UK heatwave: From green parks to sandy beaches these are the UK’s best sunbathing hotspots!

• A new study by Cult Beauty reveals Richmond Park, London is the UK’s top sunbathing hotspot based on factors such as average monthly sunshine hours, rainfall, temperature and TikTok hashtags.

• Three London parks are featured in the top 10 rankings for the best sunbathing spots

• Cult Beauty teamed up with Dr Deborah Lee, Dr Fox Pharmacy to reveal tips on how to stay safe in the sun.

The UK is basking in a heatwave with temperatures soaring to over 30 degrees this week, and the good news is there’s no need to head abroad to lay horizontal and soak up the sun.

The UK may not be renowned for its sandy shores and balmy beaches, but various coastlines and commons are becoming increasingly more popular when catching rays.

With that in mind, Cult Beauty has done the hard work for you to reveal the best sunbathing spots in the UK.

Using four different ranking factors; average monthly sunshine hours, average temperature, average rainfall, and number of TikTok hashtags.

Whether you’re in need of a green park or a sea view, please see the list of the top 15 sunbathing spots below:

Topping the list as the UK’s premier sunbathing hotspot is Richmond Park, the largest of London’s Royal Parks. Spanning over 2,500 acres, it offers a serene sunbathing hotspot with its 650 deer and 30 lakes and ponds. Each visit provides a unique, peaceful experience. Richmond Park ranks second in the rankings for average monthly sunshine hours and boasts the highest number of TikTok hashtags in the rankings, with 6,691 hashtags.

Securing second place is Hampstead Heath, nestled in the heart of North London. This 800-acre expanse offers iconic views of the city and ranks first for average monthly sunshine hours. It also ranks second for highest average temperatures, fourth for lowest average monthly rainfall, and second in TikTok hashtags.

Coming third in the rankings is Cannock Chase Country Park, located in the midlands offering the perfect blend of activity and relaxation. With woodland walks and cycling trails for the adventurous, and tranquil spots for those who prefer to unwind, it’s an ideal summer destination. The park ranks third in the rankings for TikTok hashtags with 3,416 hashtags.

Windsor Great Park, filled with forests, grasslands, lakes, and gardens, takes fourth place. Covering 15,800 acres from Windsor Castle to Camberley, it’s perfect for picnics and sun-soaked days. It ranks third for average monthly sunshine hours, fifth for average temperatures, and fourth for TikTok hashtags.

Rounding out the top five is Weymouth Beach in Dorset. Awarded the Tripadvisor Travellers’ Choice Awards in 2024 and ranked the 19th best beach in Europe, this beach is famed for its Georgian seafront and location on the Jurassic coast. Known for it’s shallow waters and balmy bathing spots, Weymouth Beach ranks fifth for TikTok hashtags and fifth for lowest monthly rainfall. Get your deck chair ready!

Top tips on how to stay safe in the sun

Now we know where to spend the sunnier days in the UK. It’s important to remember sun safety. Cult Beauty spoke with Dr Deborah Lee from Dr Fox Online Pharmacy to reveal top tips for staying safe in the sun:

1. Respect the sun

You only need 15 minutes of sunlight a day to make vitamin D and for darker skin this can increased to 30 minutes. But after this, the sun is not giving you any health benefits. If you overdo your time in the sun, you are likely to end up with sunburn and heat exhaustion/heat stroke. All of these are serious conditions – and heat stroke can be fatal.

Respect the sun by keeping out of direct sunlight between 11am and 3pm in the summer. Sit in the shade, or under a parasol.

2. Use sunscreen wisely

Use sunscreen with a minimum SPF factor 30 (anti-UVB protection) and a UVA star rating of 4-5 stars (for anti-UVA protection). If you have fair skin or burn easily you should use sunscreen with an SPF 50 factor. For swimming, choose a water-resistant option.

Sunscreen is a much better option than tanning oil which concentrates UV rays and increases the risk of sunburn and damaged (ageing) skin. Getting sunburnt once every 2 years triples your risk of being diagnosed with skin cancer, melanoma, as compared to someone who has not been burnt.

3. Keep cool

Do all you can to keep cool, sit in the shade, wear loose and light-coloured clothes and cover your legs and arms, wear a wide-brimmed hat, tie your hair up, drink plenty of cool drinks, sprinkle yourself with cold water regularly, and put a cold compress on your forehead, make cool baths and showers. If it’s too hot, go inside away from the sun and lie down in a cool place.

4. Drink more water

When the sun is out, we should all be drinking at least 3 litres of water per day. Avoid fizzy or sugary drinks in hot sunshine. The sun causes plastics to break down in plastic bottles and chemicals can leach into the drinks. Plus, sugary drinks can worsen dehydration.

Look out for symptoms and signs of dehydration, these include feeling thirsty, a dry mouth, sunken eyes, not peeing often, headaches and feeling unwell. But it’s too late by the time these symptoms have occurred – you need to drink plenty to avoid these symptoms from coming on.

5. Protect your eyes

If you wear a hat with a wide brim or a baseball cap this will shield your eyes from 50% of the sun rays. If you wear glasses, they should have a glass with a UV filter. Sunglasses block UV rays from entering the eyes, but make sure these have a CE mark to show they meet European standards.

To view the full study please visit the link here: https://www.cultbeauty.co.uk/blog/2024/05/best-uk-sunbathing-spots/