We know what you’re thinking: how could there possibly be anywhere in freezing, rainy Britain that’s over 80 degrees Fahrenheit right now, and more unfathomably even, there are turquoise waters to swim in?
You’re correct, that’s highly unlikely.
Though the Cornish coast is a seriously-underrated beach destination, and the seas surrounding some islands off Scotland are indeed crystal-clear, the U.K. is not somewhere you go for a sunny getaway, per se, regardless of season.
Something most tourists fail to realize, however, is that the United Kingdom is not a country confined only to the Northerly British Isles.
It has a lesser-known territory in Southern Europe where temperatures are indeed summer-high, and the seas remain warm this fall.
Sounds confusing? Wait until you see what’s coming next:
Welcome To Gibraltar, Britain’s Little Slice Of Mediterranean Heaven
Gibraltar is a British territory located on a tiny headland in Spain’s south coast––yep, you’re not imagining this––and a small resort city boasting balmier temps year-round.
If it sounds nonsensical, it’s because it sort of is. Think about it:
Some of these European borders seem to have been put in place by inebriated statesmen with a bad sense of humor, from the near-complete fencing off of Bosnia-Herzegovina’s access to the sea by Croatia to the fact there are entire Spanish cities in Africa.
Thinking about it, it’s not too far-fetched to envision the British––you know, the heavy-drinking, stiff upper-lipped people who are used to gloomy skies and mince pie for lunch––would have secured for themselves a little slice of Mediterranean heaven for themselves some centuries ago.
Once at the center of a power struggle between the U.K. and Spain, Gibraltar has been staunchly British despite its Iberian location for over 300 years.
It’s clearly somewhere you go if you’re an Anglophile desperate for a change in climate.
What Makes Gibraltar So Unique?
Gibraltar is a culturally rich city that has been passed on from empire to empire until it ended up in British hands following a handover in 1713, but that’s not to say it’s exclusively British.
We’re talking a hilly Old Town with pedestrianized streets lined with pastel-colored buildings and their iconic Genoese shutters, except you shouldn’t be surprised if you come across the odd red telephone booth shyly perched on a street corner.
Or the iron-wrought balconies typical of the Regency period. Or the English street names. Or the fact that the 32,000-or-so Gibraltarians speak English with an undeniable British twang.
Or the fact that, instead of euros like in any Mediterranean country, it’s British pounds you’ll be paying for your typically English pub meal.
By the way, for delicious fish and chips––with a Southern European flair––head over to The Clipper, the best takeout (or should we say takeaway?) spot in town.
In short, Gibraltar is the best of both worlds! That is, if you’re actively seeking a British-core experience, yet you’re not necessarily enthusiastic about the rainy weather.
Nature, Coast, Castles, Duty-Free Shopping, You Name It
No visit to Gibraltar is complete without ascending to the top of the gigantic Rock, which it is named after, and you can either follow the moderately-challenging hiking path up, or take a scene ride up the cable car, boasting panoramic views of the Mediterranean and Gibraltar’s rugged nature.
Though it’s not for the budget-conscious, there’s an incredible restaurant at the terminus called Mons Calpe Suite, a charming eatery specializing in Mediterranean cuisine, with an intrusive, classically-British crumbed scone on display, of course.
The Apes’ Den is not to be missed, either: it is home to the wild, Barbary macaques, the only monkeys in mainland Europe, and at the heart of the Rock, St. Michael’s is a complex system of underground limestone chambers.
Every visit features an artificial light display, known as ‘The Awakening’, when colorful projections are cast onto the geological wonders.
If you love History, the World War II Tunnels, built into the Rock itself, are also open for visitation, as are the Great Siege Tunnels, hidden passages used by the Spanish in their failed attempt to prevent the Brits from taking over Gibraltar in the 18th-century.
Claustrophobic much?
Breathe the fresh coastal air at Europa Point, the closest point between the European and African continents, take in the lush nature at the Botanic Gardens, explore the ruins of a 12th-century Moorish castle, or go on a shopping spree up the boujee Main Street.
There is a reason why shoppers flock from all over Britain––and Spain––to the Gibraltar headland: some consumer goods like alcohol and tobacco are considerably cheaper in the British exclave than they are elsewhere, due to their tax-free regime.
Stunning Sandy Beaches
If you’re here for the beaches, Santa Barbara Beach is a popular bathing site for locals year-round. Offering unimpeded views of the Rock of Gibraltar and located near the city’s small international airport, it has soft sands and shallow, swim-friendly waters.
The longest of Gibraltarian beaches, Eastern Beach, is where you’ll find the highest concentration of coastal developments and a big choice of restaurants––as well as larger crowds––while Western Beach is the smaller, more laid-back alternative.
For the shiniest, golden-sand beach, head to the appropriately-titled Sandy Bay; now, if you don’t mind the rocky shoreline, Camp Bay is a local favorite bathed by crystalline waters, adjacent to British-built Parson’s Lodge Battery, an imposing 18th-century fort.
Gibraltar may be a small British Overseas Territory, but swimming sites are plentiful.
Oh, and in case you’re wondering where to stay, there are beachfront hotels with nightly rates ranging from a very reasonable $118––check out Bristol Hotel––to a much-pricier, etched-on-the-Rock, $213-a-night, 4-star listing Rock Hotel.
Gibraltar is not the cheapest fall destination, with the Pound Sterling driving up prices considerably, but we’d say the U.K. by the Mediterranean is worth the extra few hundred bucks.
How To Visit Gibraltar This Season
There are many ways to travel to Gibraltar this season, whether you’re flying in from the mainland United Kingdom or crossing over from Spain.
One-way flights from London (Gatwick) start from only $116, while taking the bus to Gibraltar from Spain costs between $11.17 and $22.34 depending on your departure point and selected route.
Normally Gibraltar-bound tourists arriving from Spain will board buses in Malaga, the nearest major city, only 5 miles away from the Costa Del Sol International Airport, to La Línea de la Concepción, the closest Spanish municipality to Gibraltar.
From La Línea de la Concepción, they either take taxis or cross into Gibraltar on foot.
Gibraltar is a British territory, and thus it lies both outside the European Union and Schengen Zone, so you should be equipped with a valid passport and a visa, if applicable, or soon enough, an online entry permit for the UK if you’re an American citizen.
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