You don’t need to go on a long-haul flight. Whether you're a beginner or already have experience, you just need a wetsuit, a board, and a few hours in any direction. The UK hides some of the best bodyboarding in the world. Here’s where every level of rider can find it.
The UK has waves. Good ones. My wife's home break, Croyde, is recognised as a World Surfing Reserve. Pumping out absolute classic days all year round. We have shore breaks, beach breaks, point breaks, and even reef breaks. And unlike standup surfing, we spongers can throw ourselves into anything. Even knee-high slush in the middle of winter is enough to get us out of the car. Let's get into a few of our favourites.
Cornwall
Where it began
The obvious one, for good reason. Newquay’s Fistral Beach is a circus in the height of summer—chaotic and lively, unlike quieter northern beaches, packed wall to wall with grokles
(grockles in British English, noun, Southwest England dialect; a tourist, especially one from the Midlands or the North of England).
I myself was once such a grokel, born in the northeast and raised in the east midlands, making our annual pilgrimage to Cornwall every summer to be part of the circus.
Polzeath / Watergate / Morgan Porth will all be hectic but fun over the summer. By contrast, less popular bays like Boobys bay, Constantine, and especially the hidden gem of Trevone Bay offer a quieter, more relaxed alternative.
If you are thinking of heading really south, keep driving, and you will end up at the beautiful Sennen Cove with white sand and turquoise water. Here you can expect to feel the full force of the Atlantic as you head further away from the sheltered mainland.
For families and beginners, check that the beach is lifeguarded, and if you are just starting out, bodyboard between the red and yellow flags. If you're more experienced, seek out less crowded sections while still staying safe.
For those without kids, a September-October break is ideal for intermediate and advanced riders. The crowds are gone, the weather remains good, the water is warmer after summer, and winter swells are starting to arrive.
Devon
My home from home
Devon has been where I have done most of my surfing over the last 15 years. My wife is a Devon native, and one of our children was born there as well. We spend half the year down there, so we get to see it through all of the seasons.
The first benefit is that Devon offers excellent surf, with 2 hours less travel time than to Cornwall. Unlike Cornwall’s more overt tourism, Devon has become more gentrified, featuring excellent coffee houses, bars, and food shacks. Yet it hasn’t completely sold out to tourism. Businesses remain local, people are part of the landscape, and there is clear care to safeguard surf culture while welcoming visitors.
Croyde is the headline act with a punchier break, while nearby Saunton offers a family-friendly, sprawling alternative. Woolacombe is touristy, but Puttsborough—on the same beach—feels hidden and is better sheltered, often cleaner than open breaks in Cornwall when winds blow out exposed spots.
Gower Peninsula, South Wales
The road less travelled.
This is what you say when someone tells you British waves aren’t good enough.
The Gower, an Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty jutting into the Bristol Channel, offers some of Britain's finest surf but with only a fraction of the crowds seen in Cornwall or Devon.
Langland, Caswell, Rhossili, Llangennith all different, all brilliant-the kind of places where you’ll finish a session and sit on the beach for an extra hour because you’re not ready to leave yet.
Gower tends to come into its own in autumn and winter when the Atlantic wakes up properly. Summer is gentler, perfect for families and first-timers.
Pembrokeshire, South Wales
Beaches, beaches, beaches
Wales’s southwestern corner has more unspoilt beaches per square mile than most other UK regions. With over 50 beaches that are often empty, Pembrokeshire stands apart from the busier English or Cornish coasts.
Newgale is a 3km stretch of southwest-facing golden sand with consistent waves and a proper shore break, making it brilliant for bodyboarding.
Freshwater West / Whitesands / Marloes
are all worth the drive, all significantly less crowded than their Cornish equivalents.
North Yorkshire
The Motherland
This is the beginning of my origin story. I was born in Northallerton, not far from Saltburn, but ironically, I never surfed there until we had been surfing in Cornwall. We moved to Lincolnshire when I was 6, so when I was driving my siblings, I would head off to Saltburn and Cayton to get our fix of waves. We also have one of our worst ocean memories of my brother getting caught in a rip on a particularly big day, but that is a story for another time.
Cayton Bay / Saltburn /Scarborough
They don’t have the brand recognition of Newquay or the Instagram aesthetic of Croyde, but North Yorkshire’s breaks serve up powerful waves and a tougher surf culture. Unlike southern beaches, the hardy local surfers embrace cold, industrial scenery and heavy winter barrels.
Saltburn in particular has a devoted local bodyboarding scene and a long, consistent beach break. The water is colder, the vibe is more raw.
Scotland
Favours the brave
Scotland in the summer is similar to Cornwall, although with far fewer crowds. Where Cornwall is accessible, Scotland requires braving harsher conditions, especially from September to April in the Outer Hebrides. Yet for those seeking adventure, its remote areas outshine those of other UK regions in size and challenge. Spots like Cockburnspath and Pease Bay, though, remain approachable compared to the wild western surf.
The Wave, Bristol
Back to the future
The wave is an inland surf lagoon; unlike its coastal counterparts, it genuinely delivers when the sea isn’t. They stand out for reliability and convenience, no matter where in the UK you live.
The Wave in Bristol uses Wavegarden technology to produce consistent, predictable waves. It’s not the same as the ocean, but it's good for learning or improving your skills; it’s brilliant. Much like Exscape was for the snowboard scene, I think the wave will be ideal for English surfers competing in the Olympics.