Bishop Rock Lighthouse in England 2025

The Bishop Rock is a small islet in the Atlantic Ocean famous for its lighthouse. It belongs to the Isles of Scilly, an archipelago located 45 km (28 mi) off the southwestern tip of the Cornish peninsula of the UK. From 145 Scilly islands, only six have been inhabited. Bishop Rock is the smallest, covering 0.000736 sq. km (8,000 sq. feet). As the world's smallest island that has a building on it, it's listed in the Guinness Book of Records.

The lighthouse appeared on the island in 1847 after a few ships crashed into a rock nearby, but it was shortly washed away. The current building was constructed in 1858. The Bishop Rock was significant since it marked the eastern end of the North Atlantic shipping route. Its western end is the entrance to Lower New York Bay.

The lighthouse now serves as a beacon of light for ships and a small hotel for four people. When the tide is high, the base of the lighthouse covers the whole island, giving no space for anything else. In the 19th century, the structure was called “King of the Lighthouses.” It is also the second tallest in the UK, 50 m high (167 feet). It has ten floors consisting of two oil rooms, a living room, a bedroom, and a helipad.

The Bishop Rock cruises run from April through October, although they are weather dependent and might get cancelled if the sea is rough.