The 100 best beaches in the world to visit in 2024 – and four from the UK make the cut
THE BEST beaches in the world have been revealed - and four seaside spots in the UK have made the list.
A team of travel experts at Lonely Planet have named the best beaches in the world.
In the , they've revealed "100 of the world's most incredible beaches".
Bays and Beaches in Australia, Thailand, America, Greece, and Italy have all been included on the list.
Rhossili Bay, Wales
Rhossili Bay in Gower, Wales was one of the UK beaches that Lonely Planet named as one of the best in the world.
They wrote: "Part of the 73-sq-mile (188-sq-km) Gower Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty, this wonderfully secluded pocket of Wales retains a special soul-stirring energy, framed by blonde dunes and Rhossili Down’s heather-scented slopes."
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Rhossili Bay is widely regarded as one of the UK's finest surf beaches, with places for both beginners and experienced surfers.
It has three miles of golden sandy shore, all overlooked by its famous headland, the Worm's Head, which juts out into the sea, marking the Gower's most westerly point.
The beach has also been praised for its wildlife-watching, with visitors able to spot birds like choughs, kestrels and buntings.
Grey seals and harbour porpoises can also be spotted swimming in the Gower's waters, according to .
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Durdle Door, England
Meanwhile, Durdle Door, on southern Dorset's UNESCO-protected Jurassic Coast, was also named as one of the world's best beaches.
According to the experts, Durdle Door's "limestone sea arch wows as one of the UK’s most-photographed coastal formations".
To reach the shingle-and-sand beach, beachgoers will need to climb down 140 steep steps.
There are also no toilets on the beach, but day-trippers can use the loos at Durdle Door Holiday Park, which is 15 minutes away from the beach.
In recent years, holidaymakers have likened Durdle Door to both Portugal and California by visitors because of its coastline and rock formations.
While Durdle Door is a three-hour drive from London, it's less than an hour from neighbouring coastal towns like Bournemouth and Weymouth.
The famous UK landmark can also be reached on a direct train from London Waterloo to Wool train station.
Kynance Cove, England
Kynance Cove in Cornwall has also been included in Lonely Planet's round-up of the best beaches.
They wrote: "Near the southernmost tip of mainland England, this is one of the country’s dreamiest beaches – a pristine all-natural inlet dominated by craggy serpentine-rock outcrops, stone-carved arches and grassy green headlands.
"And on a sunny blue-sky day, Kynance easily rivals any beach in the Caribbean."
Located in Mount’s Bay, Kynance Cove is a small Cornish beach.
In the summer months, it's home to picture-perfect turquoise waters, fine white sand, and incredible rock formations.
Not only is Kynance Cove a popular spot in the summer holidays, but it's also said to be the warmest beach to visit in the UK in the winter.
West Beach, Scotland
West Beach in Berneray in the Outer Hebrides was the only beach in Scotland named in the top 100.
Lonely Planet wrote: "The powdery silver-white sand might feel more Southeast Asia than North Atlantic, but the chilly aqua waves, dramatic wind-lashed setting and beautifully green adjoining machair (grazing land) are pure, wonderful Outer Hebrides."
Stretching for three miles, the beach has been described as a "wildly remote jewel" by the judges.
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Situated on the on the small island of Berneray, this beach is a haven for holidaymakers who like a bracing dip and a good walk.
Other local attractions include seal spotting and a visit to the Clach Mhor Standing Stone - a panoramic viewpoint.
