Puffins are among the most beautiful birds in the UK, and luckily, there are plenty of places around the country where you can see them. With their brightly-coloured beaks and black and white feathers, these seabirds are a familiar sight at several coastal spots. When it comes to the best places to see puffins in the UK, you’ve got options. Top spots include the Farne Islands, where thousands nest each summer, Bempton Cliffs, and Skomer Island, where puffins can be seen just steps from the path. So if you’re keen to catch a glimpse of these colourful seabirds, here’s where to see puffins in the UK.
Best time to see puffins in the UK
The puffin season in the UK typically runs from April to July. During this time, they can be seen nesting in cliffside burrows and rocky islands around the coast. It’s their breeding season, and from June onwards, you might even catch a glimpse of baby pufflings tucked away in their nests. By early August, most of them have left the UK’s shores, so late spring to mid-summer is generally the best time to see puffins in the UK.
Best places to see puffins in the UK
Farne Islands
David Attenborough once called the Farne Islands his favourite place to see nature in the UK — and it’s easy to see why. Around 100,000 puffins nest here each summer, with large numbers on Inner Farne, where you can get remarkably close.
Boat trips depart regularly from Seahouses. The islands are also home to terns, kittiwakes, and one of the largest grey seal colonies in England. Find out more with our guide to puffin watching in the Farne Islands.
Skomer Island
Just off the coast of Pembrokeshire in south-west Wales, Skomer is one of the best puffin hotspots in the UK. It’s home to thousands of breeding pairs, and you can often see them just a few feet from the path.
Day trips leave from Martin’s Haven, and numbers are limited, so definitely book ahead in peak season! As of 2025, adult tickets cost between £30 and £44 depending on the month of your visit, and you can book online on the Pembrokeshire Islands boat trips website.
Bempton Cliffs
Bempton Cliffs is widely regarded as the best place to see puffins on the UK mainland. These towering cliffs on the Yorkshire coast host thousands of puffins each year, alongside various other seabirds, including gannets and razorbills.
The site is managed by the RSPB and has well-maintained paths and viewing platforms, with staff often on hand to help point out puffins and offer views through telescopes, though bringing your own binoculars is still a good idea.
If you’re an RSPB member, entry to the reserve is free. For non-members, entry costs £8 during the summer season (March–October) and £4 in the winter season (November–February) as of 2025. Find out more with our guide to seeing puffins at Bempton Cliffs.
Mouls Island, Cornwall
Off the north coast of Cornwall near Padstow, Mouls Island is a lesser-known place to see puffins. Although you can’t set foot on the island, boat trips give you good views of the island’s puffin population from the water.
Sometimes referred to as “Puffin Island,” this offshore spot is best visited in spring and early summer, when puffins are most active. If you’re lucky, you might also spot playful dolphins as you sail to or from the island. Click here to book boat tours from Padstow on the GetYourGuide website!
Orkney Islands
The Orkney Islands are a wild and remote group of islands in northern Scotland, with puffin colonies scattered across the cliffs. Head to spots like Westray or Papa Westray for the best sightings.
The dramatic cliffs and remote setting make it a real adventure for wildlife lovers. You’ll also find plenty of other wildlife here, from grey seals and guillemots to Arctic terns and even the occasional passing orca.
Lundy Island
Lundy Island, located in the Bristol Channel, is one of the more peaceful places to see puffins in the UK. Recent surveys have shown an increasing puffin population on Lundy, with more than 1,000 now recorded on the island.
It’s less crowded than other puffin-watching spots, and the wild setting adds to the experience. You’ll also find seals around the shore and plenty of seabirds, including guillemots and razorbills.
Isle of Skye
The Isle of Skye, off Scotland’s west coast, is known for its dramatic cliffs, rugged landscapes, and striking natural beauty. In summer, the island’s wild coastline becomes a nesting ground for puffins and other seabirds.
Head to Rubha Hunish, Skye’s northernmost point, where a headland walk offers the chance to spot puffins on the cliffs below. For closer views, take a wildlife watching tour with Bella Jane Boat Trips to the nearby Isle of Canna, where puffins nest between April and July and are reliably seen throughout the season.
As well as spotting them on the cliffs, you’ll likely see puffins flying past or floating on the sea nearby. If you’re lucky, you might also spot dolphins, basking sharks, or minke whales — just a few highlights of the Isle of Skye’s incredible wildlife.
Anglesey
Off the eastern tip of Anglesey, Puffin Island is unsurprisingly one of the best places to see puffins in the UK. Boat tours leave from the town of Beaumaris and often include sightings of seals, cormorants, and puffins.
Seacoast Safaris runs trips to Puffin Island daily from April to October, with adult fares starting from around £20 as of 2025. Keep your eyes peeled for grey seals and seabirds along the coast, and if you’re staying longer, it’s worth looking out for red squirrels in Anglesey, which are making a return in several woodlands.
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