An archipelago just off the British coast has earned a reputation as the 'Maldives of the UK' thanks to its sandy beaches, pleasant climate with months of sun and peaceful quality of life.
The Scilly Isles lie several miles southwest of Land's End in Cornwall, adrift in the Atlantic Ocean unlike any other landmass off the coast of England.
They have become a favourite destination for travellers searching for a slice of British paradise, particularly during the coronavirus lockdowns when travel to other countries was restricted, the Express reports.
The isles are home to roughly 2,153 people who live in five inhabited islands; St Mary's, Tresco, St Martin's, Bryher and St Agnes, with clusters of other uninhabited rocks scattered around these population centres.
The Scillys, despite being within boating distance of the UK mainland, are more akin to the Mediterranean or the Maldives, according to one local happy to live there.
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Councillor Steve Simms, the lead member for Economy, Transport and Tourism on the Isles of Scilly Council, said the archipelago is an "odd little place"
He said they are is "extremely beautiful" and that, when you get the right weather, it "looks like the Caribbean until you put your toes in the water".
He added that those who visit often become "besotted" by their stunning scenery, with an "awful lot of variation" between each island landscape.
The Scilly Isles have white sandy beaches sloping into waters occupied by seals, dolphins and, most notably, a Walrus named Wally that occupied a Scilly harbour in 2021.
Beyond the beaches, people can find rocky cliff faces where a variety of birds make their home including puffins, hundreds of which breed in the region every year.
Unlike many islands, the Scillys are "quite heavily wooded", meaning you can choose a holiday home on the coast or a little cabin in the woods if you opt to stay there.
Cllr Simms said the islands feel like "healthy view of England in the 1950s", with white cottages lining the seafront bordered by stony walls and palm trees.
While the Scilly Isles aren't as sun-drenched or warm as places on the Mediterranean, for somewhere close to the UK they have an exceptional climate.
The Islands boast amongst the mildest and warmest climate in the UK with a small variation between day and night temperatures. Often referred to as the sunshine isles, they benefit from more hours of sunshine than other regions - averaging 7.6 hours a day in July.
In the summer, people can expect highs in the high 20C and low 30C range, with heat rolling off the ocean and "no significant land to get cold or hot".
Cllr Simms added: "Essentially, our climate is really three, four degrees warmer than Bristol in the winter and three degrees cooler in the summer, which is what you want."
Cllr Simms said that islands are "comparative" to the Maldives, the island paradise in South Asia, with the sandy Scilly beaches and sea views offering people a cheaper, local alternative.
Island living has a few drawbacks, especially given its separation from the UK mainland and the logistical difficulties that come with being cut off from the broader population.
Significant foggy spells can prevent boats from safely travelling between each island, meaning they cannot conduct trips for sometimes weeks at a time.
A lack of deliveries creates "murder for medical appointments" and shortages at local shops, Cllr Simms said.
Housing is also an issue on the islands, with the the councillor claiming that the market is "completely broken" with locals struggling to afford homes on a comparatively low median salary of roughly £22,000.
But those who come to live on the island often look over any issues thanks to the quality of life.
While the Scilly Isles are "by no means perfect", Cllr Simms concluded that visitors get a "completely different type of holiday" there.
If you fancy a visit, there are two main ways to get to the Scilly Isles. You can fly from Land's End, Newquay and Exeter Airports on the Skybus, take the Scillonian Ferry from Penzance Harbour to St. Mary's.
