World's 50 best beaches named – here's how to find the two in the England that made the cut
Big 7 Travel has ranked the top beaches from around the world whether that be tropical paradise, chilly poles, or even the south of England.
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Porthcurno Beach in Cornwall came in 20th place when it comes to the most beautiful in the world.
The beach earned its place for its "beautiful scenery" and "surfing prowess".
It even has it's own microclimate - in fact, the beach is the second warmest in the UK outside the summer months.
Earning it extra points is the stream that runs down to the beach which is "excellent for young children to paddle in".
The beach is well-known in the UK with visitors often saying it looks like it belongs in the Caribbean or Australia.
One beach-goer wrote on Tripadvisor: "When the sun comes out, you could be on any beach in the world. This beach is stunning. Pure white, soft sand."
For anyone visiting, head to the car park at the bottom of Porthcurno Valley.
If you're going by train, the closest station is in Penzance. From Penzance, you can take a bus or taxi to reach the beach.
The bus journey takes around 30 minutes, while a taxi ride is around 20 minutes.
UK beach named one of the top 100 in the world
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The other beach in England that's been named one of the best in the world is Alum Chine which is on the south coast of England in Bournemouth.
It's one of the most popular in the area and has a wide, shingle shoreline with shallow waters for splashing about.
Big 7 Travel praised Alum Chine for its Blue Flag certification and that it's the perfect place to make the most of England's rare warm weather.
It added that visitors can "partake in watersports, enjoy fish and chips and an ice cream on the sands, or walk along to Bournemouth Pier."
One beachgoer went as far as to say it's the "best in Britain."
The nearest train stations to Alum Chine are Branksome and Bournemouth.
From Branksome station, it's about a mile walk to Alum Chine Beach.
Bournemouth station is about 3.2 miles away, and you can take a bus from there.
While these are the only two English beaches to have made the list, there were more around the UK that featured.
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Luskentyre Beach in Scotland came in at number twelve.
The beach on the Outer Hebrides has stunning sands and turquoise waters.
Whitesands Beach was called "arguably the best beach in Wales", a popular but quiet beach due to its size.
At the very top of the list was, unsurprisingly, a beach in Australia with blue waters and the whitest of sand.
The dreamy beach is Whitehaven Beach on Whitsunday Island and is constantly ranked as one of the most beautiful in the world.
The other top beaches include Anse Source d'Argent in the Seychelles and Ksamil Beach in Albania.
And these are three UK beaches named the best in Europe by Tripadvisor this year.
Whitehaven Beach – Australia
Anse Source d'Argent – Seychelles
Ksamil Beach – Albania
Reethi Beach – Maldives
Plage de Notre Dame – Porquerolles, France
Starfish Beach – Vietnam
Le Morne Beach – Mauritius
White Sand Beach – Thailand
Sandy Lane Beach – Barbados
White Beach – Philippines
Seven Mile Beach – Cayman Islands
Luskentyre Beach – Scotland
Playa Blanca – Lanzarote, Spain
Temae Beach – French Polynesia
Wakasa Wada Beach – Japan
Chesterman Beach – Canada
Kelingking Beach – Indonesia
Keem Beach – Ireland
Vivonne Bay Beach – Australia
Porthcurno Beach – England
Cala Macarella – Menorca, Spain
Palombaggia Beach – Corsica, France
Copacabana Beach – Brazil
Reynisfjara Beach – Iceland
Chac Mool Beach – Mexico
Unawatuna Beach – Sri Lanka
Shoal Bay East – Anguilla
Whitesands Beach – Wales
Ee Motu Beach – Cook Islands
Grace Bay – Turks & Caicos
Plakias Beach – Crete, Greece
Phra Nang Cave Beach – Thailand
Playa Grande – Costa Rica
La Jolla Cove – California, USA
Boulders Beach – South Africa
Radhanagar Beach – India
Klein Bonaire Beach – Bonaire
Manly Beach – Australia
Alum Chine – England
Playa de Mónsul – Spain
Delray Municipal Beach – Florida, USA
Bavaro Beach – Dominican Republic
Santa Monica Beach – Cape Verde
Tsambika Beach – Rhodes, Greece
Barceloneta Beach – Spain
Waikiki Beach – Hawaii, USA
Chumbe Island – Zanzibar, Tanzania
Long Beach – Cambodia
Las Cuevas Beach – Trinidad & Tobago
Karon Beach – Thailand
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Geeky Gadgets
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The Independent
an hour ago
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North Korea bans foreign tourists to newly opened beach resort
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Metro
2 hours ago
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'Exceptionally beautiful' city named the world's most walkable
If you're the type of traveller who loves nothing more than going for a stroll and getting lost, Florence is officially the place to be. In new research, the Italian city – often known simply as 'The Beautiful' – has been named the most walkable city in the world, thanks to a compact layout and pedestrian-friendly streets that are perfect for a good old wander. Financial website Insider Monkey analysed factors like the distance between the top five tourist attractions, air quality and crime and safety statistics across a range of major cities. The Italian hotspot beat the likes of Sydney, Madrid, Porto and Hamburg to take the crown, winning points for its convenient landscape, clean air and low crime rate. Not only are Florence's most popular landmarks – like the Uffizi Gallery, Ponte Vecchio and Piazza del Duomo – within 0.5 miles of each other, it takes just 10 minutes to walk between them, meaning you can pack a whole lot of culture into your trip. The report praised its offering of 'history and timeless architecture with each step,' noting that the entirety of Central Florence can be explored in as little as two hours — with a number of hidden gems that are only accessible on foot. Fuel your wanderlust with our curated newsletter of travel deals, guides and inspiration. Sign up here. Visitors are just as enamoured with it as well. On Tripadvisor, JorjaWr07 said: 'I've been here three times and I fall in love with Florence all over again every time. It's such an experience just going around the small quaint shops lining the streets.' Jacques D claimed it very much lives up to its reputation as the 'birthplace of the Renaissance,' while AvaVanGoth wrote: 'I have never seen such beauty in my life, speechless! The food is amazing people are very friendly and helpful.' Another reviewer, Ron09, added: 'Florence never fails to amaze, visually stunning. Even having been there many times, you get impressed by the history, art and great restaurants.' Ready to get your walking boots on for a Tuscan getaway? Here's what to expect. Florence's historic centre is UNESCO-inscribed thanks to '600 years of extraordinary artistic activity', and a trip there would be remiss withoutseeing some of it. Head to the Galleria dell'Accademia to see Michelangelo's iconic David sculpture, and to the Uffizi Gallery for Botticelli's The Birth of Venus and da Vinci's Annunciation. Just make sure to pre-book, as the queues can get long. There's also Palazzo Pitti, home to the Medici family treasures, Museo Galileo, which showcases the work of the Florentine polymath, and Museo del Bargello, where you'll find Italy's most comprehensive collection of Tuscan Renaissance sculpture. The city's isn't just confined to museums galleries though: the Duomo Cathedral, with its terracotta-tiled dome engineered by Brunelleschi and bell tower by Giotto, is a work of art in itself. Similarly, Ponte Vecchio is as impressive as it is distinctive: this three-arched bridge, lined by shops, dates back to 1345, and is the region's only one to have survived WWII. The options for art, culture and history are endless, but don't forget to make time to take it all in. Both Boboli Gardens and the Piazzale Michelangelo are perfect for a relaxing pitstop. Grab yourself a drink, snap a few pictures of the stunning views across the city, then just watch the world go by. Want to make the most of your visit? Tripadvisor users have some handy advice: Your best bet for great food and reasonable prices are the smaller, family-run restaurants on the side streets. — Murphy5708 If you're going to be in Florence for at least three days, get a three-day Firenze Pass for entrance to museums. The easiest place to get one is Palazzo Vecchio. — Manatee27 Wear comfortable shoes and prepare to walk everywhere, but if you poop out, don't be shy about hailing a cab. — OkArtist My hidden gem is the Della Fortezza Fountain and park; quiet tranquil, nice fountain and near the main train station with the fort walls, but hardly any goes there. — Hammercounty Florence is famous for its gelato, so sampling some is a must, alongside signature local delicacies like the negroni cocktail, bistecca alla fiorentina (Florentine steak), and ribollita (a soup made with bread, beans and vegetables). In terms of shopping, you're spoilt for choice, with options including San Lorenzo's Mercato Centrale, the open-air Mercato del Porcellino, and Mercato di Sant'Ambrogio, the oldest covered market in the city. @triggtube Before you travel to Florence… If you want to get outside the city, this place fills up quickly, but check out The Accidental Tourist for some pasta classes, wine tours, and overnights in the Tuscan hills. Florentine steak and great local dishes are all around, but my fave spots are definitely @ituscani and @osteriadelcinghialebianco … the Florentine steak meatballs at I'Tuscani are a TOP 3 dish in the city. Amazing. Vin Santo is an awesome local dessert, and pappa al pomodoro is a nice local tomato soup. And if you insist on Antico Vinaio, the train station serves the same sandwiches without a line. But truly EVERY shop I've been to has been amazing. It's much more about ordering the right sandwich than choosing the right restaurant. I recommend stracciatella as a topping. Safe and happy travels! #florence #italy #travel #summervacation ♬ A Summer Place – Hollywood Strings Orchestra With around 9 million visitors every year, Florence is very much on the beaten track. But this popularity isn't necessarily a bad thing — at least when it comes to flight availability anyway. According to Skyscanner, there are 69 flights a week from the UK to Florence-Peretola Airport with major airlines like Vueling and British Airways. The journey takes just over two hours each way, and return fares start from a very budget-friendly £44. Many people see 'shoulder season' – April to June and September after the holidays – as the best time to visit, as temperatures remain warm but aren't too hot. Plus, it's less expensive than high summer. More Trending In August, daily highs typically reach 32°, and some businesses even close up entirely so locals can escape the heat. Another benefit (or not, depending on your constitution) to visiting in June is that you can catch Florence's Calcio Storico tournament in the Piazza Santa Croce. Each weekend, different neighbourhoods compete in a game described as a combination of football, rugby and wrestling, watched on by 4,000 braying spectators — it's brutal, but nonetheless a unique tradition you'll never forget witnessing. Florence, Italy Riga, Latvia Hamburg, Germany Porto, Portugal Madrid, Spain Edinburgh, Scotland Tallinn, Estonia Stockholm, Sweden Sydney, Australia Boston, USA This ranking was compiled by Insider Monkey, using data from sources such as Tourlane, WalkScore, IQAir and Numbeo. Do you have a story to share? Get in touch by emailing MetroLifestyleTeam@ MORE: Daredevil who jumped to Earth from space is killed in paraglider crash 'into hotel pool' MORE: I visited Prague's 'narrowest street' to see if it lives up to the TikTok hype MORE: I adored Jersey — it's a crying shame that tourists aren't visiting
