The top five places in the UK where you get the most hours of sunlight as clocks change
TODAY is the day, the clocks have changed and while Brits get an extra hour of sleep, it’s going to get darker in the UK.
The clocks in the UK have gone back by one hour marking the end of British Summer Time – but to ditch the winter blues, head to these destinations in the UK which are some of the sunniest in the country.
Isle of Wight
The Isle of Wight gets around 42 per cent more sunshine in winter than the rest of the country – and even on the shortest day of the year still gets seven hours and 50 minutes of sun.
So if you want to lap up as much sun as possible, head down to England‘s largest island that one writer said is like ‘going back in time’.
The Sun’s Veronica Lorraine recently visited the island with her family, she said: “From the moment we stepped off that Wightlink ferry, I was taken back to my Eighties family holidays — where the island was a magical place for a nine-year-old obsessed with sandcastles and crabbing off the pier.
“We visited Shanklin village which has a shop selling rock, foodie spots dishing out doughnuts and slushies and loads of pubs, all perched above miles of beautiful sandy beach.
“When you’re feeling peckish, head to one of my favourite pubs on the island, the Spy Glass Inn. Right on sheltered, sandy Ventnor beach, it’s crammed full of pirates’ nicknacks and often has live music.”
Folkestone, Kent
The town of Folkestone in Kent is another one of the UK’s sunniest spots thanks to its position on the southeast coast.
And it happens to be the seaside town that Deputy Travel Editor Kara Godfrey hails from, so when you head over there, check out her favourite spots.
She said: “Folkestone is having a moment, taking its time but growing in the form of new hotels and cool bars.
“Discover Mermaid Bay, the beach just out of town and named due to the rock formation mimicking a mermaid’s tail.
“The bay is found within the main beach of Folkestone, which ends at the Harbour Arm.
“This is where you will find the huge stretch of bars and cafes, as well as kids playground and crazy golf. Obviously the beaches are the main attractions but the multicoloured Creative Quarter can’t be missed.”
Kara continued: “You won’t see any chain stores here – the cobble-stone hill is lined with quaint cafes, curated vintage shops and locally run stores selling vinyls, kids toys and souvenirs.”
For more attractions, indoor activities and where to enjoy some great food, read more on Kara’s top recommendations here.
Bognor Regis, West Sussex
Bognor Regis is another sunny spot with an average of around 1,900 to 1,920 hours of sunshine per year.
Its location is sheltered from northerly winds by the South Downs and from westerly winds by the Isle of Wight and Selsey Bill makes it milder in temperature too.
Catherine Lofthouse has been visiting Bognor Regis since she was a child and loves it.
She said: “There’s a reason why Bognor has been a family favourite for generations and why British holiday institution Butlin’s has had a presence in the town for almost a century, despite closing lots of other locations around the country.
“Maybe the shingle shoreline isn’t everyone’s cup of tea, but paddling on pebbles does mean you’re not finding sand in all your nooks and crannies for weeks after your trip to the coast.
“We usually stay at Butlin’s and it’s just a short walk along the prom to get to the town, passing the pier and the greenery of Waterloo Square before heading further on to Marine Park Gardens.
“Or you can catch the little land train that ferries visitors along the shoreline, costing £1.50 for adults and £1 for children. We like to stroll along, admiring the seaside architecture glinting white in the sunlight as we go.”
Weymouth, Dorset
The seaside town of Weymouth in Dorset is a great place to be not only for its sandy beaches and independent shops, but it’s sunnier than most places in the UK too.
When it’s not beach weather, visitors can visit historic sites like Nothe Fort, see the Abbotsbury Swannery or head into the Sea Life Adventure Park.
But when it’s crisp and dry, head around the corner to the Isle of Portland where you’ll find Chesil Beach, the longest in the UK that has one of the country’s best pubs.
Warm up in the The Cove House Inn is an 18th-century pub which is on the Isle of Portland in Dorset and sits right on the esplanade.
The pub is highly-rated on Tripadvisor and is number one out of the 32 restaurants on the Isle of Portland.
One visitor commented: “And the VIEWS! Amazing – right on Chesil beach with views out to sea. What a gem of a place” – it would be a great spot to watch the sun go down.
Southend-on-Sea, Essex
This other sunny destination in the UK is the only place in the list not in the south of England, instead it’s in Essex.
Southend-on-Sea is generally sunnier in the winter compared to many other parts of the UK thanks to its micro-climate on the estuary that can lead to more sunshine.
In recent years, the Essex town has seen a surge in popularity, thanks to its colourful beach huts, award-winning hotels and stunning coastline.
You can take a walk along some of the pretty beaches like Three Shells, but when you head away from the water, there’s still plenty to do – especially when it comes to eating.
Southend-on-Sea has a thriving food scene, the ‘Food in Southend’ restaurant was on the Good Food Guide’s 100 Best Local Restaurants in 2024.
Southend also has an award-winning ice cream parlour called Rossi.
Steeped in history, having started making ice cream in Essex since 1932, the Westcliff parlour has recently undergone a makeover.
Rossi is styled to look like an American diner with white washed walls and a striped awning where they serve what people call the “best ice cream in the world”.
Not only that you can get winter warmers like soup, toasties and it has an all day breakfast.
And if you want a luxe weekend break, the Roslin Beach Hotel on Thorpe Bay is a popular spot for celebrities like Michelle Keegan who was seen there earlier this year.
The Times even described the hotel as “a slice of Miami on the seafront of Thorpe Bay.”
For more places to visit in the South East where it’s sunniest, check out our travel team’s favourite day trips.
Plus, discover the unique English park to feature in new Harry Potter series – and it’s even better to visit in autumn than summer.