Durdle Door in Dorset has been crowned the best beach in the UK, according to a new study.
The iconic limestone arch and “crystal clear waters” have inspired a staggering 379,093 hashtagged posts on Instagram, giving it the place at the top of the list.
The study examined 50 of Britain’s most popular beaches, ranking them based on their Instagram presence.
Researchers for NoDepositRewards combined the three most popular hashtags for each location to determine the total number of posts.
West Wittering was among the top beaches
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Best UK beach (number of Instagram hashtags)
- Durdle Door Beach, Dorset – 379,093
- Camber Sands, Sussex – 125,546
- West Wittering Beach, Sussex – 122,031
- Blackpool Beach, Lancashire – 120,092
- Watergate Bay, Cornwall – 114,778
- Morecambe Beach, Lancashire – 89,621
- Kynance Cove, Cornwall -68,261
- Formby Beach, Merseyside – 62,776
- Chesil Beach, Dorset – 55,372
- Saunton Sands, Devon – 50,892
Durdle Door’s popularity extends beyond social media, with the UNESCO World Heritage site attracting over 750,000 visitors annually.
The beach’s “stunning” Jurassic coastline and 200-foot-tall limestone arch make it a favourite among photographers and holidaymakers alike, the study highlighted.
Each beach boasts unique features that attract photographers and beachgoers. Camber Sands is renowned for its picturesque sand dunes, while West Wittering offers stunning views of Chichester Harbour and the South Downs, researchers stated.
Blackpool Beach, home to the famous Pleasure Beach amusement park, draws millions of visitors annually. Watergate Bay in Cornwall is a surfer’s paradise, hosting the English National Surfing Championships each year.
The popularity of these beaches on Instagram reflects their unique features and photogenic qualities. Durdle Door’s “crystal-clear” waters make it a prime spot for photographers, with #durdledoor being the most used hashtag at 324,322 posts.
Camber Sands’ expansive dunes provide a picturesque backdrop, attracting 112,630 posts under #cambersands. West Wittering’s miles of beautiful sand and scenic views have garnered 89,425 posts with #westwittering.
Blackpool Beach, famous for its Pleasure Beach amusement park, sees #blackpoolpleasurebeach as its top hashtag with 84,424 posts. Watergate Bay, a favourite among surfers, boasts 112,417 posts under #watergatebay.
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Beaches in Blackpool made the list
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Spokesperson for NoDepositRewards Mason Jones commented on the findings: “In 2023, around 63 per cent of UK holidaymakers planned a staycation instead of travelling abroad.
“This is no surprise, considering plenty of beautiful, scenic beaches spread across every part of the UK, which could easily rival those abroad when the sun is shining.
“With Durdle Door attracting more than 750,000 visitors each year, it is no surprise that it is also the most Instagrammable. With miles of stunning Jurassic coastline and a limestone arch standing at an impressive 200 feet tall, Durdle Door is the most scenic beach and the perfect location for a UK staycation.”
