14 Best British Islands to Visit for a Weekend Stay

3. The Isles of Scilly

Best for: vacationing in tourist-ville… but without all the tourists

Sitting off the southwestern tip of the UK, the Isles of Scilly are a popular weekend escape for Cornwall locals.

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

But Cornwall is also super busy; and if you head to the area in peak season (or, really, in any season), you’ll always be surrounded by busy bustle.

But that isn’t the case on Scilly—though the islands lie fewer than 30 miles (48 km) from the mainland, they feel COMPLETELY different from mainland UK.

You don’t get crowds, chain stores, high-rise hotels, or massive groups of partying vacationers.

Instead, you get retro throwback vibes, clean air, no traffic, a unique microclimate, and a feeling that things haven’t changed much here in the last 50 years.

… basically, the Isles of Scilly give you all the Cornwall perks (good weather, nice beaches, world-class seafood, quaint homes and villages), but without all the crowds.

The biggest, most famous, and most populous of the Isles of Scilly is St Mary’s. Around 1,700 people live on St Mary’s (that’s around 75% of Scilly’s total population), and it covers around 6 square miles (15 square kilometers).

On St Mary’s, you get a combo of good pubs, useful amenities, white sand beaches, archaeological sites, and things to do with kids.

The even-quainter St Martin’s is much smaller, with a population of around 130 people—and if you want to learn about the folk of Scilly, St Martin’s is the place for you. Here, you’ll find a flower farm, a vineyard, an artisanal bakery, hyper-friendly locals, a fierce community spirit, and a surprisingly packed convenience store serving as the island’s epicenter.

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Lesser-known Scilly locations include 140 uninhabited islands (and three inhabited ones)—and many of them are reachable as by-boat day trips. They include shipwreck sites, colonies of birds and seals, and the remains of early Christian chapels.

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

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