How Many Islands Does the UK Have?

If you’ve ever wondered just how many islands there are in the UK — you’re not alone. From iconic holiday destinations to remote, uninhabited specks in the sea, the British Isles are surrounded by more islands than most people realise.

Quick Answer:

• Total UK islands: Over 4,000
• Permanently inhabited islands: Around 210
• Accessible islands for visitors: More than 600

These numbers include offshore, tidal, and inland lake islands. Most are clustered around Scotland’s rugged coastline — but England, Wales, and Northern Ireland also have plenty of island gems.

Piel Island Ferry

Island Count by Region

🏴 Scotland – 790+ Islands

Scotland has the largest share of UK islands, with over 790 officially recognised by the National Records of Scotland. These fall into key archipelagos:

• Inner Hebrides – Skye, Mull, Islay, Jura
• Outer Hebrides – Harris, Lewis, Barra, Uist
• Orkney – Over 70 islands north of the mainland
• Shetland – Over 100 islands, some of the most remote in Britain

🏴 England – Approx. 180 Islands

England’s islands range from large and inhabited (like the Isle of Wight) to tiny estuary or lake islands. Notable examples:

• Isle of Wight
• Isles of Scilly
• Lindisfarne (Holy Island)
• Brownsea Island

🏴 Wales – Around 50 Islands

Most of Wales’s islands hug the Pembrokeshire and Anglesey coasts. Some are tidal, others are nature reserves.

• Anglesey (Ynys Môn)
• Pembrokeshire
• Caldey Island

🇬🇧 Northern Ireland – Dozens of Islands

Northern Ireland includes several offshore and inland lake islands, especially around Lough Neagh and the north coast.

• Rathlin Island (the only inhabited offshore island)
• Devenish Island (historic monastic site on Lough Erne)

🇯🇪 Channel Islands – Not Part of the UK but part of the British isles

While often grouped culturally with the UK, the Channel Islands (like Jersey and Guernsey) are Crown Dependencies, not officially part of the United Kingdom.

Scillonian III docked at St Mary’s

How Many Can You Visit?

It’s estimated that around 600 UK islands are accessible to the public via footpaths, ferries, or bridges. Some are fully open for walking and camping, others allow guided tours or seasonal visits.

Popular ways to reach them:

• Ferries and boat trips
• Causeways and tidal crossings
• Bridges (e.g. to Anglesey, Skye, Bute, and Portland)

Walking across tidal sands to islands

Why This Matters

Understanding how many islands there are — and how diverse they are — is part of what makes the UK so unique. From exploring tidal causeways and wildlife-rich sanctuaries to climbing sea cliffs or discovering forgotten monastic ruins, every island has a story.

Ready to dive deeper? Join the journey through Britain’s islands with the 4,000 Isles Project →