The Isles of Scilly, an archipelago 28 miles off the Cornish coast, have been officially named the friendliest place in the UK. The title comes from a new index using government data to measure how often people chat to neighbours, feelings of loneliness, local pride, and levels of participation in civic life.
Near-perfect scores
The islands achieved a near-perfect score for almost all of the eight 'connection barometers,' with 95.4% saying different backgrounds get on well and 88.8% feeling they belong to their neighbourhood. Elsewhere, 87.3% of residents said that their neighbours can be trusted, while 86.5% are proud to live in their local area.
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 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 spectacular beaches like Appletree Bay, a half-mile crescent of soft, near-white sand and crystal-clear azure waters. In St Mary's, the largest island and main hub, sub-tropical flora grows freely, while Pelistry Bay and Bar Point on the remote eastern shore offer prime snorkelling conditions. Meanwhile, Great and Little Bay on St. Martin's could easily be mistaken for its Caribbean isle namesake, as The Bar in St Agnes is a breathtaking sandbar where dolphin sightings are common.
Ancient villages and history
The islands are steeped in history. Bant's Carn is a free-to-visit Bronze Age burial mound on St Mary's, and one of the best examples of a Scillonian entrance grave. The historical landmark is in the care of English Heritage and located on a hilltop with sweeping views of the ocean. Below the graves you'll find the remains of the Iron Age village of Halangy Down, dating back to around 200BC, featuring a courtyard house and garden plots.
You can also walk along the coast to Innisidgen Burial Chambers, two more Bronze Age ceremonial monuments. If you feel like 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, visit the ruined 16th-century King Charles' Castle, overlooking the New Grimsby Harbour. Again, 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 means a small-scale, boutique winemaking scene has emerged. 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, that produces 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-16's are free. If you just want to explore the vineyard, it's £6 per person. St Martin's Vineyard also boasts a 'boozy farm shop' where they sell everything from sparkling cider to their own beers, produced in their nano-brewery. And of course, being an archipelago, there is plenty of fresh Atlantic seafood to enjoy alongside the wine, from fresh crab and lobster to scallops and mussels.
Getting there
The cheapest way from London is to take a five-hour train from Paddington to Penzance for around £62 one-way, then a 2-hour and 45-minute ferry to St Mary's. A day-trip ferry foot passenger fare costs £35. Note: The ferries only operate in season, between March and November. You 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 non-negotiable. Catch daily local boats from St Mary's quay to explore the quieter outer islands of St Martin's, St Agnes, Bryher, and Tresco.
