Best things to do on the Isles of Scilly in 2023

The UK is blessed with an array of potential destinations for anyone who wants to swap far-flung destinations for a staycation.

While city breaks, rural retreats and coastal breaks are often on the domestic traveller’s hitlist, Britain’s islands also offer a chance to feel like you’re heading overseas while leaving the passport at home.

The idyllic Isles of Scilly off the coast of Cornwall are one such enticing option, home to just over 2,000 inhabitants across the five main islands of St Mary’s, Tresco, Bryher, St Agnes and St Martin’s.

This little archipelago that lies almost 28 miles southwest of Land’s End is an ideal spot for a staycation that feels like a trip abroad, with an array of charming towns, a sub-tropical climate and white sand beaches lapped by Caribbean-esque aquamarine waters.

Here’s our pick of must-do activities and attractions to tick off during a trip to the UK’s southernmost isles.

Visit all the (inhabited) Isles

Although the Isles of Scilly total 150, only five of these are inhabited. St Mary’s will be your first stop on the Isles, as it’s home to the main airport and ferry terminal. A good base for your trip, it also houses many of Scilly’s historical attractions.

It’s easy to hop between here and the other islands thank to regular boat services. The other four main isles are Tresco, Bryher, St Agnes and St Martin’s. Tresco – a well-maintained island that is privately owned – is the site of the Tresco Abbey Gardens, one of the Isles’ most popular tourist sites, and laid-back St Martin’s is home to a plethora of beaches that are reminiscent of those in the Caribbean, plus has its own vineyard you can tour.

Bryher and St Agnes are the two smallest inhabited islands in the archipelago (their populations are around 90 and 70 people respectively), and neither is short on natural beauty and charm. Rugged Bryher can sometimes be walked to from Tresco at low-tide and is host to a famous artist’s studio, while unspoilt St Agnes has flower fields, stone stacks and cairns dotted across its ivory-sand beaches.

Embrace nature

Though only 28 miles away from the mainland, the natural landscape and wildlife on these…