People had no idea this tropical paradise in the UK existed (stock image) (Image: Getty)
People are astounded after discovering the so-called ‘Hawaii of the UK’, a breathtaking destination boasting stunning beaches, spectacular scenery, and even wild dolphins and seals.
With overseas holidays becoming increasingly costly and complicated, there are a wealth of incredible locations across the UK just waiting to be uncovered. While Cornwall is often mentioned for a dreamy summery holiday within the UK, as it’s brimming with stunning in beaches and natural beauty that can make visitors feel as though they’ve jetted off somewhere exotic.
But for those looking to venture beyond Cornwall, there are plenty of other remarkable staycation options throughout the UK, with many travellers taking to social media to share their top tips.
The Wirths, a family of travel enthusiasts, regularly use TikTok to document their adventures, recommending their favourite family-friendly destinations to their 69,900 followers.
In a recent video, the family headed off to what has been dubbed the ‘Hawaii of the UK’, a destination offering stunning landscapes, white sandy beaches and glorious weather that transports visitors to somewhere entirely tropical.
“We thought getting to this tiny island was cool… we weren’t prepared for it to look like this,” read the overlay text at the beginning of the video.
@wirth.a.trip BRB, mentally relocating to Tresco Island ???????????? Can you believe this is the UK? Welcome to the Isles of Scilly – a tranquil, subtropical archipelago located just 28 miles off the Cornish coast! From hopping aboard the Skybus with @Isles of Scilly Travel to island life in under 20 minutes ??????️ ☁️ ??????️ (You can also arrive by the iconic Scillonian ferry if sea breezes and dolphin spotting are more your thing ⛴️??????) Our family-friendly Scilly highlights: ?????? Biking sandy island lanes with zero traffic lights in sight�?????? Wandering through the incredible Tresco Abbey Gardens (including a scavenger hunt for the kids!) �?????? Rock pooling ?????? Beach days collecting shells and looking for seals ?????? Pub Lunches at The New Inn�?????? Exploring old castles �????????????♀️ Relaxing at the Tresco spa and swimming pool�?????? Sunset pizza on the beach at The Ruin Beach Café Fun facts: ?????? Tresco feels almost tropical thanks to the Gulf Stream ?????? There are basically no cars on the island ?????? The Isles of Scilly have some of the clearest night skies in Britain ?????? You somehow forget what day it is within approximately 14 minutes ?????? ?????? We stayed in a Sea Garden Apartment, perfect for a relaxed, barefoot, slow-morning kind of escape! Safe to say… one night was NOT enough. Huge thanks to Isles of Scilly Travel and Tresco Island for showing us the magic of Scilly island life ???????????????????????? ??????Tresco, Isles of Scilly ?????????????????????????????????????????? • • • #IslesOfScillyTravel #IslesOfScilly #UKHoliday #IslandLife ♬ original sound – The Wirths
The footage went on to capture their journey to the island, which involved boarding a small Skybus plane and soaring over dazzling turquoise waters and islands lined with white sandy beaches before touching down at the airport.
“BRB, mentally relocating to Tresco Island,” they added in the caption of the post. “Can you believe this is the UK? Welcome to the Isles of Scilly – a tranquil, subtropical archipelago located just 28 miles off the Cornish coast!”
The Isles of Scilly are an unspoilt, subtropical archipelago situated 28 miles off the Cornish coastline. Celebrated for their immaculate white-sand beaches, crystal-clear waters and remarkably temperate climate, the islands are frequently dubbed the ‘Hawaii of the UK’. Just five of the landmasses are inhabited, namely St. Mary’s, Tresco, St. Martin’s, Bryher, and St. Agnes.
Tresco is a privately owned, car-free island. Renowned for its subtropical climate, pristine sandy beaches and the world-famous Abbey Garden, it provides a serene, luxury retreat complete with fine dining, a spa and an abundance of coastal wildlife.
Although the islands are entirely car-free, getting there is straightforward — hop aboard a Skybus plane and arrive in just 20 minutes, or take the beloved Scillonian ferry and soak up the sea air while keeping an eye out for dolphins along the way.
The visitor went on to share their personal highlights, which included cycling through the island’s sandy, traffic-free lanes, whiling away days on the beach collecting shells and spotting seals, as well as exploring ancient castles and unwinding at the Tresco Spa and its swimming pool.
The Isles of Scilly boasts gorgeous white sandy beaches and blue waters (stock image) (Image: Getty)
The family also explored the Tresco Abbey Gardens, home to plants from every Mediterranean climate zone. Founded in the 19th century, the gardens now serve as a sanctuary for over 2,000 exotic species from the southern hemisphere and subtropics — spanning Brazil to New Zealand, Myanmar to South Africa. They also shared there is an entertaining scavenger hunt available for children to enjoy.
Regarding the tropical weather, the Isles of Scilly feel almost tropical owing to the Gulf Stream, giving visitors the sensation of holidaying abroad without ever leaving British shores.
Viewers were quick to flock to the comments section to share their reactions, with many left astonished to discover the destination was situated within the UK.
“I WANNA BE A LOCAL SO BAD,” declared one user, while another wrote: “literally found these islands scrolling on Google maps bored at work once… obsessed ever since.
“I need to visit a Tesco in Tresco just because I’m sad like that,” added a third.
This story originally appeared on Express.co.uk
