The UK seaside spot with 'golden sands' that’s a ‘perfect’ dupe for the French Riviera

The UK is home to a stunning "dupe" of the French Riviera, and it is somewhere that visitors have praised for years. A destination dupe is a place that offers something similar to a popular destination but is much cheaper to get to and often less crowded. One travel provider, Parkdean Resorts, has identified some of the UK's best dupes for sought-after spots around the world, and one British beach offers a similar experience to the French Riviera.

According to the experts, Shell Bay Beach in Dorset resembles the French Riviera. There have been over 211,000 searches for the French Riviera in the past month alone, proving that the area is still a popular choice for holiday-makers. If you would prefer not to face the airport and international travel, then Shell Bay Beach in Dorset is the place to be, according to Parkdean Resort. They explained: "Whilst many of us dream of turquoise waters and powder-soft sands, recent interest in ‘budget holiday’ searches has increased by 127% in the past month, proving value for money is a top priority for Brits planning their 2025 holidays."

Shell Bay Beach is a popular destination on a sunny summer's day and is known for its wide stretches of golden sand and expanse of sand dunes. It is located at the tip of Studland Peninsula and is managed by the National Trust, meaning that it is largely untouched and remains a stunning place to experience Dorset's natural coastal landscape.

"Shell Bay Beach, is a hotspot known for its golden sands and coastal charm, similar to France’s popular Carnon-Plage," Parkdean Resorts said. "Stretching across four miles, enjoy soft sands, clear waters, and natural, unspoiled beauty at this perfect dupe for beach lovers."

The beach is loved by those who have visited before. One of the many happy reviewers on Tripadvisor wrote: "This is by far the best beach at Studland Bay. The sand is almost white, so fine and surrounded by dunes."

A second reviewer said: "I loved this beach which is right by the ferry - so quiet with beautiful sand glistening in the late afternoon light and the water just lapping away."

Another commented: "This beach is absolutely amazing, such lovely white sand like you may find in the Caribbean, surrounded by sand dunes and just so peaceful. It is a lovely place for kids to spend a day playing in the sand, swimming in the sea, paddling and water sports. It is safe and just a lovely place to spend a day relaxing, especially in summer but out of season, its lovely to walk by the sea and enjoy having the beach largely to yourself!"

The closest town to Shell Bay Beach is Poole, which is home to plenty of places to veat and drink. It also isn't too far from Bournemouth, one of the most popular UK seaside towns with its exciting pier and atmospheric pubs.

Among the other "destination dupes" for Brits who want to replicate what they might find abroad for the fraction of the price is Porthcurno Beach in Cornwall, which they say resembles the Virgin Islands.

Meanwhile, Kynance Cove in Cornwall is said to resemble scenes you would find in the Dominican Republic while Dungeness Beach in Kent is identified as a dupe for Sunrise Crescent Bay, nestled north of Hualien City in Taiwan.