Unexpected UK seaside town is home to one of Europe’s best beaches

Europe is home to some truly phenomenal beaches, and when you try to picture the best you’ll likely conjure up image of golden sand in Spain, Italy, and Greece. And you wouldn’t be wrong to do so, as beaches in all of these countries have just made it onto Tripadvisor’s list of the best beaches in Europe at the 2025 Travellers’ Choice Awards. But there’s one location much closer to home that made the cut – and it wasn’t somewhere like Cornwall or Devon.

The UK’s very own Gorleston beach, in the seaside town of Gorleson-on-Sea, ranked at number 23 on the list of the 25 best beaches in Europe. The beach in Norfolk was one of only two spots in the UK that featured in the top 25, with Weymouth beach in Dorset coming in at number 20. Some will likely be surprised that the rather unassuming Gorleston won the accolade, claiming a coveted position over other beaches in places like Cyprus and France. But it’s not the first time the beach has been featured on the list, as it also featured on the same list in 2023, and was given another Travellers’ Choice Award in 2024.

And if you take a look at the reviews on Tripadvisor, it’s not particularly hard to see why it’s deserving of the wins, as it’s clear people absolutely adore the beach, with thousands of positive comments. Niki H gave a five star review, hailing it ‘absolutely beautiful’. She continued: ‘The views were amazing. So clean. Totally recommend as there is great parking if you have anyone with walking restrictions or a fab slope/steps from above the beach with more parking if not. We loved it and will definitely return.’.

A user known as jin_dru felt similarly, writing: ‘Hidden gem, I don’t want to share it. So quiet. Large beach and hardly a soul to be seen. Just me and my dogs. About a mile and a half of wide sandy beach. One end has the Pier Hotel, Pavilion Theatre, amusement arcade, fish and chips and ices. The other end is a world away. Perfect peace and friendly dog walkers who stop to chat.’. Another poster agreed, adding: ‘What a wonderful beach. We went to have a look and didn’t expect much. However what an amazingly clean beach and walking area.

‘As we were out of season, we didn’t expect anything to be open however great fish and chips, we chose to eat outside however there was inside seating available. Ice cream parlour, slots etc, open. Free car parking on the front, however slope and steps available if you wish to park at the top and see the great views. Totally unexpected, a little gem, thoroughly enjoyed it.’. Numerous other posts state similar sentiments, with people praising the sand, enjoying how the area isn’t too crowded, and hailing Gorleston a ‘gem’.

As part of the Travellers’ Awards, Tripadvisor dubbed Gorleston as a ‘quintessential British beach’. They claimed it ranked highly because of the two mile stretch of golden sand, which curves around a picturesque bay ‘making it perfect for bucket-and-spade outings’. They went on to advise visitors looking for a bit more action to try their hand at surfing, bodyboarding and kite flying, or alternatively visit the nearby promenade for beautiful views as well as a selection of cafes and shops.

Here’s a look at all 25 of the winners in the Best Beaches in Europe category at the Tripadvisor Travellers’ Awards 2025…. Gorleson is located in the borough of Great Yarmouth and those keen for a bit more to do can always head along the coast to visit the bigger resort town, which is often bustling during the summer thanks to its Pleasure Beach and numerous arcades. And the wider region of East Anglia was recently named as one of the world’s must-visit destinations for 2025, and there are plenty of other wonderful beaches to experience, from Holkham (one of Prince William and Princess Kate’s favourite spots) and Wells-next-the-Sea, to Aldeburgh and Southwold in Suffolk.

For those curious, the Travellers’ Choice Awards officially selected Elafonissi on the island of Crete, in Greece, as the best beach in Europe – and the rest of the world. This is the first time in four years the beach has featured in the list, climbing 23 places to the very top. It’s known for its pink sand and crystal clear waters, and is surrounded by a forest of cedar trees. ‘Tripadvisor’s Travellers’ Choice Awards uniquely reflect the voices of millions of global travellers and help guide people to plan their best trip yet. In my family, beaches aren’t just for sunbathing – we like to get out and explore! The diversity of this year’s winners really showcases everything that a beach trip can have to offer,’ said Kristen Dalton, the president of Tripadvisor.

‘Whether it’s strolling the beautiful pink sand beaches of our world winner, Elafonissi beach, in Greece, experiencing breathtaking vistas in Indonesia, whale watching in Hawaii or diving in magical bioluminescent waters in Thailand – there really is something for everyone. This year’s lists span an incredible six continents and 50 countries with over 100 of the very best beaches showcasing the eclectic mix of coastal spots across the world.’.