Europe's Best 2026 Beaches Include UK
Europe's top beaches for 2026 have been announced with two UK spots making the list, highlighting the continent's diverse coastal offerings. The new rankings focus on water quality, scenic beauty, and visitor amenities. Separately, Boracay's White Beach in the Philippines was named among Asia's top beaches for 2026, affirming its reputation for powdery white sand.
- The two UK beaches recognized in TripAdvisor's 2026 Travelers' Choice Awards are Horsey Beach in Norfolk and Bamburgh Beach in Northumberland, placing 13th and 19th in Europe, respectively. - Horsey Beach is renowned for its colony of hundreds of grey seals, which can be seen on the sand, particularly during the winter pupping season. - Bamburgh Beach in Northumberland is distinguished by the dramatic backdrop of the 1,400-year-old Bamburgh Castle, a historic Celtic fort. - In addition to its European ranking, Bamburgh Beach was the only UK location to be featured in the global "one of a kind" beach category by TripAdvisor. - The rankings are part of TripAdvisor's "Best of the Best" awards, which are based on a high volume of positive reviews and opinions from its community over a 12-month period, representing fewer than 1% of the site's listings. - The top spot on the European list was awarded to Elafonissi Beach in Crete, Greece, which was also ranked second worldwide. - Boracay's White Beach secured the sixth position in the Best of the Best Beaches in Asia list. The top spot in Asia was awarded to Banana Beach in Phuket, Thailand. - The number one beach in the world for 2026, according to the same awards, is Isla Pasion in Cozumel, Mexico.
