All Articles 12 best beaches near London for your next weekend break

12 best beaches near London for your next weekend break

A family walking on Whitstable Beach in Kent near London
Image: Michael L / Tripadvisor
By Leo Goh10 Mar 2022 4 minutes read

What better way to escape the hustle and bustle of London than to head out to the nearest beach? With thousands of miles of coastline, the U.K. has hundreds of beaches scattered across the country–and if you’re in London, you don’t have to travel far for some beach time. So grab your sunscreen and let’s hit the beach.

1. Whitstable Beach, Kent

Whitstable Beach, Kent near London
Image: AKKH / Tripadvisor

Did you really visit Whitstable if you didn’t take a photo by the brightly colored beach huts? They’re the most Instagrammable feature of the beach. This west-facing shingle beach is also a great spot to catch the sunset after whiling away the afternoon catching a tan.

Of course, you must have the local Whitstable oysters at the Whitstable Oyster Company or fish and chips at The Forge if you’re looking for a full meal. Don’t miss the Old Neptune Pub for a good ol’ British pint by the sea.

Getting there

By car: 1 hour

By train: 1 hour 15 minutes from London St Pancras International to Whitstable

2. Port Meadow, Oxford

A father and toddler by the banks of Port Meadow beach in Oxford near London
Image: lilafeld / Tripadvisor

Popular among nature lovers, Port Meadow has lots of lush greenery surrounding the blue lake. If you’ve always wanted to see cows and horses up close, roaming wild and free, Port Meadow’s the place. Have a picnic by the water to soak in the peaceful vibe but don’t forget to clear up your rubbish before you leave; you don’t want the wild animals to eat your leftovers.

Getting there

By car: 1 hour 10 minutes

By train: 50 minutes from London Paddington to Oxford, and then a 15-minute walk

3. Birling Gap, East Sussex

Birling Gap beach in East Sussex near London
Image: stanmansurrey / Tripadvisor

Birling Gap is part of the Seven Sister’s chalk cliffs, one of the longest underdeveloped coastlines on the south coast. This beach is perfect for fossil hunting or a lazy afternoon soak in a rock pool (watch out for sharp rocks, though). Head over to the nearby National Trust Cafe if you have the midday munchies, and if you’re hungry for more exploration, venture east to Beachy Head, Britain’s tallest sea cliff.

Getting there

By car: 1 hour 30 minutes

By train: 1 hour from London Victoria to Brighton, and then bus it to the Seven Sisters (about 1 hour)

4. East Beach, Littlehampton, West Sussex

East Beach in West Sussex near London
Colorful little houses along East Beach in West Sussex
Image: Dave Puls (left), CHARLESKH55 (right) / Tripadvisor

This award-winning sand and pebble beach is one for families. At East Beach, or Littlehampton Beach, you can explore tide pools for underwater creatures when tides are low or build sandcastles with the little ones. Head to the East Beach Cafe for fantastic food and cool architecture.

Getting there

By car: 2 hours 30 minutes

By train: 1 hour 40 minutes from London Victoria or London Bridge to Littlehampton

5. Minnis Bay, Birchington, Kent

A toddler standing on Minnis Bay beach in Birchington, Kent near London
Image: The Unlikely Mummy / Tripadvisor

Located on the north Kent coast, Minnis Bay is a family-friendly beach east of the Thames Estuary. Here, you can enjoy lots of watersports activities such as kayaking, windsurfing, paddling, and sailing. There’s a restaurant near the beach and an ice cream kiosk and a cafe on the promenade.

Getting there

By car: 2 hours

By train: 1 hour 30 minutes from London St Pancras to Birchington-on-Sea, plus a short walk

6. West Dunes, Camber Sands

West Dunes beach, Camber Sands near London
Image: Jeremy Jacobs / Tripadvisor

Well known for its soft sand and dunes, West Dunes can get pretty busy, so head towards the beach's western end to escape the crowds. If you’re thinking of food after a day under the sun, The Gallivant offers some delicious gastro-bistro grub.

Getting there

By car: 1 hour 10 minutes

By train: 1 hour from London St Pancras to Ashford International, and at Ashford, change on to Rye

7. Climping Beach, Littlehampton

Climping Beach, Littlehampton near London
Image: Management / Tripadvisor

Known for its tranquility, Climping Beach is a rural beach located about halfway between Littlehampton and Bognor, that’s great for kitesurfing and windsurfing as well. Fun fact: Climping Beach was a filming spot for a few episodes of Doctor Who in the ’60s and ’70s.

Getting there

By car: 1 hour 30 minutes

By train: 1 hour 40 minutes from London Victoria to Littlehampton

8. Botany Bay, Broadstairs

A girl walking on Botany Bay beach in Broadstairs near London
Image: Laura / Tripadvisor

Botany Bay is an underdeveloped sandy beach with white cliffs and sea caves. It’s great for exploring fossils and rock pools when the tide is out. The Botany Bay Hotel, perched on a magnificent clifftop, is a good spot for a pub lunch with a view.

Getting there

By car: 2 hours

By train: 1 hour 40 minutes from London St Pancras, London Victoria, or London Cannon Street to Broadstairs, and then a short bus ride

9. St Margaret’s at Cliffe, Dover

St Margaret’s Beach at Cliffe, Dover near London
Image: Parren75 / Tripadvisor

Under the famous white cliffs of Dover, this shingle bay beach has its own pub, named The Coastguard, with tables overlooking the sea. Enjoy a slice of history with the remains of Napoleonic wall defenders and World War II gun turrets at the southern end of St Margaret’s. After a day of exploration, re-energize yourself at The Pines Garden cafe, located right above the beach.

Getting there

By car: 1 hour 20 minutes

By train: 1 hour from London St Pancras to Dover Priory

10. Mersea Stone Beach, East Mersea

Mersea Stone Beach, East Mersea near London
Image: places2seeplaces2go / Tripadvisor

Mersea Island is where you’ll find some of the world’s finest oysters. If you enjoy collecting shiny oyster shells, head towards the east side of Mersea Stone Beach to hunt for your treasure. For the freshest seafood, The Company Shed on the west side of the island won’t let you down.

Getting there

By car: 1 hour 30 minutes

By train: 1 hour from London Liverpool Street to Colchester, and then a 45-minute bus ride to Mersea Island

11. Fingringhoe Wick, Colchester

Fingringhoe Wick, Colne
Image: Essexexplorers / Tripadvisor

Hidden behind the lakes and grassland of Fingringhoe Wick Nature Reserve, this sandy beach is famous for its nightingales. It also overlooks the Colne Estuary, offering sweeping views of the area. At low tide, you’ll be even able to see the wreck of an old barge built in the 1800s.

Getting there

By car: 1 hour 20 minutes

By train: 1 hour 40 minutes from London Liverpool Street to Wivenhoe

12. Dungeness Beach, Kent

Shipwrecked boats on Dungeness Beach, Kent near London
Image: ldgp14 / Tripadvisor

Perhaps the most intriguing and quirky of the bunch, Dungeness Beach is surrounded by rubber-clad houses and old railway carriages. Technically a desert, Dungeness is home to 600 species of plants and many rare insects.

Getting there

By car: 2 hours

By train: One hour from London St Pancras to Folkstone, plus a 1-hour 30-minute bus ride to Dungeness

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Leo Goh
Leo Goh is a lifestyle and introspective writer. She has previously been published on Hype & Stuff, Singaplex and Rice Media. Fueled by curiosity and strong opinions, she will write about anything that catches her attention.