While the UK is known for not having the best weather, there are still some spots across the country that often bask in glorious temperatures more akin to the Mediterranean than the English Channel. As the summer approaches and the country begins to enjoy mini-heatwaves with 25C, Brits are on the hunt for destinations where they can make the most of the sunny weather.
Now, the UK's sunniest places have been revealed. Using Met Office data, the Independent has put together a list, with the small town of Shanklin on the Isle of Wight claiming the top spot. The paper’s research revealed that between 1991 and 2020, the Isle of Wight enjoyed an impressive five hours and eight minutes of sunshine per day on average. In August 2020, a sweltering temperature of 35.4C was recorded in Ryde on the northeast coast, making it the hottest place on the island.
The seaside resort town of Shanklin is found on Sandown Bay on the Isle of Wight's southeastern coast. According to the 2021 census, around 7,200 residents enjoy its balmy weather daily, not to mention its impressive array of amenities.
Shanklin boasts part of the long beach that spans between Yaverland in the north to Luccombe in the south. The section of beach situated next to Shanklin is split into Small Hope Beach and Hope Beach. Above Hope Beach is the esplanade home to some traditional seaside attractions, including an amusement arcade, a crazy golf course and a children's play area, complete with a ball pool and bouncy castle.
At the south end of the beach is Shanklin Chine, a wooded coastal ravine with waterfalls, trees and vegetation from which the town takes its name, historically "Chynklyng Chine". Footpaths and walkways allow paying visitors to explore and learn about the history of the area at the heritage centre.
The impressive Dunnose Cape is situated southwest of the town, which has served as an important landmark for maps of the UK. It has also been the site of several shipwrecks, most famously HMS Eurydice, which sank with the loss of 300 people aboard in 1878.
Shanklin is also a fantastic choice for a shopping trip. The main shopping centre consists of two roads, Regent Street and High Street, which make up the largest retail area in the south of the island. Here you can find arts and crafts and clothing shops, bakeries and some local shops, as well as a plethora of tourist shops and restaurants.
Finally, Shanklin is where Charles Darwin wrote his iconic Origin of Species during an 18-month-long visit to the town.
Returning to the UK mainland, the county of Kent boasts the most sunshine, with an average of four hours and 47 minutes per day. This was closely followed by neighbouring East Sussex, which was just a minute behind with an average of four hours and 46 minutes of sunshine per day.
All 10 of the UK's brightest places were given to destinations in England. That being said, Wales just missed out on the top spot with Barry (also known by its nickname Barrybados), nine miles southwest of Cardiff. Here, locals enjoy an impressive four hours and 28 minutes of sun per day.
Scotland's sunniest city, meanwhile, was Dundee, with four hours and one minute of daily sunshine. However, the northern nation also claimed the unfortunate title of the dullest city in the whole of the UK - Inverness. Here, residents only get around two hours and 53 minutes of sun a day.
The UK's top 10 sunniest spots:
