The Isles of Scilly, an archipelago 28 miles off the Cornish coast, have been officially named the friendliest place in the UK, according to a new index that measures community connection using government data.
The index assessed how often people chat to neighbours, feelings of loneliness, local pride, and levels of participation in civic life. The islands achieved a near-perfect score for almost all of the eight 'connection barometers,' with 95.4% of residents saying that people from different backgrounds get on well and 88.8% feeling they belong to their neighbourhood.
Additionally, 87.3% of residents said that their neighbours can be trusted, while 86.5% are proud to live in their local area. The Isles of Scilly were followed by South Hams in south Devon, West Devon, Derbyshire Dales, and Richmond upon Thames. The area named least friendly was Barking and Dagenham.
A subtropical paradise in the UK
Despite the UK's reputation for cooler weather, the Isles of Scilly are warmed by the Gulf Stream, resulting in higher sunshine hours and milder winters than the rest of the country. While there are over 140 islands, only five are inhabited: St Mary's, Tresco, St Martin's, Bryher, and St Agnes.
Tresco is renowned for its lush, subtropical 19th-century Tresco Abbey Garden, where more than 20,000 exotic plants from 80 countries thrive in the mild microclimate. The family-owned island also features spectacular beaches like Appletree Bay, a half-mile crescent of soft, near-white sand with crystal-clear azure waters.
On St Mary's, the largest island and main hub, sub-tropical flora grows freely, while Pelistry Bay and Bar Point on the remote eastern shore offer prime snorkelling conditions. Meanwhile, Great and Little Bay on St Martin's could easily be mistaken for its Caribbean isle namesake, and The Bar in St Agnes is a breathtaking sandbar where dolphin sightings are common.
Ancient villages and historic landmarks
The Isles of Scilly are steeped in history. Bant's Carn is a free-to-visit Bronze Age burial mound on St Mary's, one of the best examples of a Scillonian entrance grave. The landmark is in the care of English Heritage and sits on a hilltop with sweeping ocean views.
Below the graves lie the remains of the Iron Age village of Halangy Down, dating back to around 200BC, featuring a courtyard house and garden plots. Visitors can also walk along the coast to Innisidgen Burial Chambers, two more Bronze Age ceremonial monuments. For those combining hiking and history, St Mary's offers a two-hour trek along the Garrison Walls, which date from the 16th to 18th centuries.
On Tresco, the ruined 16th-century King Charles' Castle overlooks New Grimsby Harbour. Built between 1548 and 1551 during the reign of King Edward VI to defend against French and Spanish threats, it is also free to enter.
A surprising wine paradise
The islands' mild maritime climate has fostered a small-scale, boutique winemaking scene. Two wine producers operate on the archipelago: Holy Vale Vineyard on St Mary's and St Martin's Vineyard on St Martin's. The former is a small, family-run vineyard in a sheltered valley, producing Chardonnay and Pinot Noir. The latter offers tours and wine tastings where guests can visit the wildflower-filled vineyard above the dunes of Par Beach.
A self-guided tour with tasting costs £12 per person, with under-16s free, while vineyard exploration alone is £6 per person. St Martin's Vineyard also features a 'boozy farm shop' selling everything from sparkling cider to their own beers from their nano-brewery. Being an archipelago, fresh Atlantic seafood such as crab, lobster, scallops, and mussels is plentiful to enjoy alongside the wine.
Getting to the Isles of Scilly
There are multiple ways to reach the Isles of Scilly from London. The cheapest option is a five-hour train from Paddington to Penzance for around £62 one-way, followed by a 2-hour and 45-minute ferry to St Mary's. A day-trip ferry foot passenger fare costs £35, but ferries only operate between March and November.
Alternatively, flights and sailings are available from Penzance Harbour, Land's End, Newquay, or Exeter Airports with Isles of Scilly Travel. While there, island-hopping is essential, with daily local boats from St Mary's quay to the quieter outer islands of St Martin's, St Agnes, Bryher, and Tresco.
The current ferry, Scillonian III, has been in service since 1977, carrying over five million passengers and completing some 10,000 return journeys, covering more than 688,500 nautical miles. It will set sail for the last time in November, with the Scillonian IV replacing it from March 2027, offering more passenger capacity and a faster ride.
