The voyage of discovery

everything you need to

Explore Scilly

The Isles of Scilly offer an exceptional quality of life – simpler, kinder, and more peaceful than many other parts of the UK. Home to just 2,200 residents, the islands provide a welcoming, close-knit community and a slower, more relaxed island lifestyle that is increasingly rare elsewhere. Perfect for travellers seeking a tranquil getaway, the Isles of Scilly are made up of five inhabited islands – St. Mary’s, Tresco, St. Martin’s, Bryher, and St. Agnes – as well as hundreds of uninhabited islands and islets waiting to be explored.

Each island has its own distinct character, from sandy beaches, crystal-clear waters, and hidden coves to rugged coastlines, open landscapes, and peaceful walking trails. Visitors can enjoy countless things to do on the Isles of Scilly, including coastal walks, kayaking, wildlife watching, and exploring the islands’ unique flora and fauna. With stunning sea views, serene landscapes, and abundant opportunities for outdoor adventure, the Isles of Scilly offer a truly unforgettable travel experience, combining natural beauty with authentic island life.

Whether you’re looking to unwind by the sea, explore historic sites, or immerse yourself in nature, the Isles of Scilly are a perfect destination for anyone seeking relaxation, adventure, and the charm of island living.

History, Heritage, and Wildlife of the Isles of Scilly

Rich in history, heritage, and archaeology, the Isles of Scilly are home to a wealth of ancient sites, historic landmarks, and fascinating shipwrecks, all set against awe-inspiring, panoramic sea views. From prehistoric ruins to medieval structures, each island tells a unique story of the past, offering travellers and history enthusiasts plenty of things to do. The surrounding waters are teeming with incredible wildlife, including playful seals, seabird colonies, and dolphins, making Scilly a paradise for nature lovers and wildlife watchers. Scilly’s heritage is deeply connected to the sea, with traditions like fishing for lobsters, crabs, and crayfish and racing traditional pilot gigs. The islands are also famous for their flower farming – particularly the world-renowned Scilly narcissi. Whether you’re exploring the islands’ historic treasures or observing its thriving marine life, the Isles of Scilly provide an unforgettable combination of heritage, adventure, and natural beauty.

Fresh, Local, and Delicious: Food on the Isles of Scilly

With fresh seafood, island-reared beef, locally grown vegetables, and homemade ice cream, the Isles of Scilly are a true food lover’s paradise. From succulent lobsters and crabs to tender, locally raised meats and seasonal produce, the islands offer a rich variety of fresh, local ingredients that showcase the very best of Scilly’s culinary heritage. Visitors can enjoy delicious meals in charming island cafés and restaurants, savouring dishes made with care from locally sourced ingredients.

For those who love to shop and explore, the islands also feature a range of farm stalls, artisanal shops, and local markets, where you can find everything from fresh fruit and vegetables to homemade preserves and unique island delicacies. Whether you’re seeking a gourmet dining experience or a casual taste of traditional Scilly cuisine, the Isles of Scilly provide endless opportunities to sample the flavours of the islands while enjoying Scilly's stunning coastal scenery.

Unwind and Explore the Magic of the Isles of Scilly

Whether you’re seeking relaxation, outdoor adventure, or cultural discovery, the Isles of Scilly are the perfect place to unwind. Swim, sail, walk, or simply soak up the sea air in this natural island paradise. Come and experience the magic of this island paradise – where heritage, nature, and island life create a truly unforgettable escape.

Explore the Islands

Island Hopping

Scilly’s Greatest Pleasure

The Isles of Scilly, a stunning English archipelago, boast over 140 charming islands. Whether you seek solitude, scenery, or history, there’s an island for you. With our expert boatmen and fleet, hopping between them is effortless. Ready for adventure? Let’s explore!

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St. Mary's

Do as much or as little as you like on the beautiful island of St. Mary’s

St. Mary’s is the Isles of Scilly’s largest island (population 1,800) and the gateway to the rest of the islands. Covering an area of little more than 6 square miles, it’s still not exactly bustling but with its air and sea links, is likely to be your first port of call when you visit.

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Tresco

The island of ultimate luxury and the famous Abbey Garden

This island has a little bit of everything – from dramatic rocky outcrops, bronze age burial sites and romantic castle ruins, to secluded sandy beaches and the world famous Tresco Abbey Garden which was established in the 1830s by Augustus Smith.

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St. Martin's

A voyage of discovery to the best beaches in the world

Crystal clear waters, idyllic beaches and a prevailing sense of calm make St. Martin's a delight. With its iconic red and white Daymark, erected in 1683 by Thomas Ekins, it is the first island you spot as you cross from the mainland.

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Bryher

A rugged yet deeply beautiful island of vibrant contrasts

Pounded by Atlantic waves on one side, yet blessed with calm sandy beaches on the other, Bryher is an island of dramatic contrast - the perfect place to enjoy a taste of untamed Scilly. Around 80 people are lucky enough to call it home.

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St. Agnes & Gugh

England’s final frontier - totally untamed and thoroughly unspoilt

On the most south-westerly edge of the Isles of Scilly, St. Agnes is totally unspoilt and astonishingly peaceful. It measures just a mile or so across, and its closest neighbour is Gugh, to which it is joined by a sand bar at low tide.

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Annet

Scilly’s Untouched Sanctuary for Seabirds and Wildlife

West of St. Agnes lies the low-lying island of Annet. Closed to the public year-round to protect its wildlife, you can still admire its beauty from the water. Boat trips offer the perfect opportunity for birdwatching—so don’t forget your binoculars!

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Samson

Stunning beaches and legends of Scilly’s Lost Island

Samson is the largest of the uninhabited islands and was inhabited until 1855. There are truly stunning beaches to enjoy and old ruined cottages to explore on both North Hill and South Hill. Discover the island's captivating landscape.

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spectacular Scilly Throughout the Year

The Seasons

The Isles of Scilly offer a mild climate year-round, with spring and summer bringing warmer weather, perfect for outdoor activities and island exploration. Autumn and winter, though cooler, provide a quieter, more serene experience, ideal for those seeking peace and solitude amid…

Mathew Hook

Let us tempt you Unforgettable Adventures

Scilly blends natural beauty, tranquillity, and seclusion, with its crystal-clear waters, white sandy beaches, and dramatic cliffs, creating a landscape that feels untouched by time.

Day Trips

If you're visiting Scilly for just a day, we want to help you make every moment count. Check out our handy day trip guide for top tips, must-see spots, activities, and the best places to eat.

Stunning Beaches

Scilly’s stunning beaches, with turquoise waters and fine sand, rival any in the world. With over 35 beaches across the archipelago, there’s plenty of space for a secluded getaway.

Things to Do

Island walks, fun on the water, fantastic wildlife, island hopping, exquisite flora, incredible artists, and a fascinating history and heritage.

Attractions

From the world famous Tresco Abbey Garden with its 20,000 exotic species from around the world, Elizabethan castles and fortresses, Bronze Age remains and burial chambers, famous shipwreck landmarks, incredible lighthouses, including Bishop Rock.

Wildlife and Nature

Scilly offers plenty of opportunities to explore its captivating wildlife at sea. Depending on the season, you can spot seabirds like puffins, shearwaters, cormorants, and razorbills, or see grey Atlantic seals, famous for popping up to say hello.

Food & Drink

Nowhere is more local than the food and drink sourced, grown, and reared across our five tiny, inhabited islands.

Your Scilly Events & Festivals What's On

Walk Scilly Festival

  • Apr 17, 2026 - Apr 19, 2026

Walk Scilly Festival invites you to experience the Isles of Scilly at their very best — a celebration of…

Apr 17

Ocean Scilly Festival

  • Aug 22, 2026 - Aug 30, 2026

Join us for a fun-filled festival celebrating the sparkling seas that surround our islands at Ocean Scilly Festival…

Aug 22

Taste of Scilly Festival

  • Sep 11, 2026 - Sep 20, 2026

Indulge in the exquisite flavours of Scilly with this 10-day food and drink celebration, featuring local producers and…

Sep 11

From those in the know Unveiling the Islands' Charms

Bryher

Turquoise Dreams: Richard Pearce’s Life in Paint and Tide

  • 6 min read

Artist Richard Pearce’s life is so closely bound with the sea it’d be no surprise to find saltwater running through his veins. He hears, watches and paints it in all its many moods, he lives just metres from the jagged-toothed rocks of Bryher’s storm-lashed west coast, and over the years he’s picked…

Gallery

Woven by the Sea: Emily Mary’s Scilly-Inspired Textiles

  • 5 min read

Gorse flower, lavish, heather orchid…. They sound like names of luxury shower gels or racehorses. In fact, they’re the names given to the vivid wool colours that textiles designer Emily Shaw is playing with to recreate Tresco’s wild gorse - and heather-clad northern tip. She shows me…

Accommodation

Your Cool Camping Guide To Scilly

  • 6 min read

Sleep under the stars, wake to sea views, and explore untamed island beauty - camping on the Isles of Scilly is adventure with a salty twist. Discover the magic of sleeping under Scilly's dark skies - where ocean breezes, island scents, and peaceful silence set the scene. With four unique campsites…

Endurance Events

The history of our pilot gigs

  • 2 min read

Back in the mid-19th Century, around 200 men worked as pilots on the Isles of Scilly. Today, gigs (specially designed sea-faring rowing boats with six oarsmen and a coxswain) are raced purely for pleasure particularly throughout Cornwall and the southwest of England. Their heritage on Scilly…

Wildlife & Nature

The Puffins Return

  • 2 min read

One of Scilly’s most popular seabirds, the puffins, are back on the islands, and there’s plenty of opportunity to get out and enjoy these wonderful sea creatures. The Isles of Scilly is one of only a handful of sites in the UK where you can go puffin spotting. They arrive in mid-April, although…

Nature

Drawn to the Seas Around Scilly

  • 4 min read

A feeling - a sense of something special. Experience the Isles with award-winning writer Wyl Menmuir. I remember catching sight of the Isles of Scilly for the first time clearly, through the front window of the helicopter. My first thought was that this was exactly how I imagined the fictional…

Gallery

Makers & Galleries

  • 3 min read

Browse the many artistic collectives and makers on the islands, curated with loving care and rooted in the spirit of the local community and their surroundings. Gallery Tresco Gallery Tresco is a renowned art space on the island of Tresco, showcasing contemporary paintings, sculptures, and…

St. Martin's

An Off Island Escape

  • 10 min read

"There is a certain allure to islands. The pace of life is slow. You can watch the sunrise from one side and set from the other..." - escape with Lauren on an off-island adventure. The off islands offer the opportunity to disconnect from our frenetic modern life, reset our circadian rhythm and gain…

Chris Robbins
Things to Do

Your unrivalled view to the stars

  • 2 min read

In the midst of a bright Scilly Summer, what do us island-based astronomers long for? Dark skies! Discover why astronomers and islanders alike can't wait for autumn. Amid a bright Scilly Summer, what do us island-based astronomers long for? Dark skies! True, it takes a while to get magnificently…

Bruce Frank (c)
Things to Do

Scilly's Hidden History

  • 5 min read

Island archaeologist Dr Katharine Sawyer unveils Scilly’s fascinating pre-historic past dating back some 8,000 years. Scilly was first visited by hunter gatherers a few thousand years ago – around 6,000BC to be a little more precise. Back then it was a seasonal affair, with Mesolithic occupants…

Autumn

Scilly’s Legendary Shipwreck Tales

  • 3 min read

The Isles of Scilly have been the site of many shipwrecks over the centuries – with over 500 registered wrecks around the archipelago. Here we take a look at the story of how Scilly became a significant ‘ship park’ – and one of the most notorious sites for wrecks in the British Isles. It’s Scilly’s…