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The best beach towels to take on holiday this summer
Claim your sun lounger in style with the best towels 2025 has to offer
Let’s face it, you’re going to spend the majority of your summer vacation horizontal, most likely sunning yourself near a body of water. So why not make your downtime more comfortable – and fashionable – with one of this season’s hottest beach towels?
Alongside sunscreen, an easy-to-read book and your headphones, a good beach towel should be the ultimate item in your beach bag. From lightweight towels designed for travellers with limited luggage space to thick cotton towels that will dry you in an instant, the current beach towel market has something for everyone.
‘Duality’ towel, ZigZagZurich
Dry off quicker with a towel from this brand that prides itself on its thick, absorbent twisted yarn fabrics. This option is not only super soft but the design by artist Raphael Greaves takes cues from Greek sculpture – it’s a towel that looks as good as it feels. £82, zigzagzurich.com
Terry towel in ‘Azul’, Tekla
A contemporary take on the traditional nautical stripe, this beach towel is one of cult bedding and towel brand Tekla’s new 2025 releases. At 180 centimetres long, it’s a generous size for sunbathing on, yet the lightweight weave means it won’t take up all the space in your beach bag. £90, teklafabrics.com
‘Naram’ beach towel, Bongusta
Butter yellow is the colour of the moment, which means you’ll get extra style points for turning up to the beach with this. Plus, the brand stocks a multitude of different sizes in the same hue, so you can bring the sunny, holiday vibes to your bathroom too. Approx £52, bongusta.dk
Beach towel in ‘Candy Stripes’, Hommey
This Australian homeware company started out life selling cushions, but its towel selection is what caught our eye and you can see why: this beach towel pairs delectable shades with bold stripes and an extra-large surface area ideal for lounging on. £59, gethommey.com
Towel in ‘Fence’, Dusen Dusen
Make a splash by the pool with this vibrant towel by Dusen Dusen. Founder Ellen Van Dusen credits ‘the brain’s reaction to colour and contrast’ as pattern inspiration. £55, revolve.com
‘Logo’ beach towel, Marimekko
Apple and pink is a hard colour combination to beat, which is why this ‘Logo’ beach towel is heading to the top of our shopping list. Plus, with the brand’s logo written across both sides, it’s impossible to miss in the sand. £75, marimekko.com
‘Willis’ towel in ‘Sand & Noir’, Baina
It’s the 100th anniversary of art deco, so when else better to invest in a towel inspired by the movement? Baina’s new ‘Willis’ towel translates the repeated geometric patterns often seen in art deco architecture onto a cotton towel which is catnip to design lovers. £85, shopbaina.com
‘Big Fish’ cotton towel, Anut Cairo
On the lighter end of the beach towel spectrum, this playful design can be easily folded and slotted into a tote or suitcase. It’s handmade in Cairo, where the exciting new homeware brand is based. £116 for two, abask.com
‘Green Striped Cotton Beach Towel’, Oas Company
If you’re looking for a contemporary spin on the traditional striped beach towel, then Stockholm-based Oas Company’s design is just the one. Comprised of striking fern green and black shades, it’s a chic option that will never go out of fashion. £75, farfetch.com
‘Parrots’ beach towel, Jonathan Adler
Animal-themed towels are having a moment (this is the second on our list), with Jonathan Adler’s feathery parrot-print towel inspired by the ‘spirit of resort glamour’. At an impressive 520 grams per square metres (GSM) thick, it’ll make you feel like you’re wrapped in plush spa-like towelling. £98, uk.jonathanadler.com
‘The Beach Towel’, Business & Pleasure Co
Make a splash by the pool with this vibrant towel by Business & Pleasure Co. Available in 23 colourways there is no doubt something to suit every taste, but we love this uplifting yellow option. With scalloped edges and 600-GSM towelling it gives off a luxury resort feel. £69, businessandpleasureco.com
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