THE South Downs National Park has been ranked as the best place in the UK bar none to observe the wonders of the night sky.

In a recent survey carried out by Saga Holidays, the South Downs beat some stiff competition, including the North Yorkshire Moors, Exmoor National Park and Eryri National Park in Snowdonia.

South Downs National Park offers some of the clearest night skies in Britain, stretching from Winchester to Eastbourne through Hampshire, as well as West and East Sussex.

According to historical weather data, the park has an average annual cloud coverage of 57 per cent throughout the year, giving plenty of opportunities for clear skies.

READ MORE: South Downs National Park Dark Skies season launched

Stargazing at the Seven Sisters on the eastern edge of the South Downs (Image: Pablo Rodriguez) The park was also granted an International Dark Skies Reserve in 2016 and celebrates with an annual Dark Skies festival which will next take place between February 13 and February 23 2025.

Some of the best spots for stargazing in the South Downs include Old Winchester Hill, Butser Hill, Birling Gap, and Bignor Hill.

The full top 10 sites are as follows:

  1. South Downs National Park
  2. Cranborne Chase
  3. Nork Yorkshire Moors
  4. Northumberland National Park
  5. Yorkshire Dales
  6. Exmoor National Park
  7. Bannau Brycheiniog (Brecon Beacons)
  8. Kerry Dark Sky Reserve
  9. Eryri National Park (Snowdonia)
  10. Golloway Forest Park

This survey comes as part of a wider study which looked at the best locations across the globe for stargazing, based on the levels of light pollution and average annual cloud cover.

Astro-tourism is set to be a major travel trend in 2025, with UK Google Searches for stargazing rising by 74% throughout 2024. Saga itself has seen a two-thirds year-on-year increase in bookings for special interest holidays, from bird watching on the Costa Blanca to astronomy in Tenerife.

SEE ALSO: South Downs National Park launches climate action hub

 

 

 

 

Dr Sheona Urquhart, a lecturer in astrophysics, said: “There are a number of factors to consider when it comes to the best locations for stargazing.  The obvious one would be darkness – the darker the better really. Altitude also helps as you can get above the clouds to see the clearest views.”

“You also don’t need fancy equipment, you’d be amazed at what you can see with a decent set of binoculars, or even with your naked eye on clear nights.

“These dark sky areas allow everyone, from the professional to the amateur to get out there, see the wonders of the night sky with their own eyes.”