14 best British islands to visit for a weekend stay

3. Isles of Scilly

Best for: Vacationing in a tourist city…but without all the tourists

Located off the southwestern tip of the United Kingdom, the Isles of Scilly are a popular weekend getaway for Cornish locals.

…and as you’ve already heard about a million times, Cornwall is beautiful.

But Cornwall is also very busy; If you go to the area during peak season (Or, really, in any season), you will always be surrounded by busy noise.

But this not so As is the case with Scilly – although the islands are less than 30 miles (48 km) from the mainland, they look very different from the UK mainland.

You don’t find crowds, chain stores, high-rise hotels, or large groups of vacationers.

Instead, you’ll get an old-fashioned atmosphere, clean air, no traffic, a unique microclimate, and a feeling that things haven’t changed much here in the past 50 years.

…Basically, it gives you the Isles of Scilly All Cornwall franchises (Good weather, beautiful beaches, world-class seafood, quaint homes and villages)But without all the crowds.

The largest, most famous and most populated of the Isles of Scilly is St Mary’s Island. About 1,700 people live in Saint Mary’s (i.e. about 75% of the total population of Scilly)It covers about 6 square miles (15 square kilometers).

At St Mary’s you can get a range of good pubs, useful facilities, white sand beaches, archaeological sites and things to do with kids.

The more exotic St. Maarten is much smaller, with a population of around 130 people – and if you want to get to know the Scilly people, St. Maarten is the place for you. Here you’ll find a flower farm, a vineyard, an artisan bakery, super-friendly locals, a fierce community spirit, and a surprisingly busy convenience store that serves as the center of the island.

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Scilly’s lesser-known locations include 140 uninhabited islands (and three inhabited areas) – many of which can be reached by day boat trips. They include shipwreck sites, bird and seal colonies, and the remains of early Christian churches.

Oh, and if you’re looking for white sand beaches, some of the best beaches in Scilly include Appletree Bay, Porthcressa Beach, and Peregles Cove.

Pro Tip: You can reach the Isles of Scilly by ferry and plane. 3 different airports fly to the islands (Land’s End Airport, Cornwall Newquay Airport and Exeter International Airport). Obviously the best access point is usually St Mary’s.