From Camber Sands’ five miles of sand to the pirate caves of Botany Bay and the oyster bars of Whitstable, here is our definitive guide to the best beaches within reach of London.
Is there anything better than a day at the beach? The sun on your face, sand between your toes (or pebbles, this is England), fish and chips eaten from the paper while seagulls plot against you. London is further from the sea than it can feel, but the south and east coasts of England are more accessible than most Londoners realise, and some genuinely extraordinary beaches are within two hours on a train.
We’ve organised this guide to make it as useful as possible, whether you want the closest beach to London, the best sandy beach, a family-friendly option, or somewhere that’s genuinely worth the longer journey.
Quick answers: what you need to know
- What is the closest beach to London? Southend-on-Sea, around an hour from Fenchurch Street or Liverpool Street.
- What is the best sandy beach near London by train? Camber Sands is the best sandy beach, reached from St Pancras to Rye in about an hour.
- What is the best beach near London for families? Margate, Ramsgate and Broadstairs all work well for families. Margate has the best transport links.
- What is the best beach near London accessible by car? Botany Bay and Deal are both under 90 minutes and less crowded than the train-accessible alternatives.
- What are the most unspoiled beaches near London? Frinton-on-Sea, Dungeness, Deal and Climping are the quietest and least developed.
Best Beaches Near London By Train
Brighton
The classic London beach escape and still the best, if only because the package is so complete. The pebbly beach is long, lined with colourful beach huts, ice cream stalls and the kind of cafes that make you want to stay all afternoon. Lucky Beach Café is the best of them. The lanes, the pier, the summer film screenings on the beach, the rooftop bars, the sense that you’ve arrived somewhere that takes its own personality seriously: Brighton rewards every visit.
Getting there: Around one hour from London Bridge or Victoria. Multiple direct trains daily.
Margate
Margate has had a genuine cultural moment over the last decade and earned it. The Turner Contemporary gallery, the Old Town’s independent shops and restaurants, the restored Dreamland amusement park and the genuinely beautiful Margate Sands have turned what was a faded seaside resort into one of the most interesting day trips from London. It’s also an easy train journey.
Getting there: Around 1.5 hours from St Pancras or Victoria.
Herne Bay
One of the most popular Victorian seaside destinations in England, Herne Bay has the bones of a proper seaside town: a long promenade, a pier (or rather, the remains of one, which gives it a particular romantic melancholy), good fish and chips and a pebbly beach that’s particularly good for families. Less fashionable than Whitstable, which means it’s considerably less crowded.
Getting there: Around 1.5 hours from Victoria, Cannon Street or St Pancras.
Southend-on-Sea
The closest beach to London and proud of it. Southend has eight distinct beaches, the world’s longest pleasure pier at 1.33 miles, and the kind of cheerful, unpretentious seaside atmosphere that the more fashionable resorts have spent years trying to recreate. Leigh Bell Wharf Beach is our pick of the eight: smaller, quieter and more characterful than the central Three Shells beach.
Getting there: Around one hour from Fenchurch Street or Liverpool Street to Southend Central or Southend Victoria.
Whitstable
Whitstable’s reputation rests on its oysters, and the reputation is justified. Tankerton beach, the main strand, is pebbly and picturesque, but the town’s real draw is the food. The Whitstable Oyster Company is the famous option; the Crab and Winkle is the local’s choice. The beach huts along the seafront are among the most photographed in Kent.
Getting there: Around 1.5 hours from Victoria, Cannon Street or St Pancras.
Deal
One of the most criminally underrated beach towns in England. Deal has a long shingle beach, an exceptional high street of independent shops, some of the best fish and chips in Kent, a Tudor castle (Deal Castle, built by Henry VIII in 1539) and a strong literary and artistic community that has been quietly doing its thing for decades. The town feels entirely unspoiled despite being well-connected. One of our top recommendations on this list.
Getting there: Around 1h 24m from St Pancras. Direct trains depart hourly.
Hastings
Hastings has been having a moment. The creative community that moved in when rents were cheap has gradually transformed what was a rough-around-the-edges fishing town into something considerably more interesting, with independent galleries, good restaurants and a genuinely distinctive character. The beach is pebbly with some sandy sections, the Old Town is beautiful and the underground BMX skatepark is apparently the world’s largest. The fishing boats still launch from the beach.
Getting there: Under two hours from Charing Cross, Cannon Street or St Pancras.
Hove
Hastings has been having a moment. The creative community that moved in when rents were cheap has gradually transformed what was a rough-around-the-edges fishing town into something considerably more interesting, with independent galleries, good restaurants and a genuinely distinctive character. The beach is pebbly with some sandy sections, the Old Town is beautiful and the underground BMX skatepark is apparently the world’s largest. The fishing boats still launch from the beach.
Getting there: Under two hours from Charing Cross, Cannon Street or St Pancras.
Eastbourne
Charming in a different way from the hipper Kent resorts, Eastbourne does Victorian seaside Britain with commitment. The pier is magnificent. The seafront hotels are grand and slightly faded in exactly the right way. The beach is pebbly rather than sandy, but the setting and atmosphere more than compensate.
Getting there: Around 1.5 hours from London Bridge or Victoria.
Climping
One of the less visited beaches on this list, and all the better for it. A stretch of pebble and sand in West Sussex where space is rarely a problem.
Getting there: Around 2 hours from Victoria to Littlehampton, then a taxi or three-mile walk to the beach.
Camber Sands
The best sandy beach within easy reach of London, and one of the finest in the south of England. Five miles of wide, golden sand, calm sea, and the kind of dunes that make the whole place feel more Mediterranean than East Sussex. Popular with kitesurfers in the windier months and everyone else in summer. Go early on warm weekends.
Getting there: Around one hour from St Pancras to Rye, then the 711 bus to Camber Sands.
Bournemouth
The furthest beach on this list and the most conventionally beautiful. Over 11 miles of sand, a well-maintained pier, good restaurants and the kind of seaside infrastructure that comes from decades of serious investment. Worth the journey if you’re making a weekend of it.
Getting there: Around 2 hours from Waterloo. Direct trains depart regularly.
Frinton-on-Sea
One of the most quietly extraordinary beaches near London and one of the least visited. Frinton is the most unspoiled resort on the Essex coast: no pubs, no amusement arcades, no chip shops on the seafront. What it does have is a beautiful greensward behind the beach, clean sand, gentle surf and an Edwardian calm that feels genuinely unlike anywhere else. The train service is infrequent, which is part of why it stays quiet. Go on a weekday.
Getting there: Around 1.5 to 2 hours from Liverpool Street with a change at Colchester or Thorpe-le-Soken. Check timetables before you go as services are limited.
West Wittering
The best sandy beach in West Sussex and one of the finest family beaches near London. Chichester Harbour on one side, the open sea on the other, clean water, beautiful sand and a well-managed car park that fills up fast on warm weekends. Book parking in advance in summer.
Getting there: Around 1.5 hours from Victoria to Chichester, then a short bus ride or taxi.
Goring Beach
If you want a beach that feels genuinely unhurried and unpretentious, Goring is one of the best options near London. The pebbly West Sussex shore has largely avoided overdevelopment and retains a quiet, traditional character. Make sure you’re heading to Goring-by-the-Sea, not the one near Reading.
Getting there: Around 1.5 hours from Victoria or London Bridge to Durrington-on-Sea, then less than 20 minutes’ walk.
Bexhill on Sea
Historic, atmospheric and rarely crowded. Bexhill’s De La Warr Pavilion, a Modernist masterpiece built in 1935, is reason enough to visit on its own. The beach is mostly pebble with beach huts and lifeguards, and the town has a pleasingly unhurried pace.
Getting there: Just under 2 hours from Victoria, or connect via Brighton.
Ramsgate
One of the closest sandy beaches to London, with chalk cliffs, a working marina and harbour, and a beach that’s particularly good for families. The town has been genuinely improving in recent years, with better restaurants and cafes joining the fish and chip shops that have always been here. Worth combining with a trip to nearby Broadstairs.
Getting there: Around 1.5 to 2 hours from Charing Cross, St Pancras or Victoria.
Best beaches near London by car
Kingsgate Bay – Broadstairs
Broadstairs is the most charming of the Thanet seaside towns, with Viking Bay, its main beach, offering soft sand in a natural cove that feels remarkably sheltered and picturesque. Kingsgate Bay, a short walk away, is arguably more striking: white chalk cliffs, sea caves carved into the rock where smugglers once hid, and a beach that’s less visited than Viking Bay. Do both.
Getting there: Around 1.5 to 2 hours from St Pancras or Victoria to Margate, then the Breeze bus to Kingsgate.
Cuckmere Haven
Not a beach you come to for swimming or sunbathing: a beach you come to for one of the most dramatic views in the south of England. The meeting of the River Cuckmere with the English Channel, backed by the chalk cliffs of the Seven Sisters, is something genuinely extraordinary. Harry Potter fans may recognise the backdrop from The Goblet of Fire.
Getting there: Take the train to Seaford or Eastbourne and walk or taxi to the beach. Around 1.5 hours from London.
Felixstowe
A proper family-friendly beach in Suffolk, particularly good for shelling: the sandy shingle yields some genuinely beautiful finds. Clear water, plenty to do, and a town with enough character to reward an afternoon.
Getting there: Around 2 hours from Liverpool Street to Ipswich, then local buses to Felixstowe.
Greatstone Beach Romney Marsh
Soft sand washed by the English Channel for thousands of years, wide dunes, a beautiful coastal walk and a genuine sense of space. One of the best car-accessible beaches on this list.
Getting there: Around 1.5 hours’ drive from London, or take the train from St Pancras to Folkestone Central and the 102 bus.
Pevensey Bay
Small, pebbly and calm, with good swimming and Pevensey Castle nearby for those who want to combine beach and history. Less crowded than many of the other East Sussex beaches.
Getting there: Around 2.5 hours from Victoria to Hampden Park, then local buses.
Isle of Grain
Handily located near Rochester in Kent, the Isle of Grain beach offers areas of shingle and sand on the Hoo peninsula – though, we don’t know about you, but we’d always pick sand.
Not only is this one of the closest beaches to London – just over an hour’s drive away – but you’ve also got pretty woodland nearby so you can go for a walk, settle on the beach, or even have a go at rock pooling in one of the many spots dotted across the sand.
Pssst… keep your eyes peeled over the water as you might just be able to spot Essex across the way!
Getting There: It’s a pretty straightforward drive to the end of the B2001 towards the Isle of Grain. Head past St James Church and you’ll reach the Grain Coastal Park car park – ME3 0BS.
Botany Bay
Often overshadowed by the nearby Margate, Botany Bay is another gem on the Kent coast (and arguably the best beach near London!).
This beautiful white sand beach near London was once a haven for pirates, and you can still see the caves carved into the cliffs where they once hid – climb in and take a peek for yourself!
For the ultimate British seaside escape, head to the Botany Bay Hotel and treat yourself to picturesque views of the bay whilst you munch on a pub lunch.
Getting There: Whilst you can get a train there (with a change and a short walk), we recommend driving the 80 minutes to the Kent Coast – it’s super easy.
St Margaret’s at Cliffe
Whilst it’s not the closest beach to London, St Margaret’s at Cliffe is worth the drive. Situated under the iconic white cliffs of Dover, this is a charming shingle beach with a historical twist.
This beach offers the best of both worlds: a perfect place to relax, or you can spot WWII defences at the south of the beach and head to the cliffs to navigate a network of secret tunnels that were key during the war.
Or, if that’s not your thing, make your way to the Coastguard pub for drinks overlooking the water.
Getting There: For a car journey under two hours long (much quicker than the trains here), head to Dover via the M2 and A2, before travelling on the A258 at Guston until you arrive. Don’t worry, you’ve got plenty of parking options available to you.
The Naze
For a quieter beach near London, head to The Naze. It’s hard to miss, just find the colourful beach huts and turn the corner to a hidden sandy spot.
This beach is pretty impressive – where else can you still stumble across million-years-old shark teeth nestled in amongst the cliffs? Whether you want to spend a day splashing in the sea or enjoying the 30-mile views from atop the nearby Folly Tower, this is a little slice of paradise near the capital.
Getting There: To get to The Naze, you’ll need to head north through Essex towards Frinton-on-sea. This is a 90-minute drive, but it’s well worth it for the pretty views. Naze car park is nearby, so make sure to pack those deckchairs!
Frensham Beach
Well, technically the title of this spot is Frensham Great Pond, however, that doesn’t quite have the same ring to it. In fact, that’s doing this beachy location a huge disservice.
Located in Frensham Common, the beach boasts plenty of sand and two separate swimming areas – so you can get all your beachy needs without having to travel to the middle of nowhere.
As you may expect this beach gets incredibly busy when the sun comes out, so head here early to grab a great sunbathing spot.
Getting There: To get here, take a train from Waterloo to Farnham and then hop on bus 19 towards St Mary’s School. Alternatively, it’s a 90 minute drive from central London.
Mersea Island
Known for having an abundance of fresh seafood on the island, Mersea is a haven for those looking to eat oysters and shellfish (make sure to visit The Company Shed for lunch).
This beautiful island and surrounding beach has a somewhat tropical feel to it, which is only aided by the pastel coloured beach huts that line the coast. We’ll be honest, Mersea Island boasts some of the best sand in the UK – not a horrible shingle in sight.
The island and beach is only accessible for part of the day so be careful, as you need to make sure you’re back on the mainland before the tide comes in at sunset.
Getting There: Logistically, getting to Mersea Island can be a little bit tricky. But, we promise it’s worth the planning. To get to this little island from London, you need to take a train from Liverpool Street to Colchester, followed by the bus 86 towards Mersea. In all honesty, it’s worth renting a car for this trip as you need to time your visit with the tides.
Joss Bay
Known by many as Kent’s best beach, Joss Bay is a little cove sheltered by soaring chalk cliffs. While it gets incredibly busy during the summer months, it’s worth heading here early to nab yourself a little corner of bliss.
If you’re a surfer, you’ll want to visit Joss Bay – it’s known for having the best waves in Kent (it’s not quite Newquay, but it comes close). There’s a surf school just on the fringes of the beach and also a golf club if you fancy playing a round or two.
We’re more than happy just to recline on the sand with a book, though.
Getting There: Take a train from Victoria to Ramsgate, followed by a bus to Knight’s Avenue and a short walk to the beach.
Folkestone Beach
Known for having some of the clearest waters in the South East, Folkestone Beach is a lovely place to be if you plan to spend most of your time in the water. It also has the benefit of being very easy to get to (just a train ride and a short walk from central London).
Being right on the edge of Folkestone you’ll also have more than enough options for food, drinks, and of course, the all important ice creams.
Getting There: Take the train from St. Pancras to Folkestone Central and take a short walk (10-15 mins) through town to the beach.
Dungeness East, Lydd
You won’t find much sand here, but what you will find is an expansive shingle beach – one of Europe’s largest in fact. Though it’s not particularly bucket-and-spade material Dungeness East is a strangely beautiful place with heaps of charm.
Don’t take our word for it. The area has been home to artists, writers and thinkers for hundreds of years, including and most recently director Derek Jarman. We back their decision. A brisk walk along the seafront is as good for clearing the head as a freezing dip in the sea.
Nature lovers will also get a particular kick out of the 600 species of flora and fauna on the coast.
Getting There: You’ll probably want to drive. Taking public transport can be a close-to-three-hour ordeal involving heady combinations of buses and trains. Driving will take a little over an hour.
Shoreham Beach
Just a little further along from Hove beach (and therefore, Brighton) you can find the idyllic Shoreham Beach – idyllic because while Brighton beach groans under the strain of all those seaside-seeking Londoners, Shoreham remains relatively quiet.
The quality of the beach itself is much the same as Brightons. Lots of rocks, a similar brownishness to the channel water. Stroll east along the beach and you’ll find a slice of history in Shoreham Redoubt, a 19th century fortification.
Getting there: You can take a train direct to Shoreham from Victoria, or take the 700 bus from Brighton. Of course, trains also run from Brighton station.
Worth knowing about: London’s inland beaches
Ruislip Lido
Technically not a seaside beach, but if leaving the M25 genuinely isn’t going to happen, Ruislip Lido is a 60-acre lake with a sandy beach that counts as London’s nearest genuine beach experience. The miniature railway that runs around the perimeter is a legitimate attraction. It’s free to visit the beach area.
Getting there: Piccadilly or Metropolitan line to Ruislip, then the H13 bus.
Frensham Great Pond
Another inland option, but a very good one. A large heathland pond with sandy shores and two supervised swimming areas in Frensham Common, Surrey. Gets extremely busy on warm weekends, so go early or choose a weekday.
Getting there: Train from Waterloo to Farnham, then bus 19 towards St Mary’s School. Around 1.5 hours. Also around 90 minutes by car from central London.
