UK Yacht Charters & Sailing Vacation

There are many beautiful locations for sailing in the UK, from England’s Jurassic Coast to the Isles of Scilly or the Outer Hebrides. The bustling Port Solent, Portsmouth, is home to our Sunsail base (provided by our partners Prometheus) and is the perfect place to start if you choose to sail the Jurassic Coast or down to the Cornish Coast and Isles of Scilly. If you choose to travel the South West Coast, we have summarized our must-see stops, depending on what type of charter you plan.                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                 

For Families

The New Forest, nestled between Portsmouth and Bournemouth, is the perfect family day out – expect horses and horse riding, long walks and stunning woodlands. Or, if your kids are dinosaur fans, or simply love to explore rocky coves and tide pools, the South Coast of England is the perfect location for you, especially the following UK beaches: 

• Weymouth, 
• Lyme Regis,
• Lulworth Cove, 
• Charmouth, 
• Isle Of Wight: Newtown, Bembridge, Compton and Yaverland beaches.

For Sandy Beaches – ideal for making sandcastles – we recommend either Bournemouth or traveling down to the Cornish coast.

South of England’s Jurassic Coast, is the beautiful Gyllyngvase (or Gylly) beach; A bustling golden beach, with restaurants, botanical walks on its doorstep and Falmouth Town only a short walk away nearby. Or on the North coast of Cornwall, you can find the beautiful town of Newquay – home to Fistral beach and Watergate Bay – which are stunning gold-sand beaches with an incredible surfing scene – perfect for beginner lessons or boogie-boarding (just stay within the lifeguard zones!). South of Newquay is the famous St.Ives. This village is absolutely stunning and has no shortage of family-friendly activities. 

From Porthmeor Beach (home to The Tate St.Ives, surfing companies and many epic eateries) this UK beach runs almost parallel to St. Ives Harbor, with the thin piece of land running between them. St.Ives is also home to Porthgwidden Beach, which is a smaller, cove-like beach and a firm family favorite and Porthminster Beach. Porthminster Beach is large and is very easily accessible by train (and a very picturesque train line it is).

For Couples

Travel up the Exmouth Canal for a unique view of Exeter City which offers stunning architecture, beautiful restaurants and lovely walks along the harborside (you can even hire paddle boards and kayaks from here too). From here, you also have easy-access to Dartmoor, for couples looking to get outdoors and go hiking. 

The Cornish Coast has ample harborsides that radiate romance, especially at night. So if you enjoy quaint fishing villages, outdoor dining,  and evening walks along the harbor, as the town’s lights play across the water, these are the best spots for you: 

• Plymouth Harbor (this is a great choice for those looking for a bigger port, with both a University and Naval Academy based here, Plymouth Harbor is buzzing with life and may not be the right choice for anyone wanting a more peaceful stop.)
• Salcombe
• Looe
• Penzance and Mousehole
• St. Ives
• Padstow
• Bude

For First-Time Sailors

If you are a novice sailor or want your first sailing experience to be in the UK, we would recommend looking at our Sailing School which is based in Port Solent. We recommend being an advanced and confident sailor before setting out on your own from Portsmouth (you must be a level 3 qualified sailor to sail with us from Portsmouth) or, alternatively, you can hire a skipper.

For Large Groups

There are a lot of great coastal towns and cities for large groups, such as bachelor and bachelorette parties, birthday groups and family getaways. Below are our top recommendations for the best locations for nightlife, eateries and daytime activities that will accommodate larger groups:

• Southampton (also, a great spot for a shopping trip! Visit West Quay shopping center)
• Bournemouth 
• Plymouth

The UK has a wealth of history and landscapes to explore, below we have summarized some of the best places for things to do in the UK: from Large Town & City Escapes, Rural Charm and Relaxation, Exploration, as well as Dining and Nightlife.

City Days 

London will always have our hearts; it is easily accessible from most locations across the UK and has a wealth of history. You will never struggle to find something to do in London – from Museums and Art Galleries, to Historical Tours or Open-Top Buses, Michelin-Star dining or Street Food, Street performers in Covent Garden or a West-End Production, there is always something to fit your mood. From London, it is also easy to do day trips to other, quaint cities such as Oxford, Cambridge, Canterbury and Reading. But what about other gems across the UK? Below are our top picks. 

Top 5 Cities Near The Coast:

• Newcastle
• Edinburgh
• Liverpool 
• Bristol 
• Bournemouth

Top Cities further inland: 

• Bath
• Norwich 
• Leeds 
• York 
• Manchester 

Outdoor Exploring

Best places for Hiking, expect multiple trail options for differing abilities, some high peaks, the odd waterfall and plenty of lush green hills: 

• The New Forest (this is the most beginner and family-friendly hiking spot)
• Dartmoor National Park 
• Exmoor National Park 
• Peak District 
• Lake District 
• Eyri National Park (Wales)
• The Lochs – Loch Ness, Loch Lomond & Glencoe (Scotland)

Eating and Drinking

For Seafood: 

• Tynemouth and North Shields (North East)
• Whitstable and Folkestone (South East) 
• Padstow (South West)

For a Vegan and Veggie paradise:

• London 
• Brighton
• Manchester 

History and Culture

Below are our top picks for castles, historical architecture, history tours and the perfect blend of the past and present.

• London
• Canterbury 
• Edinburgh 
• Cambridge 
• Oxford 
• Bath
• York 
• Durham

For Nautical Heritage: 

• London (HMS Belfast tours and National Maritime Museum, especially)
• Portsmouth
• Irvine (Scottish Maritime Museum)
• Liverpool (Merseyside Maritime Museum)
• Hull
• Glasgow 

If you’re planning to sail around the UK, the best time to visit (in our opinion) is during the Summer (June-September), as this is when the temperatures are warm and the tides are calmer. 

However, April, May and October can all be quite lovely too – if you don’t mind the risk of rain and slightly colder days!

UK beaches are stunning on a warm, breezy day, but some can get very popular and busy on particularly warm days, so we recommend considering this before planning your days.

The Sailing Conditions in the UK are turbulent, windswept and are quite dependent on the area you sail from. 

From our base in Portsmouth, we require sailors to be Level 3 certified to do a Flotilla or Bareboat Charter, or you can Hire a Skipper.

This depends on the time of year, length of your charter and type of vacation you’re after: our Sailing Schools, Flotilla Charters and Bareboat options all vary in price. 

We recommend you Speak to Prometheus on learn@prometheus-sailing.co.uk or call +44 2394 350 505 to make a booking (Monday to Friday 9.00AM – 5:30PM).

The cost of mooring will depend on where you decide to stop: each harbor or marina has its own policies – some charge for day passes, others charge by the hour and both will depend on the yacht size you choose. Speak with our vacation planners to get more information on this before you set sail.