The Isles of Scilly, an archipelago 28 miles off the Cornish coast, have officially been named the friendliest place in the UK. The designation comes from a new index that uses government data to measure how often people chat to neighbours, feelings of loneliness, local pride, and levels of participation in civic life.
The islands achieved a near-perfect score for almost all of the eight 'connection barometers.' Among the findings, 95.4% of residents said different backgrounds get on well, and 88.8% feel they belong to their neighbourhood. Additionally, 87.3% said their neighbours can be trusted, while 86.5% are proud to live in their local area.
Rankings and Runners-Up
Scilly was followed by South Hams in south Devon, West Devon, Derbyshire Dales, and Richmond upon Thames. The area named least friendly was Barking and Dagenham.
A Subtropical Paradise
The 'sunshine isles' are warmed by the Gulf Stream, meaning they enjoy higher sunshine hours and milder winters than the rest of the UK. While there are over 140 islands, only five are inhabited: St Mary's, Tresco, St Martin's, Bryher, and St Agnes.
Tresco is known for its lush, subtropical 19th-century Tresco Abbey Garden, where over 20,000 exotic plants from 80 countries thrive in the mild microclimate. The family-owned island also features beaches like Appletree Bay, a half-mile crescent of soft, near-white sand and crystal-clear azure waters. On St Mary's, the largest island and main hub, subtropical flora grows freely, while Pelistry Bay and Bar Point on the remote eastern shore offer prime snorkelling conditions. Great and Little Bay on St Martin's could easily be mistaken for its Caribbean isle namesake, and The Bar in St Agnes is a breathtaking sandbar where dolphin sightings are common.
Ancient Villages and Historic Sites
The islands are steeped in history. Bant's Carn is a free-to-visit Bronze Age burial mound on St Mary's, one of the best examples of a Scillonian entrance grave. The landmark is in the care of English Heritage and located on a hilltop with sweeping views of the ocean. Below the graves lie the remains of the Iron Age village of Halangy Down, a prehistoric settlement dating back to around 200BC, featuring a courtyard house and garden plots. Visitors can also walk along the coast to Innisidgen Burial Chambers, two more Bronze Age ceremonial monuments. For those combining hiking and history, St Mary's offers a two-hour trek along the Garrison Walls, which date to the 16th to 18th centuries.
On Tresco, the ruined 16th-century King Charles' Castle overlooks New Grimsby Harbour. Free to enter, it was built between 1548 and 1551 during the reign of King Edward VI to defend against French and Spanish threats.
A Surprising Wine Paradise
The islands' mild maritime climate has fostered a small-scale, boutique winemaking scene. There are two wine producers on the archipelago: Holy Vale Vineyard on St Mary's and St Martin's Vineyard on St Martin's. The former is a small, family-run vineyard set in a sheltered valley, producing Chardonnay and Pinot Noir. The latter offers tours and wine tastings, where guests can visit the wildflower-filled vineyard above the dunes of Par Beach. A self-guided tour with tasting costs £12 per person, and under-16s are free. Exploring the vineyard alone costs £6 per person. St Martin's Vineyard also has a 'boozy farm shop' selling everything from sparkling cider to their own beers, produced in their nano-brewery. Being an archipelago, there is plenty of fresh Atlantic seafood to enjoy alongside the wine, from crab and lobster to scallops and mussels.
Getting There
From London, the cheapest way to reach the Isles of Scilly is a five-hour train from Paddington to Penzance for around £62 one-way, followed by a 2-hour and 45-minute ferry to St Mary's. A day-trip ferry foot passenger fare costs £35. The ferries operate in season, between March and November. Travelers can also fly or sail from Penzance Harbour, Land's End, Newquay, or Exeter Airports with Isles of Scilly Travel. While there, island-hopping is a must, with daily local boats from St Mary's quay to explore the quieter outer islands of St Martin's, St Agnes, Bryher, and Tresco.
In a related note, the iconic Scillonian III ferry, which has carried over five million passengers since its maiden voyage in 1977, is in its final season and will set sail for the last time in November. From March 2027, it will be replaced by the Scillonian IV, which will carry more passengers and give them a faster ride.
