It's no surprise that the UK is full of must-see places, from the rolling hills of its national parks to the historical landmarks and breathtaking views – but this beach should be at the very top of your list.

The global travel siteBig 7 Travel has just launched its ultimate list of the annual ranking of the 50 most beautiful places in the UK for 2026, highlighting the much-loved places and the hidden gems. Using reader recommendations, research, and input from the very best of travelphotographs, eight is what they have narrowed down to quite an interesting list.

Making its way into the top 10 at an impressive ranking of number eight, is the stunning scenery at Holkham Beach in Norfolk, England.

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The beach is easy to find, accessed via Lady Anne's Drive in Norfolk, off the A149 coast road, and has parking available near the entrance. A calming woodland walk offers access, taking you over the dunes and onto the beach itself, and is said to be accessible for wheelchairs and buggies.

This walk itself is something to behold; albeit short, it opens out into a huge expanse of land, unspoiled by tourism and yet to be taken over by construction or tourist-led businesses. When you reach the shore, you'll see what all the fuss is about.

One visitor wrote on TripAdvisor: "A stunning, enormous beach. The most beautiful sand. No amusements. Really natural and great for a chillout. Horses are allowed, but I'm not sure if they are restricted to a particular area. There's a good, large car park which does get full during busy times. This is one of my favourite beaches ever. So relaxing."

Another shared: "Gorgeous wide and long sandy beach perched in between a forest with lovely walks around the reserve. Flat beach, so when we were there at high tide, the kids were in up to their knees for a ways out. Tons of places to play and build castles."

Visiting Holkham Beach means delighting in one of the most unspoiled and natural stretches of sand the country has to offer. Pair this with the habitats and species that make up part of the area, all sitting under Holkham National Nature Reserve, and you've got yourself a dream spot for true nature lovers.

The beach forms part of the nature reserve and so is fiercely protected to remain as it is, without much intrusion from travellers. Each day it sees the tide come in twice, bringing in a whole variety of shells, rocks, plants and other sands with it.

Its natural beauty and new wildlife discoveries are really down to the movements of the North Sea, which dictates how different the beach may look from morning to night. Not to mention the deep and vast sand dunes create a tranquil view, distinctive from other bays along the Norfolk coastline.

Other destinations that made the ultimate UK travel list included Knaresborough in North Yorkshire, the Berwyn Mountains in Powys, Wales, and the Forest of Dean in Gloucestershire. According to their compiled data, the number one spot was, however, Queen’s View in Perthshire, Scotland.

Offering expansive views over Loch Tummel, Schiehallion mountain and the Perthshire Highlands in Scotland, this spot is undeniably beautiful. It was originally named after Queen Isabella in the 14th century and has remained untouched ever since, as tourists continue to take on the walk to catch a glimpse of the snow-capped mountains and blue loch.