Magnificent stretches of sandy shores, with traditional seafronts boasting piers and colourful beach huts, make up the coastlines across the UK. However, there's one unexpected city that has been praised for its sweeping beach, which has often been overlooked.

Travel writer Ben Aitken, 39, dedicates much of his time to discovering corners of the UK that are frequently dismissed as holiday hotspots. From Newport in Wales to Milton Keynes in Buckinghamshire, Ben has explored a treasure trove of British destinations with fresh eyes, uncovering their surprisingly underappreciated charm.

One UK destination that Ben has long admired but feels "doesn't get as much love and attention as it should" is his home city of Portsmouth. To such an extent that he labels it as having one of the finest UK seaside resorts.

Ben exclusively told the Express: "Often, people visit Portsmouth to travel to the Isle of Wight, but we've also got a massive sweep of pebbly beaches. I think sandy beaches are overrated - the sand gets everywhere and in your sandwiches, but pebbles don't."

He added: "We get good weather down south, it's one of the sunniest spots in the country." Southern England has long been labelled as boasting the sunniest places in mainland UK, due to its proximity to continental Europe, which influences the weather, according to the Met Office.

However, Portsmouth's allure extends beyond its beaming rays and coastal landscapes. "There are also brilliant independent businesses, cafes, restaurants, and a good art scene," Ben shared.

"It also has a lot of naval history, with the Mary Rose Museum, world-famous ships HMS Victory and HMS Warrior." These are all conveniently located at the Portsmouth Historic Dockyard, one of the most popular attractions in the city.

One visitor applauded the dockyard, sharing on TripAdvisor:"Absolutely amazing value! For circa £50 you can happily spend a busy 2 days visiting all the attractions on offer - in fact, you probably need more time ideally if you prefer a more leisurely pace.

"Without exception, we thought each attraction was very well presented, and every staff member we encountered was helpful, friendly and knowledgeable. Thank you to them. Such an enjoyable and informative weekend. Difficult to decide what we enjoyed most, but think the Mary Rose has to take first prize - what a fantastic museum."

Ben further shared: "I've lived elsewhere, but Portsmouth is my home, so I know what it's like to grow up somewhere in an unfashionable place, where nobody says a kind word about. But you, as a resident, know it's not perfect, but nor is London or Venice. It has its virtues and its assets."

Summing up the city he calls home, Ben added: "Portsmouth is an absolute belter. It's friendly, full of interesting independent businesses, an excellent pebbly beach, some fantastic ships and a wonderful football club.

"I would encourage anyone to give Portsmouth a chance and go down there for the weekend."

You can read more about Ben's UK travels and treasured finds in his book, which was released earlier this year. Alternatively, you can visit his Instagram page.

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