11 Beaches Near London for When You Need a Reset
You don’t need a boarding pass to enjoy sun, sea, and sand; some of the UK’s best beaches are just a short journey from London.
Whether you’re planning a summer escape or a windswept winter walk, these coastal spots offer a refreshing break from city life.
All our picks are within two and a half hours of London, making them perfect for a day trip.
Just be sure to check tide times, local rules on dogs and BBQs, and leave early if it’s sunny because you won’t be the only one heading for the coast.
Don’t forget the SPF.
Pack a good sun cream and reapply regularly. You can get sunburn in the UK too!
The best beaches near London
Ruislip Lido Beach
Never mind beaches near London, how about a beach in London?!
Ruislip Lido Beach is a reservoir and artificial beach in Ruislip, Hillingdon.
It’s worth pointing out that swimming and boating are not allowed at the lake (visit one of London’s outdoor pools if you want to splash around) and on a hot day, it gets super busy.
Kids will enjoy the climbing frames, play area, ice cream at the café and a ride on the miniature train around the lake.
Camber Sands, East Sussex
Camber Sands is one of the most popular beaches near London and for good reason.
There are over two miles of golden sandy beach and the area is home to the only sand dune system in East Sussex, which provides valuable natural habitat to many animals and plants.
Keep an eye out for seals!
The beach gets very busy so make sure your children are close to you at all times.
If you get separated from the kids, Bexhill and Camber Sands beaches operate a wristband system to assist in reuniting lost children.
It’s worth taking the kids for a pitstop at the coastal office or speaking to beach patrol before you settle down on the beach for advice on how to make sure your visit is safe and enjoyable.
To make the beach a safer environment for the family, there is a ‘Water Sports Zone’ suitable for kite surfing and other water sports activities.
When you’re all beached out; try one of the area’s fine-dining restaurants.
Or see if you can find the scenes where The Monuments Men (starring George Clooney), Christopher Nolan’s Dunkirk and Eddie Redmayne in The Theory of Everything were filmed.
Brighton Beach
Brighton is a pebble beach so no building sandcastles here.
Not sure who counted, but apparently there are around 614,600,000 pebbles here.
Brighton is good for active teenagers – they can try kayaking, stand-up paddle boarding, volleyball or Frisbee.
If that all sounds like too much hard work, simply hire a deckchair and enjoy ice cream and some people-watching.
Voted one of the Top 10 city beach break destinations in the world, the beach is home to Brighton Palace Pier and its helter-skelter and arcade games.
Pop next door for giant turtles, sharks and seahorses at Sea Life Brighton.
Sunny Sands, Kent
Also known as Folkestone Beach, this sandy stretch of coastline is one of the closest sandy beaches to London.
Facilities close by include cafés, pubs, shops and toilets.
Apparently, the sand here is great for making sandcastles.
In fact, the sand is so good here it is home to the annual Folkestone sandcastle competition so come prepared with your best bucket and spade.
Frensham Beach, Surrey
Less than two hours away from London by train, this sandy beach faces Frensham Pond.
The water quality is excellent and swimming is allowed.
You can sunbathe on the sand and swim in calm waters while the kids splash around on shallow edges.
They’ll be able to play with beach balls, build sandcastles and eat ice cream.
Once you’ve dried off, make a pit stop at The Sculpture Park.
Broadstairs Beach, Kent
There are lots of beaches in Kent but our favourites are Whitstable (great seafood but pebbly so best for a walk) and Broadstairs.
Broadstairs has Blue Flag sandy beaches; traditional amusement arcades; contemporary art galleries; and a whole host of restaurants, cafes, bars and bistros.
While you’re in Broadstairs, visit Dickens House Museum, Crampton House Museum and Lilyputt Mini Golf.
Walton-on-the-Naze, Essex
Another sandy beach only 90 minutes away so perfect for a day trip from London (by train), Walton-on-the-Naze is also home to the second-longest pier in Great Britain.
Apparently, the sand here is the perfect consistency for building sandcastles.
The gently shelving sand provides safe bathing and there is a seasonal lifeguard service.
Enjoy the classic seaside amusements and beachside cafés.
If you have a four-legged friend, dogs are banned from areas of the beach from 1 May to 30 September.
Bournemouth, Dorset
A two hour train ride is more than worth it when you get to Bournemouth Beach.
The beach is a sprawling eleven miles long so it’s easier to find a secluded space.
It was named the UK’s most Family Friendly Destination in 2020.
Clean, sandy beaches with a “friendly and vibrant” feel is how voters described the Dorset-based beach, home to several Blue Flag award-winning stretches.
To avoid crowds, use the free BCPBeachCheck app.
It has a live traffic light system using the latest technology to help visitors and residents avoid busy hotspots.
While you’re there, visit Smugglers Cove Adventure Golf, an 18-hole golf course that takes players on a treacherous journey through the 1700s and 1800s.
West Wittering Beach, West Sussex
90 minutes from London, this charmingly named beach has amazing views of Chichester Harbour, an Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty packed with wildlife.
Botany Bay, Kent
Quite possibly the most Instagrammed beach on our list, Botany Bay (no relation to its Australian namesake) has stunning white cliffs.
Take the kids to explore the rock pools.
Mersea Island, Essex
Another stunning beach, careful planning is required as Mersea Island gets cut off from the mainland at high tide.
Try the sunny South Beach for a beach seaside day out only one hour away from London.
Make your stay that much more pleasurable and hire one of the beach huts that line the sandy beach.
Minnis Bay, Kent
Perfect for water sports, windsurfing and sailing, the beach disappears at high tide.
Visiting a beach near London this year?
Here’s how to make the most of your trip:
Find the right seaside location to visit
One of the first things to do is find the right seaside location for your visit.
Will this visit be a day trip or part of your annual holiday?
Think about what you want to do when you are there.
Of course, the main attraction will be the lovely beach and a potential dip in the ocean, but most seaside locations will have more to offer.
Does the seaside town have a pier or other close-by attractions you can visit?
Plan your trip with this in mind, especially if you need to book tickets in advance for shows or attractions you want to experience.
Don’t be put off by what the weatherman says
There is no denying that the UK weather is not easy to predict!
So if you have decided that you want to visit the seaside on a specific day, try not to let what the weatherman has said put you off.
There may be rain or wall-to-wall sunshine, but you can never guarantee the weather, good or bad.
Instead, plan for every eventuality.
This includes having a backup plan if your trip to the beach is likely to be interrupted because of wind or rain.
Think of different activities to do while you are there
Heading to the seaside this year may involve traditional activities such as building sandcastles or enjoying the water, but consider some of the other activities you can do while you are at the beach.
A fun activity that you can do in all weathers is beach combing where you literally scour the beach to see what you can find.
Many people are lucky to discover sea glass or even find fossils.
It’s a great way to keep children occupied if you find that the usual activities you would enjoy on the beach are interrupted because of the weather.
You could also look to do water sports or kite flying if it’s not too wet and windy.
Embrace the traditions
Embrace some British traditions on your seaside trip!
Try:
- Building a sandcastle
- Digging a huge hole
- Crabbing on the pier
- Searching through rockpools to see what you can find
- Embracing the water and snorkelling or swimming in the sea
- Flying a kite
- Enjoying a donkey ride
- Having fish and chips for lunch or dinner
- Enjoying an ice cream
These are all traditionally associated with a trip to the beach, and you can enjoy them whether it is a sunny day, or if you need to wrap up warm.
The fresh air, the sea breeze, the new surroundings and trying different things will all become part of the memory of your trip to the seaside.
Pack for every eventuality
As you can never know how the weather will turn out, it is best to pack for your day out or summer holiday with every eventuality in mind.
Take plenty of layers with you as the weather can be hot one minute and then cold the next.
You should also ensure that you pack sunscreen, even if it looks cloudy.
UV rays can be strong even when it is breezy.
Also, pack your umbrellas and raincoats for those unexpected downpours.
Take snacks and drinks with you
The British seaside can be a little different compared to beach days that you might experience when you enjoy international travel.
Many beaches abroad have shops, bars, and restaurants close by and within walking distance.
As the British seaside can be vast with large coastal spaces, there may not be places to eat and drink close by if you suddenly need a cold drink of water or something to eat.
So make sure you bring a cooler bag filled with plenty of snacks and water to keep the whole family satisfied.
Don’t sweat the small stuff
Family days out can be testing on your stress levels, and a day out at the beach can present many possibilities where you feel stressed, rushed, or anxious.
However, try not to sweat the small stuff.
It might be hard to let your inhibitions go a little, but a day at the beach is a great way to spend time as a family.
Plan for the end of the day
Last of all, it is important that you plan for the end of the day.
You and the family will probably be full of sand, have wet clothes and be feeling tired.
To finish a great day spent outdoors, bring along a spare pair of clothes, a bag that can hold all the wet clothes and towels, and also a change of shoes so you can keep your car clean at the end of the day.
If you have brought the dog with you for your trip away, pack separate towels and a place for them to sit in the car where they can dry off.
What are your tips for a family trip to the seaside?
