Best lighthouses

Three people walk away from the camera towards a red and white striped lighthouse — Visitors at Souter Lighthouse, Tyne & Wear | © National Trust Images/Trevor Ray Hart

Lighthouses have been helping mariners navigate for centuries, but are much more than beacons of light. Discover places of science experiments, world firsts and medieval warning systems.

The Old Light, Lundy Island, Devon: Visit this wildlife-rich island, which is perfect for taking in the views of the Bristol Channel or enjoying a spot of wildlife watching. On the west side of the island is a disused lighthouse, known as the Old Light, which is one of more than 40 scheduled monuments on Lundy Island. Climb to the top for views of the island and its surroundings.Visit the Old Light
Souter Lighthouse and The Leas, Tyne and Wear: Souter Lighthouse, the first in the UK that was purpose built to use electricity, once housed one of the most powerful lights in the world. Decommissioned in 1988 after 117 years of service, you can learn about the life of a lighthouse keeper, discover a lost village and climb the 76 steps to the top of the tower. It's an ideal base for a day of coastal exploration. Souter Lighthouse is open every day 15 February-end October 2025, then Friday-Sunday in November and December.Visit Souter Lighthouse and The Leas
South Foreland Lighthouse, Kent: This Victorian lighthouse was built to warn mariners of shifting sands and guide them through the Straits of Dover, but was also a place of innovation and experiment. In 1858, it was the first lighthouse to shine an electric light and later was a base for wireless communication experimentation, with the first ship-to-shore recording on Christmas Eve 1898. The lighthouse is open Friday-Monday from 4 April-26 October 2025, and every day during school holidays.Explore the first electric lighthouse
St Catherine's Oratory, Isle of Wight: St Catherine’s Point has been a dangerous place for mariners for centuries. In the 14th century St Catherine's Oratory was built here as penance by a local landowner, who had plundered church property from a shipwreck. It's often referred to as a medieval lighthouse, but in reality was a belltower with a beacon alongside. A real lighthouse, further down the hill, wasn't built until 1838.Discover more about St Catherine's Oratory
The Needles lighthouse, Isle of Wight: This lighthouse was built in 1859 to replace an 18th century lighthouse higher up the cliffs that was often shrouded in mist. It was a feat of engineering, with dynamite used to create a platform at the tip of the chalk stacks that make up the rock formation known as the Needles. You can't go inside, but head to the Old Battery and New Battery for the best view of this Isle of Wight landmark.Visit the Needles

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