Updated July 3, 2023
Published May 20, 2021
Craving an island escape? The perfect destination might be closer than you think! From tidal islands and stunning Scottish outposts to palm-fringed paradises off the coast of Cornwall, these nine UK islands are perfect for a summer holiday.
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: With easy access to the Isle of Wight’s best beaches (you’ll be a five-minute walk from Sandown Beach), Haven Hall Hotel in Shanklin isn’t just the island’s most luxurious hotel but a true labour of love – owners David and Arielle spent four years (and £7m) restoring this 15-room antique-stuffed retreat. From £420 per night.
2. The Scilly Isles
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 Lands 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. Make sure you pick up a souvenir from Rat Bags, on St Mary's Quay. The shop is famous for its colourful accessories, all of which are made from boat sails.
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. From £200 per night.
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 spots in the UK, 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. Favourites include Tiree Glass, where Frances Woodhead turns old bottles into beautiful ornaments, and the Dot Sim Studio, for rockpool-inspired artwork.
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”. From £145 per night with breakfast included.
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 – expect 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. Raasay, Scotland
Getting to this windblown Scottish island is half the fun – you’ll start by getting the ferry from the mainland to Skye, before hopping on a boat 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 Rasaay 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.
Where to stay: A true home-from-home, where menus are filled with dishes such as wild Raasay venison and Skye scallops, Raasay House dates back to the 1500s. Fun fact? It recently served as the operations base for hit TV series SAS: Who Dares Wins. From £150 per night or £180 with breakfast included.
6. Rathlin Island, Northern Ireland
The trip to Rathlin Island is surprisingly easy. Departing from Ballycastle Harbour on the mainland, crossing take just 20 minutes for the passenger ferry and 45 minutes for the car ferry.
Rathlin is a paradise for twitchers – the island’s got large populations of guillemots, kittiwakes, razorbills and fulmars, and the fantastic RSPB-managed Seabird Centre is a great place to find out about more 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 4-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’s got 11 bedrooms (all with sea views) and a coveted position overlooking the harbour. From £120 per night with breakfast included.
7. Anglesey, Wales
Two beautiful bridges provide easy access to Anglesey, a Welsh island packed with historic sites and beautiful sandy bays. Anglesey’s top attractions include 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.
Where to stay: A grade II-listed castle straight off the pages of a fairy-tale, 4-star Château Rhianfa has 24 rooms split between the main chateau and a lodge, although there are 3 larger cottage suites, too. From £120 per night.
8. 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. Sign up for a guided tour to sample what many regard as Scotland’s finest tipple. 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. From £160 per night.
9. Monkey Island Estate, Bray
For something truly tiny, consider Berkshire’s Monkey Island Estate, a pretty plot of land in the middle of the Thames. You’ll find Grade I-listed buildings, frescos dating back to the 17th century and a floating spa. There are 41 rooms at this historic hotel, which is surrounded by fragrant gardens and can only be accessed via footbridge.
Although the 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. From £275 per night.
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