Winter in the UK causes most people to dream of escaping to warmer climates and soaking up some rare sun. While the cold sets in across Britain, you can always find a place to turn up the heat and enjoy yourself away from home.
In this article, we will be putting five excellent winter sun destinations under the microscope and revealing all you need to know about each.
1. Tenerife
With an average temperature of 20 degrees and a flight time of four hours 30 minutes each way from London, Tenerife is the largest and most populous of the Canary Islands and a popular choice for Brits searching for sunshine.
The island has around six million visitors a year and is well suited to tourists with many beaches, resorts and nightlife on offer. Situated surprisingly close to West Africa, between Morocco and Western Sahara, the capital Santa Cruz hosts one of the most prominent carnivals in the world – the Carnival of Santa Cruz de Tenerife – each February or March (depending on the year).
2. Lanzarote
Another of the Canary Islands with almost identical weather and flight times from London, Lanzarote is well known for its beaches, diving opportunities, whitewashed villas and volcanic landscape. The third most populous of the Canaries after Tenerife and Gran Canaria, Lanzarote offers the Timanfaya National Park in the western part of the island.
Teguise Market is a bustling area where the streets come alive on Sundays with sellers offering an array of goods and fresh produce – perfect for souvenir hunters as well as jewellery and local stones. Puerto Del Carmen, Arrecife and Playa Blanca are also particularly popular for shoppers.
3. Cape Verde
Found further south but still off the West of Africa, Cape Verde is a great option for sunseekers who don’t mind travelling a little more with flight times from London at five hours 45 minutes long. Lying in wait are temperatures in the early 20 degrees, with 10 volcanic islands making up the Republic of Cabo Verde and its laid-back attitude.
Sal is great for relaxing with its golden sandy beaches meeting turquoise blue water, with towns like Santa Maria a blast of traditional restaurants and surf shops. Windsurfing is popular on Cape Verde, while it was originally discovered by the Portuguese which makes for an intriguing blend with Brazilian and African influences.
4. Marrakesh, Morocco
A nice choice for short-haul enthusiasts, Marrakesh and its early 20-degree temperature is only a three-hour 40-minute flight from London and is the best gateway to explore the fruits of Morocco. Marrakesh has an old fortified city filled with souks and stalls selling ceramics, jewellery and lanterns, while you can also take the weight off at one of their sumptuous country clubs with swimming pools and lunch restaurants – a great way to spend your time in the city.
The city lies west of the Atlas Mountains and Mount Toubkhal which at 4,167m above sea level is the highest mountain in North Africa and an exciting proposition for hikers.
5. Sharm el-Sheikh, Egypt
The popular resort town of Sharm el-Sheikh in Egypt is just a five-and-a-half hour flight from London and with mid-20 degree temperatures, visitors can enjoy its sheltered sandy beaches, see-through water and coral reefs. Sit back and soak up the sun at Naama Bay’s palm tree-lined promenade filled with bars and restaurants or snorkel right off the beach and come up close and personal with the delights of the Red Sea such as tropical fish, turtles and even stingrays.
Those into scuba diving will find an array of options in the Ras Muhammad National Park, with world-renowned marine life to be spotted around the Shark and Yolanda reefs and the SS Thistlegorm wreck – a British steamship that sunk in 1941.