crown Dependency. Given its proximity, though, we’re bending the rules a little and making it our final contender.

Just 22km (14 miles) from France, sun-soaked Jersey is the largest Channel Island and wonderfully easy to get to thanks to multiple ferry and air routes that connect with places across Britain.

It’s also an easy island to explore thanks to the Discover Jersey Passes, which will get you around the island by bus from £9 per person.

Start with a history fix at the 13th century Mont Orgueil Castle, where you’ll find all manner of weird exhibits, including a model of a uroscopy colour wheel – a diagnosis device used by castle doctors to compare a urine sample to 20 vials of coloured liquid (apparently purple, perhaps unsurprisingly, indicated “imminent death”).

Other highlights include the Botanic Gardens at Samarès Manor (don’t miss the beautiful dovecote) and the Railway Walk, a cycling and hiking trail in the footprint of the railway track that once wound its way from St Aubin to La Corbiere Lighthouse.

Where to stay: St Helier is the island’s largest town, and it’s also where you’ll find its swankiest hotel – the five-star Club Hotel & Spa. It’s truly indulgent, with a lush spa that lets you combine a treatment with a three-course lunch at Bohemia, the hotel’s on-site restaurant that’s earned a Michelin star.