The Best Places in the UK for Sunsets

Picture the scene - you’re sitting on a warm beach, a gentle breeze cooling your skin, the evening waves lapping up against your feet, and the late sun filling the horizon with oranges and purples.

Sounds like bliss, doesn’t it?

Watching the sunset is a magical way to end any day on holiday, and some places are better for it than others. We’ve dived into Instagram hashtags to discover where people are spotting sunsets more than anywhere else, revealing the UK’s ultimate sunset sites.

The UKs top 10 sunset sites

1. Brighton - 8,469 hashtags

Brighton in East Sussex is a brilliant holiday home destination for plenty of reasons. The beach, the culture, the art and the food all make it a great place for all the family, and its sunset is the stunning icing on the cake. #BrightonSunset has been used 8,469 times, with the striking Victorian pier making for a dramatic picture against the beautiful skyline.

2. Margate - 2,071 hashtags

The Tudor resort of Margate boasts a beautiful sandy beach, theatres and incredible history. It’s also a great place to spot a sunset, with the hashtag being used 2,071 times. Sit in the bay and soak up all the Kent coastline has to offer.

3. Blackpool - 1,515 hashtags

Away from the bright lights of the pier and the arcade, Blackpool is a great place to see a more natural illumination. The lights from behind you will reflect on the sea as the one big, golden light in front slowly sinks into the horizon. Blackpool’s sunset has been hashtagged 1,515 times. Could you be hashtagging it next?

4. Morecambe - 1,390 hashtags

Morecambe sits at the edge of Lancashire, and is a classic seaside resort. Its promenade lies at the centre of lots of independent shops, cafes and pubs, while the area is full of seafront activities for kids and adults alike. Morecambe’s sunset has been hashtagged 1,390 times, casting the resort in a beautiful light.

5. Newquay - 1,083 hashtags

Known for being a surfers’ paradise, Newquay is a bustling hub in Cornwall, packed with waves, stunning coastline, incredible walks and more than its fair share of fish and chips. There are countless spots to see the Newquay sunset from, so whether you’re sitting outside a pub or at the end of a cliffside walk, be sure to add your own image to the 1,083 hashtags.

Sunset over the North Yorkshire Moors behind Scarborough

6. Scarborough - 999 hashtags

Looked over by the imposing Grand Hotel, Scarborough has been a popular resort town ever since the Victorians made it one of their must-visit holiday destinations. It’s still thriving hundreds of years later, and the 999 sunset hashtags prove it’s definitely worth a visit.

7. Bournemouth - 534 hashtags

Head down to the south of Dorset to enjoy all Bournemouth has to offer. While the 534 sunset hashtags prove it’s got a great view of the evening sky, the food, culture and nightlife all mean you might be too distracted to even notice it! Bournemouth is fast becoming a jewel in the UK’s coastline, and 2022 could be the best time to discover it for yourself.

8. Perranporth - 525 hashtags

If you haven’t heard of Perranporth, it’s about time you changed that. Hidden in Cornwall's coast, it’s home to a gorgeous golden beach, making it the perfect place for walkers, beach games or just laying back and doing nothing at all. It’s a perfectly secluded spot to soak up the sunset, and has 525 hashtags.

Sunset on the West Coast of Wales at Aberystwyth Pier

9. Aberystwyth - 523 hashtags

Away from the English coastline, Wales also has plenty to offer. In fact, parts of Wales are some of the most picturesque around, and Aberystwyth is no different. The university town is full of history and stunning sites, dating back as far as the Bronze Age. In more recent times, it’s picked up 523 hashtags for its sunsets.

10. Aberdeen - 375 hashtags

Aberdeen is one of Scotland's most thriving cities, but despite its urban backdrop it still offers excellent evening views. The 375 sunsets hashtagged over the past 12 months prove it’s a city with plenty to do, while also offering plenty of fantastic views to look at.

Parkdean Resorts with stunning on-site sunsets

If you want to be the last one on the beach to catch a glimpse of the sunset throughout the year, you’re in luck! We have a fantastic range of static caravans ready and waiting for you to choose your dream holiday home, so you can come back time and time again to watch the sunset all throughout the year.

Here are our top holiday park picks for watching the sunset.

Wemyss Bay

Wemyss Bay is one of our Scottish resorts with a sunny surprise. Looking over the Firth of Clyde, it’s a small boat ride away from a great selection of secluded Scottish islands. If the sunset at Wemyss Bay makes you want to stay all year round, explore our caravans for sale to make it your home away from home.

Brynowen

If you want to enjoy the sunset at Aberystwyth, stays at Brynowen Holiday Park give you the perfect opportunity. Check the local sunset times and stroll down to the seafront to see all the glowing action, before returning for a night in your comfortable, stylish holiday home.

Ocean Edge

Could a holiday park called Ocean Edge offer anything but good sunsets? In the heart of Morecambe Bay, it gives you easy access to all the seaside town has to offer, while the park has a heated pool, sauna and soft play area to keep all the family entertained.

Crantock Beach

If seeing a sunset from a surfboard sounds like a bit of you, Crantock Beach is the place to go. Only five minutes’ walk from the bustling beach, you’ll be in the heart of all the action, with a relaxing base to rest in before heading into the waves.

Top tips for sunset spotting

As part of our research, we also discovered how you can best experience the stunning UK sunset.

Plan ahead. Look at the time the sun is due to set and get there ahead of schedule to secure your spot.
Take snacks. You might be waiting a while to capture the perfect shot, so it's best to be prepared.
Take layers. When the sun sets, the weather gets colder, and you’ll be so mesmerised by the view, you won’t want to leave!
Snap happy, but more specifically for those keen photographers, maximizing depth of field with a higher aperture and keeping the ISO low to avoid graininess will produce the most Instagrammable snaps!

Pro tip: When shooting a sunset on any form of camera, I would always recommend using the grid setting to ensure your shot is in a ‘rule of third’ format. You can then line up the horizon with the upper or the lower third to emphasise the sky or the foreground. Depending on the surroundings, try to use leading lines to create something that points towards the sun.

If you are using a smartphone, you can amend the brightness to make the photograph more dynamic. This can make the sunshine brighter or the silhouette more dramatic.

If you would like to capture a photograph using a subject or person, I would always try to angle it so that the sun is creating an interesting silhouette around the subject.

Kelvin Davies @kelvinnstagram

Want to watch the sunset all summer?

The best way to get unrestricted access to the sunset is by owning your very own caravan or lodge holiday home. Explore our range of static caravans and lodges for sale to give you access to the best views and activities throughout the holiday season, meaning whenever the sun sets, you’ll be there to see it.