Beautiful British isle with ‘Caribbean’ beaches named top Brit holiday destination – beating Turkey and Spain

LOCATED in the Channel Islands, Guernsey is known for its temperate climate with mild winters and cool summers – and now thousands of Brits are flocking to the destination.

Beating several well-known hotspots across the globe, Guernsey experienced a 103 per cent rise in UK travellers this summer beating popular European and international holiday destinations.

Guernsey benefits from around eight hours of sunshine each day in the summer[/caption]

And the island is only a 40-minute flight from the UK or a three-hour ferry[/caption]

According to Holiday Extras, Brits are flocking to the Channel Island after realising it is the ideal spot for warm weather and sandy beaches, without having to travel too far.

Guernsey is the second-largest of the Channel Islands and holidaymakers can reach the island either via a 40-minute flight or three-hour ferry ride from the UK.

The island destination provides the ultimate outdoorsy holiday with eight hours of sunshine a day in the summer months and an average high of 20C.

Heading to the island via ferry, you’ll be dropped off at St. Peter Port – the capital of Guernsey.

The town features a charming harbour, narrow, lots of boutique shops and numerous historical sites including the 13th century Castle Cornet.

The medieval fortress is now home to a museum but guarded the harbour for over 800 years.

In that time, it supported the king during the English Civil War, despite the rest of Guernsey siding with parliament, and was even occupied by the Germans during World War II.

Through the cobbled streets of the town, visitors will also be able to find numerous cafes and restaurants including traditional pub, Thomas de la Rue, which is ranked as the best on the island on TripAdvisor.

The watering hole serves up traditional pub grub, as well as their own takes on classic British flavours, such as the Piggy Bits sharing platter with sausage rolls, pork pies, Scotch eggs, crackling, pub chips, pickles and dips for £19.90.

You can also grab a local bevvy, such as the award-winning, Liberation Ale brewed on the Channel Islands.

Make sure to also head to the Candie Gardens, dating back to the Victorian period, with breathtaking views of the town and harbour.

At the north end of the island is L’Ancresse Bay, a vast beach with a gentle slope making it ideal for swimming.

One recent visitor said: “Best beach in the world for me ! Been coming here since I was 2 years old.. has everything, huge expanse of the lovely soft sand and great rocks to explore and mess around on.”

Many visitors also enjoy windsurfing, surfing, sailing and sea kayaking at the beach too.

Car parks are located at both ends of the beach and there is a small kiosk for light bites too.

Or further along the coastline you could head to Vazon Bay, which is a great spot for surfing and even has its own surf school for all ages and abilities.

The capital of the island is St Peter Port, where visitors can explore quaint streets and a grand castle[/caption]

If you fancy just taking in the view, then you can head to Crabby Jacks, with rooftop dining and fresh, local dishes like beer battered fish and chips for £16.50.

On a clear day head to Jerbourg Point, at the south end of the island, for views across to the French coast.

Across the entire island there are also a number of hiking trails, with many meandering along the cliff edges.

Between September 13 and 28, there is even a walking festival with guided hikes exploring some of the islands’ different habitats and historical spots.

According to the BBC, the States of Guernsey have revealed that more than three million people recently watched a segment about Guernsey on French TV.

The six-minute clip delved into visits to St Peter Port and Lihou on the island with Zoë Gosling, the States’ lead marketing officer, commenting: “This kind of exposure for the islands means we keep Guernsey in front of those who we are trying to entice back for a longer stay, as well as those who are yet to visit.”

Guernsey benefits from up to eight hours of sunshine a day in the summer[/caption]

Guernsey was followed by Phuket in Thailand as the second best summer destination for Brits, with a 63 per cent increase in visitors from the UK.

Then in third place, with no surprise, was a Spanish destination; Seville has seen a 59 per cent increase of British tourists.

The top 20 also featured a lot of well-known and well-loved destinations, with four Greek locations making the list.

And ‘fastest-growing destinations for 2025’ according to Holiday Extras, such as Andalusia, Tivat, Sardinia, Lamezia Terme, Burgas and Tunisia.

Destination dupes also proved popular, such as swapping Dubrovnik for Pula (4th) and the Amalfi Coast for Tivat (8th). 

Turkey is absent from the rankings this year, most likely due to recent hyperinflation of the lira.

Phuket, in Thailand, followed Guernsey in second place[/caption]

Trends across the league table revealed Brits have become more cost-conscious, turning to more city breaks, as well as opting for cooler and more socially conscious destinations.

Elizabeth Hogg, chief operating officer at Holiday Extras, said: “Our latest data paints a clear picture of British holidaymakers driven by a complex combination of climate, cost and conscience.

“But the changes won’t stop here. We expect to see travellers’ priorities shift again with the rollout of the EU’s long-delayed Entry/Exit Scheme on October 12th.

“This will replace the passport stamps introduced after Brexit and could mean initial travel disruption and delays on entry to EU countries, pushing UK holidaymakers to look further afield to northern Africa or Asia to avoid added holiday hassle.

“As a result, some of the destinations that made it into our summer 2025 top 20 list – like Phuket, Tokyo, Male, Agadir and Enfidha – may be due an even greater influx of visiting Brits in the rest of 2025 and beyond.”

There is also a tiny island two hours from the UK that American holidaymakers flock to in summer.

Plus, here are the stunning but affordable beach towns just two hours from UK – with beers from £2 and hotels from £30-a-night.

And across the island are numerous hiking trails including some that go along the cliff edges[/caption]