27 February 2024 , 11:27
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The UK is filled with beaches worthy of the Caribbean but there's one sandy shore that's proving particularly popular with holidaymakers.
Botany Bay in Kent has been wowing visitors for years thanks to its unspoiled golden sands, sparkling waters and eye-catching rock formations. In fact, a study from footwear brand Wynsors has uncovered it as the 'most photographed' beach in the UK, based on how often people have shared photos of it on Instagram.
It's not difficult to see why this gem is such a hit. Nestled amidst white cliffs and picturesque chalk stacks, when the tide is out the beach has heaps of incredible fossils and rock pools to discover, and clean sands for holidaymakers to enjoy. Take note - Visit South East England warns that when the tide comes in you can still enjoy plenty of the stretch of sand, but the ends of the beach do get cut off.
Botany Bay is a Blue Flag beach (Getty Images/iStockphoto)The clean waters have earned Botany Bay a Blue Flag award, and on warm summer days you'll find plenty of people enjoying a dip or having fun at watersports such as surfing or canoeing.
There are also plenty of facilities nearby, including a café on the beach and a nearby hotel and restaurant. There are also car parks in the area although these can get quite busy during the peak seasons.
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The beach is also popular with nudists, with areas such as the Foreness dunes tending to be where naturists relax. Meanwhile, if you're hoping to visit with your pooch, take note that a ban on dogs is usually in place between May 1 and September 30 with furry friends banned between 10am to 6pm.
The beach gets popular during the summer months (Getty Images/iStockphoto)Over on Tripadvisor, visitors have been quick to praise the beach for its picturesque views and facilities. One happy holidaymaker wrote: "Botany Bay is renowned for its incredible cliff views, which are definitely a sight to behold. While the beach was very busy when I went, its size meant that there was still plenty of space. The water was relatively cold, and the rocky ground can mean it is a bit annoying to get out into the deep water, but the view is something to behold.
"While the immediate area doesn't have significant facilities, it is not prohibitively far from Margate, Canterbury etc. The stall on the beach also serves some of the finest beer I have ever had (Botany Bay Lager, light and sweet) as well as some fantastic burgers."
Another added: "We first visited last summer and fell in love with the wide open space and sand dunes. There's a different vibe in winter. It feels so connected to nature. The beach was deserted except for the odd dog walker. Nevertheless this is still a naturist beach and after two hours' drive to get there we were not going home without a quick skinny dip. It was icy cold. Super cold! Such an amazing place."
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