Time Out has named Traeth Llanddwyn on Anglesey as the UK's best beach, topping its list of 40 top destinations. The beach features cream sand, a whitewashed lighthouse, dunes with wildflowers, a pine tree backdrop, and silhouettes of Eryri National Park's peaks. At low tide, visitors can access Llanddwyn Island, Wales' official 'Island of Love', home to a 16th-century church of St Dwynwen, the Welsh patron saint of lovers. Wild ponies graze the sand dunes, helping preserve the landscape.
What Makes Traeth Llanddwyn Unique
Anglesey, the seventh largest island in the British Isles covering about 275 square miles, is known for its beaches, from picturesque coves to vast sandy stretches, and is only 90 minutes from Liverpool. Time Out earlier named Anglesey one of the best places to visit in the UK in 2026. The beach also served as a backdrop for the House of the Dragon series, with Hollywood scouts drawn to its dramatic scenery.
Wildlife and Landmarks
Visitors might spot the world's second-largest species of raven or an elusive red squirrel. Nearby, Lligwy and Traeth Yr Ora offer spectacular sand stretches. Llanddwyn Island becomes an island only during the highest tides. The historic lighthouse Tŵr Mawr (big tower), built in 1845, stands at the end of the spit. Steps lead up to it, but it's not accessible inside. Wild ponies manage grass and scrub on the nature reserve's dunes. A second smaller lighthouse, Tŵr Bach, built earlier, now has a modern lamp. Both overlook tiny beaches.
Conservation and Cultural Significance
Time Out said: "Cream sand, a whitewashed lighthouse, dunes scattered with wildflowers, a pine tree backdrop and silhouettes of Eryri National Park’s peaks in the distance – Traeth Llanddwyn offers a true dreamscape." The beach's beauty attracted HBO for House of the Dragon, shifting from Northern Ireland to Warner Bros Leavesden Studios, but using North Wales' rugged mountains, coastline, and castles for dramatic backdrops.
