The UK may have seen a damp start to the summer, but temperatures are set to rocket, so there will be plenty of opportunity to spend time in the glorious sunshine this summer.

Despite popular opinion, the UK is home to some spectacular stretches of sand, perfect for topping up that tan. Take a look at what we consider to be Britain’s top ten beaches.

South of England

Bournemouth Beach

Regularly named the best beach in Britain and one of the top five in Europe, Bournemouth’s beach has everything. Stretching seven miles beneath a dramatic cliff line, this beach provides some of the most stunning views in the UK. On a clear day it’s even possible to see as far as the Isle of Wight!

Although undoubtedly more popular during the summer months, many people flock to this beach all year-round, to enjoy surfing, coastline walks and strolls along the pier.

Porthcurno, Penzance

Found in the far west corner of Cornwall, this idyllic beach is slightly more isolated and therefore a little tricky to find. However, its unspoilt white sand, picturesque turquoise waters and unique rock formations are worth the lengthy drive.

Be aware that the beach’s remote nature means you’ll need to come prepared, so pack a picnic, plenty of water and a bucket-load of sun cream!  

Margate, Kent

You can’t get more quintessentially British than Margate Beach. Think fish and chips on the beach, more ice cream vans than you can shake a stick at and a plethora of arcade games.

With its sweeping bay, white-washed cliffs and easy rail connections, Margate Beach has become a popular haunt for Londoners and is perfect for a day trip or weekend away.

North of England

Bamburgh Beach, Northumberland

Plenty of beaches can offer large open bays with majestic waves that crash over miles of sandy shoreline, so what makes Bamburgh Beach stand out above the rest?

Well, Bamburgh’s unique feature is its 12th century castle which stands proudly behind the beach. The beach itself has a good mixture of firm sand – perfect for sandcastle building! – as well as a section of large rocky terrain, ideal for a spot of rock pooling.

Formby, Lancashire

Hemmed in by strikingly tall sand dunes on one side, and the Irish Sea on the other, Formby Beach is perfect for anyone searching for a secluded spot. As well as soaking up the sun, there’s also plenty to explore here. The soft rock along the coastline is often eroded by the tides to reveal prehistoric footprints from both humans and animals.

If you’re feeling brave enough, you can even scale the largest sand dune for incredible views over to the mountains of Cumbria.

Wales

Rhossilli Bay, Rhossilli

Another beach often named among Europe’s finest is Rhossilli Bay. Its three miles of golden sand and remote location give you the feeling of being in a completely different country.

The beach is accessed via steps that wind through stunning sand dunes to a beautiful open bay at the bottom. For any surfing enthusiasts, Rhossilli Bay is a must-visit – you may even end up riding along with the dolphins that regularly play in the shallows here!

At low tide, take a walk over to the small tidal island, the Worms Head, or explore the remains of old, aged shipwrecks.

Three Cliffs Bay, Swansea

Due to its worldwide fame, Rhossilli Bay always draws a huge crowd. For a quieter, and by no means inferior, alternative, head thirty minutes around the corner to Three Cliffs Bay.

As the name suggests, the key feature here is the beach’s three limestone cliffs which jut out into the rolling sea. If this wasn’t enough to convince you to visit, there’s also a natural stream that cuts through the middle of the bay, adding further intrigue to the area’s rugged natural beauty.

Scotland

Aberdeen Beach, Aberdeen

It’s rare to come across an urban beach without a buzz of arcade machines in the background and the smell of over-priced fish and chips in the air. However, this three-kilometre stretch of beach manages to retain its natural beauty while still having an air of city charm.

Expect to see bottlenose dolphins here in the summer, while you can also spend time exploring the beautiful, historic, former fishing villages and dramatic granite outcrops, which are ideal for a spot of rock climbing.

Coldingham Bay, Eyemouth

If you’re after a more active day at the beach, head to Coldingham Bay. With plenty of rock pooling, surfing and coastal walks to be completed, this beach will entertain even the most active among us.

The amenities here are also surprisingly good: shower rooms, toilets and picnic facilities can all be found in sufficient numbers. For this reason, it does get busy during the summer, so arrive early to guarantee a good spot!

Sandwood Bay, Northwest Sutherland

Sandwood Bay, located in the most northwestern point of Scotland, has been recognised as one of the most beautiful but remote beaches in Britain.

Reachable only by a four-mile hike, you need to come well prepared if you want to catch a glimpse of the rugged pink sand and jagged cliffs.

Better still, there’s a freshwater lake just behind the dunes, full of catchable brown trout, should you want to go for the full survival experience.

Ranked as the best student city in the world, London not only provides incredible academic and professional opportunities, but is also renowned for its heady mix of art and culture, world-class cuisine and some of the best nights out in Europe.

Inevitably, all of this comes with a financial cost, but don’t let that deter you. One of the joys of London is discovering the abundance of free activities on offer. From immersing yourself in countless museums, to strolling around world-famous landmarks and partying the night away at some of London’s biggest, free festivals – you’ll never be short of free things to do.

Here are ten of our favorites.

Explore the free museums

London has an abundance of free museums housing collections from across the globe, with displays both impressive and eccentric. Head to South Kensington and you can visit the Natural History Museum, admire the huge array of beautiful artefacts in the Victoria & Albert museum, and immerse yourself in space exploration at the Science Museum.

The Imperial War Museum is also a must-see, with a staggering 400 exhibits displaying the impacts of war through the eyes of those who experienced it first-hand.

See the world-famous sights

The beauty of London is you can be walking almost anywhere in the city and are guaranteed to spot a famous landmark or historical building and the best part – it’s completely free!

Wander around Westminster for a close-up look at Big Ben, the Houses of Parliament and Westminster Abbey. You can then head down the river and take a walk over Tower Bridge – hang around long enough and you could even see it open for a passing ship!

Enjoy the buskers in Covent Garden as you wind your way through the arcades and make your way to see the majestic, bronze lions guarding Nelson’s Column in Trafalgar Square.

Relax in the city’s parks

Despite its status as one of the biggest and busiest cities in Europe, London has plenty of parks and green spaces for you to unwind in. Hyde Park has 350 acres of beautiful, open space for you to enjoy and you can even dip your toes in Serpentine lake.

For wildlife enthusiasts, Richmond Park is the ideal place for deer-spotting with 650 currently living in the park. Or, you could time your visit to St James’ Park to coincide with the daily pelican feeding at 2:30pm.

Regent’s Park is one of the most popular thanks to its central location. Take a walk around the beautifully manicured gardens before working your way up to Primrose Hill for some great views of the city skyscrapers.

Absorb yourself in London’s art scene

There’s an abundance of free art to enjoy in London, with galleries such as the Tate Modern, National Gallery and National Portrait Gallery displaying everything from Picasso to Botticelli.

If you fancy something less austere, Shoreditch is the home of edgy, ever-changing street art. Keep your eyes peeled for world-famous artist Banksy’s work.

Go on a free walking tour

There’s no better way to get to know the city than on foot. Whether you’re a Harry Potter fanatic, keen to spot graffiti art in East London or want to hear about the city’s infamous ghost stories, there will be a walking tour that’s perfect for you.

If there’s a specific area of town you want to explore, walking tours are a great way to familiarize yourself with the area before you continue exploring on your own.  

Peruse the city’s many markets

For cheap eats, quirky presents and all manner of bargains, London’s markets cannot be beaten.

Borough Market is renowned for its fresh produce and street food. Soak up the atmosphere here and enjoy a fresh juice under the old railway arches. Fashion aficionados should head to Brick Lane Market, a treasure trove of vintage clothes and unique arts and crafts.

For something different try the famous Columbia Road Flower Market, where you can enjoy the sights and smells of fresh bouquets and bag a bargain towards closing time, happy in the knowledge that every pound spent here goes to local, independent businesses.  

Attend a free festival

There are huge, free festivals to keep you entertained all year round in London. Every August bank holiday is Notting Hill Carnival, London’s biggest street festival. Enjoy Caribbean culture at its best with mind-blowing food, flamboyant costumes and tunes blasting away into the night.

Also, check the Lunar calendar to make sure you’re around for the biggest Chinese New Year festivities outside of Asia in London’s Chinatown.

Stroll along the Southbank

A quintessential London activity, nothing can beat a stroll along the Southbank on a glorious summer’s day. Take in the excellent views of the city from the riverbank, admire the skills of those practicing in the much-loved skate park, or sit back and enjoy free entertainment from the many buskers you’ll pass along the way.

If you time it right with the tides, you can even head right down to the water’s edge for a bit of mudlarking – the urban equivalent of beachcombing – and potentially spot a historical artefact.

Take in the views from Hampstead Heath

Just north of Camden lies the beautiful Hampstead Heath. It’s definitely worth the steep walk up Parliament Hill for the impressive vista across the city. On a summer’s day continue exploring and you can take a refreshing dip, with three outdoor swimming pools and a lido to choose from.

Walk along London’s prettiest canal

Touted as one of the prettiest walks in London, the canalside route from King’s Cross to Little Venice reveals a London that feels completely different to the skyscrapers of the city. On the way, you’ll get to peruse the books in London’s only floating bookstore and admire the newly regenerated Granary Square.

Home to Hollywood, the Golden Gate Bridge and nearly 40 million people, California is also where some of the top universities in the US are based.

In total, 15 universities from the state are included in the QS World University Rankings 2020, including two which are ranked among the five best universities in the world.

Best university in California: Stanford University

As the second-best university in the world, Stanford University is heads and shoulders above the other universities in the state. Located in the heart of California’s Silicon Valley region, Stanford has produced so many future business leaders that it’s been nicknamed the ‘billionaire factory’.

It is by far the most reputable university in California with both academics and employers (metrics used in our rankings methodology), while also possessing a higher proportion of international faculty than any other university in the state.

Best university in California for research: California Institute of Technology (Caltech)

Only three places behind Stanford in our global ranking, Caltech has plenty to recommend it. Based in Pasadena, close to Los Angeles, Caltech is an ideal study destination for anyone interested in science and engineering.

While Stanford performs better overall in our ranking, Caltech is the top institution in the state for research output, measured by how many research citations per faculty member the university has produced. Only three universities in the world out-perform Caltech for this metric.

Best public university in California: University of California, Berkeley (UCB)

If you’re a Californian resident, one of the big questions you’ll have to answer when choosing universities to apply to is whether you opt for a public or private institution. While private universities usually offer a better academic experience, public universities have the benefit of cheaper tuition.

So, while Stanford and Caltech are clearly the top universities in California, they are both private universities. For this reason, UCB should also be seriously considered as a study destination.

The public University of California system has 10 campuses, many of which are included in our ranking above. UCB benefits from a stronger reputation with academics and employers around the world than any of the other public institutions in the state. It also produces more research and hires more international faculty members.

To find out more about top universities in the rest of the US, click here.

The Australian National University (ANU) is the best university in Australia this year.

Despite falling five places globally in the QS World University Rankings 2020, ANU remains ahead of the next-best university in the country, the University of Melbourne.

Of the 35 Australian universities to be ranked this year, only five have fallen in rank since last year with ANU being one of them. In general, Australian universities have made impressive improvements.

One factor driving this improvement has been an increase in the proportion of international students at many Australian universities. 26 of the 35 ranked institutions have received a higher score for this indicator than in last year’s ranking (read about the methodology here), and nine of the world’s 50 most internationally diverse universities are now Australian.

Read on for a closer look at the country’s top 10 universities, as well as a brief overview of how the other 25 performed.

10. University of Newcastle, Australia (UON)

Not to be confused with its namesake in the UK, the University of Newcastle was founded in 1965 and has its main campus in the Callaghan suburb of Newcastle, New South Wales. It has approximately 26,600 students spread across six campuses, including one in Singapore.

9. University of Technology Sydney (UTS)

UTS is one of the youngest top Australian universities, established in its current form in 1988. Improving its global rank by 20 places this year, UTS is ranked within the world’s top 100 for four of the six ranking indicators, including employer reputation.

8. University of Adelaide

The University of Adelaide has been recognized for its innovations in various areas of research by the Excellence in Research Australia (ERA), a national research evaluation framework conducted by the Australian Research Council (ARC). It has climbed eight places this year to sit just outside the world’s top 100.

7. University of Western Australia (UWA)

The first of seven Australian universities to feature inside the top 100 in the world, the University of Western Australia outscores all of the Australian universities above it for both the proportion of international faculty members and the number of citations per faculty member (a measure of research output).

6. Monash University

Climbing just one place globally this year, Monash University is mainly based in Melbourne but has five campuses in the state of Victoria and two overseas, in Malaysia and South Africa. It’s among the world’s 50 best universities for both academic and employer reputation.

5. University of Queensland (UQ)

The first of our top universities in Australia to rank inside the world’s top 50 institutions, the University of Queensland is mainly based in state capital Brisbane and has been responsible for a number of recent research innovations, such as the cervical cancer vaccine.

4. University of New South Wales (UNSW)

A founding member of the Group of Eight, a coalition of Australian research-intensive universities, the University of New South Wales has a poor ratio of faculty to students, but more than makes up for it with strong scores in the other five ranking indicators.

3. University of Sydney

The University of Sydney continues to be the third-best university in Australia and is the oldest of these top three, having been founded in 1850. It also scores higher for its proportion of international students than either of the universities above it.

2. University of Melbourne

The University of Melbourne has a very diverse student body, with nearly 40 percent of its students coming from outside Australia. It also earns the distinction of being the highest-ranked Australian university for both academic and employer reputation.

1. Australian National University (ANU)

Top in Australia for yet another year, ANU’s strong performance is helped by scoring well in all but one of the ranking indicators. However, as the only university in the top 10 to fall in rank this year, the gap between ANU and the others is certainly becoming tighter.

The remaining 25 Australian universities are ranked as follows. After 500, institutions are banded (e.g. 501-510, 511-520 etc.)

The University of Oxford continues to be ranked as the best university in the UK this year.

The elite institution has climbed one place since last year’s ranking and is now the fourth best university in the world, while their rival institution the University of Cambridge has dropped one place to rank seventh.

Cambridge is far from along among UK universities in seeing its rank fall this year, with 56 of the country’s 84 universities dropping at least one place.

However, there continues to be four UK universities within the global top 10, as you can see from the table below. Read on for more information on the top 10 UK universities, and view the full results of the QS World University Rankings 2020 here.

10. University of Warwick

One of the prestigious Russell Group universities, the University of Warwick continues to be the tenth-best institution in the UK despite dropping eight places globally this year. The university is bolstered by a strong reputation with employers and a healthy percentage of international students, two of the indicators used to compile our ranking (as explained in the methodology).

9. University of Bristol

Bristol is one of the rare UK universities to improve this year, climbing two places to just sit inside the world’s top 50. Since last year, the university has improved its proportion of international faculty and students, as well as its academic reputation.

8. London School of Economics and Political Science (LSE)

The first of four universities based in England’s capital city, LSE is ranked seventh in the world for international students, making it the most diverse UK university in our ranking. It also performs particularly well for employer reputation, with only Oxbridge and Imperial ranking higher within the UK.

7. King’s College London (KCL)

King’s College London has dropped two places this year to be ranked joint 33^rd in the world, sharing the rank with Kyoto University in Japan. It’s particularly well-regarded for its medical education and research and is home to the oldest nursing school still in operation: the Florence Nightingale Faculty of Nursing and Midwifery (established in 1860).

6. University of Manchester

Another university to improve its overall rank since last year, the University of Manchester can point to improvements made in its academic reputation and research output (measured by citations per faculty). It also has the largest student community among these top UK universities, with approximately 41,000 students, nearly 11,000 of whom are from outside the EU.

5. University of Edinburgh

Falling two places but still inside the world’s top 20 universities, the University of Edinburgh is the only Scottish university to feature in this top 10. While Scottish students are able to study at the University of Edinburgh for free, students from other parts of the UK (i.e. England) have to pay fees. The university counts Charles Darwin, Alexander Graham Bell and J.K. Rowling among its alumni.

4. Imperial College London

Imperial has been overtaken by UCL in this year’s ranking, losing its status as the top university in London. Despite this, it continues to out-score UCL for four of the six ranking indicators: employer reputation, faculty student ratio, percentage of international faculty and percentage of international students.

3. UCL (University College London)

Now the best university in London, UCL is one of the largest and most diverse of the UK’s top universities, with a student population of 38,900, with almost 40 percent of these coming from outside the UK.

2. University of Cambridge

The gulf between Cambridge and its closest rival Oxford continues to grow, with the University of Cambridge slipping one place globally this year. UCL is now hot on its heels.

While Cambridge can point to a stronger reputation with academics and employers than Oxford can manage – as well as a more internationally diverse faculty – it’s now three years since it could claim to be the best university in the UK.

1. University of Oxford

The University of Oxford has tightened its grip on the number one spot in the UK this year, improving its proportion of international faculty and the number of citations being produced by those faculty members. While it might be tempting for such a famous university to rest on its laurels, it’s encouraging to see Oxford is still improving its research output.

The next 10 best universities in the UK can be found below

A further 30 UK universities are ranked within the world’s top 500 institutions.

After 500^th place, the QS World University Rankings group universities together into bandings, e.g. 501-510, 511-520. The remaining 34 universities and their banding can be seen below.

Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) has once again been ranked as the best university in the United States.

The East Coast university has now topped the QS World University Rankings for a record-breaking eighth consecutive year. It’s one of 157 American institutions to be ranked this year, although not all of them have enjoyed as good a year as MIT. 117 US universities have fallen in rank since 2019, including 10 within the world’s top 50.

Below, we break down the top 10 universities in the US as well as take a quick look at some of the other US universities to be featured this year.

10. Columbia University

Dropping two places this year, Columbia University is now ranked joint 18^th in the world, a position it shares with EPFL in Switzerland. Despite its fall in rank, the university continues to score a perfect 100 for its ratio of students to faculty members.

Columbia was established in 1754 and has produced many notable alumni, including three US presidents: Barack Obama, Franklin D. Roosevelt and Theodore Roosevelt.

9. Yale University

Established in 1701, Yale University is consistently ranked within the top 10 universities in the US. This year, it’s also fallen two places globally and has been overtaken by the University of Pennsylvania domestically.

However, Yale is ranked within the world’s 10 best universities for three of the indicators used to compile the ranking (read about the methodology here): academic reputation, employer reputation, and faculty to student ratio.

8. University of Pennsylvania

One of the few US universities to improve their rank since last year, the University of Pennsylvania is now the eighth best institution in the United States.

While less reputable than both Columbia and Yale, the University of Pennsylvania out-performs both of these institutions for its research output (measured by the number of citations per faculty) and the percentage of international faculty members.

7. Cornell University

Cornell University remains in 14^th place globally for a third consecutive year, an admirable show of consistency from the New York institution.

Although the university continues to be viewed positively by academics and employers, one area for improvement is its poor ratio of faculty members to students. With 23,600 students enrolled at Cornell, class sizes are presumably larger than at some of the other universities in this top 10.

6. Princeton University

Another non-mover, Princeton University is one of the oldest universities in the US, having been founded in 1746. Like Cornell, Princeton also has a poor ratio of faculty to students but is buoyed by a very strong research output and reputation with both academics and employers.

5. University of Chicago

The first of five American universities to feature in the global top 10, the University of Chicago has dropped one place overall this year.

Established in 1890, the university is known for its strong focus on research. For example, the university’s physics department is known for developing the world’s first man-made, self-sustaining nuclear reaction.

4. California Institute of Technology (Caltech)

Despite dropping one place globally this year, California Institute of Technology continues to be the fourth best university in the US. Known as a leading tech school, Caltech is located in the city of Pasadena, California and is the smallest university in the US top 10.

The University of Chicago actually outperforms Caltech with both academics and employers, but the West Coast university performs extremely well for faculty to student ratio and the number of citations per faculty. It’s also much more internationally diverse than most of the other top 10 universities in the US.

3. Harvard University

There are no changes in the top three universities in the US, with Harvard retaining third place in the world. It’s ranked number one for both academic and employer reputation, but performs poorly for its percentage of international students, with 220 universities around the world achieving a higher score.

The oldest university in the country, dating back to 1636, Harvard has a large, residential campus in Cambridge, Massachusetts and is well respected in a broad range of fields, including law, business and medicine. 

2. Stanford University

Will Stanford ever be able to overhaul MIT at the top of the QS World University Rankings? Its biggest area for improvement, as with Harvard, is its percentage of international students. Stanford is ranked only 196^th in the world for this indicator, while MIT is 87^th.

There are two indicators where Stanford comes out on top against the world’s best university: academic reputation and faculty to student ratio. In both cases, the two institutions scored a perfect 100 but Stanford has been judged to rank marginally ahead of its rival.

1. Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT)

For a record-breaking eighth consecutive year, MIT has been crowned the best university in the world, helped by the fact it once again scores a perfect 100 for four of the six indicators used to compile the ranking. No other institution in the US manages this, while the University of Cambridge is the only other university to do so globally.

The next 10 best universities in the US are…

The 10 universities above include the remaining US universities from the top 50 in the world. Northwestern and NYU have improved since last year, while Californian universities continue to be well represented.

Want to find out about more top US universities. You can read the top 100 here.