Britons mistake UK beaches for exotic locations in new survey

Are these beaches in the UK, the Med, or the Maldives? Britons in a survey were shown these pictures and asked to name the locations – and many were left all at sea!

• In a survey, those polled were shown pictures of nine British beaches and asked to name the locations
• A beach on Iona island in Scotland and the Isle of Wight’s Priory Bay were mistaken for the Mediterranean 
• Nearly 20 per cent thought eye-catching Pelistry Bay on the Isles of Scilly was the Maldives

Britons needn’t worry about missing out on an exotic summer beach holiday – because their strips of sand at home are more enticing than they give them credit for.

In a fascinating survey, those polled were shown uncaptioned pictures of nine British beaches and asked to name the locations – and the results were astonishing, with many mistaking them for beaches in sunnier climes.

The photos in the quiz were of Marloes Sands beach in Wales, Pelistry Bay on the Isles of Sicily, Chesil Beach in Dorset, Lulworth Cove, also in Dorset, a beach on Iona island in Scotland, Durdle Door in England, Priory Bay on the Isle of Wight, Cuckmere Haven in East Sussex and Rhossili Bay in Wales.

Over half of Britons that took part in a survey incorrectly thought this picture wasn’t taken in England. It actually shows the golden sands of Durdle Door in Dorset

Nearly two in ten thought beautiful Pelistry Bay on the Isles of Scilly was the tropical Maldives after viewing a white sand Instagram photograph by @pamlar86 (left). On the right is an image by Instagrammer @booksinscotland. In the poll 77 per cent couldn’t place it and nearly two-thirds (59 per cent) thought the azure waters were somewhere in the Mediterranean. The shot was actually taken on the stunning shores of Iona island in Scotland

When shown this picture of Lulworth Cove in Dorset, one in five thought it was of Sicily and almost two thirds (63 per cent) didn’t believe it was England at all

One in five thought Marloes Sands beach in Wales was in New Zealand after being presented with a blue-skied Instagram snap of it by @matthewjones75, with more than half (56 per cent) not guessing that it was in Wales at all. 

Nearly two in ten thought beautiful Pelistry Bay on the Isles of Scilly was the tropical Maldives after viewing a white-sand Instagram photograph by @pamlar86. 

When presented with an aerial image of Chesil Beach in Dorset by Instagrammer @heydorsett, over two-thirds (69 per cent) didn’t think it was taken in England and two-fifths thought it was a Florida beach scene.  

A picture of neighbouring Lulworth Cove left a few at sea, too. One in five attributed the turquoise waters to Sicily and almost two thirds (63 per cent) didn’t think it was England at all.

Nearly three quarters (73 per cent) of those polled didn’t think this picture was taken in Wales. It’s actually a dreamy capture of a sunset over Rhossili Bay

A well-angled shot by Instagrammer @sayitwithbrownies of Priory Bay on the Isle of Wight left people scratching their heads, with 55 per cent incorrectly guessing its location and 44 per cent thinking it was in the Mediterranean

This sweeping view of Cuckmere Haven in East Sussex on a beautiful sunny day threw 43 per cent of respondents, with them incorrectly guessing it was not in England

Similarly, a huge 77 cent couldn’t place the stunning shores of Iona island in Scotland after being shown an image of the spot by Instagrammer @booksinscotland, with nearly two thirds (59 per cent) thinking the azure waters were somewhere in the Mediterranean. 

Durdle Door, with its natural limestone arch, is one of the UK’s most iconic locations. But in the poll respondents weren’t shown its signature feature. Instead, they had to study an aerial shot of its golden sands. Over half of the respondents (55 per cent) didn’t guess that it was taken in England. 

A well-angled shot by Instagrammer @sayitwithbrownies of Priory Bay on the Isle of Wight also left people scratching their heads, with 55 per cent incorrectly guessing its location and 44 per cent thinking it was in the Mediterranean. 

Meanwhile, a sweeping view of Cuckmere Haven in East Sussex on a beautiful sunny day threw 43 per cent of respondents, with them incorrectly guessing it was not in England, and nearly three quarters (73 per cent) incorrectly thought Rhossili Bay was not in Wales after being presented with a dreamy sunset capture of it.

The survey, of 1,500 people, was run by UK gin brand Gordon’s ahead of the launch of its new Sicilian lemon-infused tipple. 

Pop-star and TV personality Aston Merrygold is one of the famous faces who will be giving his top tips around recreating a Sicilian vibe while on staycation. 

Gordon’s will also be bringing a slice of Sicily to the UK in the form of pop-ups at some of Britain’s most beautiful beaches and inner-city oases.

The first in the series will be held at Fulham Beach Club in London, with more venues to be announced over the summer.

One in five thought that this blue-skied Instagram snap by @matthewjones75 was taken in New Zealand. It actually shows Marloes Sands in Pembrokeshire, Wales. More than half (56 per cent) didn’t think it was taken there

When presented with this aerial image of Chesil Beach in Dorset by Instagrammer @heydorsett, over two-thirds (69 per cent) didn’t think it was taken in England and two-fifths thought it was a Florida beach scene 

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