The Sunniest Places in the UK This May
With summer just around the corner, travellers and locals alike want to know where the sun’s shining brightest. Using fresh Met Office data, we’ve ranked the UK’s top 10 sunniest spots for May.
You would normally expect the peak summer months of July or August to be the sunniest of the year. But in fact, while May isn’t the warmest month of the year, it typically matches these months for sunshine. Here is a roundup of the 10 sunniest spots in the UK in May.
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The UK’s Sunniest Spots
| Rank | Destination | County | Sunshine Hours |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Shanklin | Isle of Wight | 248.08 |
| 2 | Southend-on-Sea | Essex | 241.2 |
| 3 | Hastings | East Sussex | 236.65 |
| 4 | Weymouth | Dorset | 235.44 |
| 5 | Eastbourne | East Sussex | 235.06 |
| 6 | Bognor Regis | West Sussex | 234.96 |
| 7 | Brighton | East Sussex | 230.00 |
| 8 | Newquay | Cornwall | 224.23 |
| 9 | Bournemouth | Dorset | 222.72 |
| 10 | Swanage | Dorset | 222.04 |
Shanklin, Isle of Wight
248.08 sunshine hours
Shanklin leads the list with nearly 250 hours of sunshine. Known for its sandy beach, charming esplanade, and Shanklin Chine gorge, it offers a classic seaside escape with scenic walks and coastal views.
Southend-on-Sea, Essex
241.2 sunshine hours
Southend boasts one of the longest piers in the world, a lively seafront, and family attractions like Adventure Island. The town’s 241 hours of sunshine make its beaches and estuary views especially appealing this month.
Hastings, East Sussex
236.65 sunshine hours
Hastings combines a historic Old Town, a working fishing beach, and the remains of Hastings Castle. With over 236 hours of sun, it’s a prime spot for exploring coastal history and local culture.
Weymouth, Dorset
235.44 sunshine hours
Weymouth’s long sandy beach, Georgian seafront, and historic harbour set the scene for enjoying Dorset’s coastline. This month’s sunshine total adds even more to its classic seaside charm.
Eastbourne, East Sussex
235.06 sunshine hours
Eastbourne offers a Victorian pier, promenade, and access to the iconic Beachy Head cliffs. Its 235 hours of May sunshine make it a top choice for coastal walks and sea views.
Bognor Regis, West Sussex
234.96 sunshine hours
Bognor Regis features a wide shingle beach, traditional amusements, and a long seafront. Nearly 235 hours of sunshine have kept this West Sussex resort glowing.
Brighton, East Sussex
230 sunshine hours
Brighton stands out with its famous pebble beach, Palace Pier, and vibrant Lanes district. The 230 hours of sun make its beaches and waterfront a strong draw this May.
Newquay, Cornwall
224.23 sunshine hours
Newquay, known for surfing at Fistral Beach and dramatic coastal scenery, clocks over 224 hours of sun. It’s a hotspot for beach lovers and walkers exploring Cornwall’s north coast.
Bournemouth, Dorset
222.72 sunshine hours
Bournemouth delivers seven miles of sandy beach, cliffside gardens, and a lively pier. With nearly 223 sunshine hours, it’s a standout along the Dorset coast this month.
Swanage, Dorset
222.04 sunshine hours
Swanage, with its sandy bay, Victorian architecture, and the heritage Swanage Railway, rounds out the list. The town’s 222 hours of sunshine highlight its quiet charm along the Jurassic Coast.
Why the Southeast Coast Shines
The southeast coast sees more sunshine because of its geography and climate. Low-lying coastal areas face toward the continent and sit in the rain shadow of the higher ground to the north and west, which limits cloud cover and rainfall. Prevailing winds, elevation differences, and the Gulf Stream’s influence off the west coast of Ireland all shape the UK’s weather patterns. As you move further north and west, the land rises, clouds build, and rainfall increases, cutting into sunshine hours. That’s why East Sussex, Essex, and surrounding coastal areas consistently see more sun than much of the country.
This spring has also been very dry this year for the UK as a whole. Ian Lisk, chief meteorologist at the Met Office, said: “It’s all to do with our old friend, the jet stream. Weather typically moves across the UK from west to east, but the north-south amplification of the jet stream has enabled areas of high pressure to hang around in the vicinity of the UK. This means that our share of the more typical unsettled weather has been deflected away from us.”
Methodology
Data was collected from Met Office statistics where available. In some cases, weather stations were not available in the towns themselves. In these cases, we took the nearest available station.