Bucket and spades at the ready – our travel team choose their favourite beaches in the UK

The UK has basked in the warmest start to May on record this week, with the mercury rising to 29.3C on Thursday in some areas of the country. While conditions are expected to be cooler over the weekend, the beach is still likely to be a popular option to enjoy the bank holiday and beyond.
To give you some inspiration on where to make the most of sunny days, our travel team has selected their favourite stretches of sandy, pebble and dune-backed beaches in the UK, where you can lie out a towel, hike along a coastal track, snaffle fresh seafood or splash in the waves.