by Whisper it: summer has come, it seems. That means hot, bustling days in London, and a desire to leave the capital for the sea. All the necessary warnings about the quality of the swimming aside, there is nothing more glorious than a sunny day by the sea, and, luckily, they are not too difficult to access from the city.
In addition, there is no need to get into traffic. Some glorious beaches are very easy to reach by train from London. Whether it’s the kitschy delights of Margate or Whitstable in Kent, or the long, sweeping sands of Sussex, the car can be fully ditched for a great day out. There is only one exception to the rule, thanks to its remote location (and it’s totally worth the trip).
All these trips, due to their proximity to the capital, can be done in a day, but many of them have beautiful places – precisely because of their constant appeal – to spend the night. Here are the top 10 beaches to visit from London.
Walton-on-the-Naze, Essex
For colorful beach huts and bunting-string promenades, Walton-on-the-Naze is the place to be. There are many facilities on the seafront which are ideal for a weekend on the coast: grab a coffee and cake from the Nazi Tower cafe, then walk along its pier – the second longest in Britain. A mile north of the beach, the headland is a Site of Special Scientific Interest, and the bush is famous for its abundance of fossils.
If you are thinking of taking a four-legged friend, it is worth noting that dogs are banned from the beach between 1 May and 30 September.
How to get there
Greater Anglia operates trains from London Liverpool Street to Walton-on-the-Naze, with a change at Thorpe-le-Soken. The journey takes one hour and 40 minutes.
Where to stay
The Scandi-style Lifehouse Spa & Hotel, in Thorpe-le-Soken, was a hit with our expert. Rooms start at £229 per night.
Whitstable, Kent
Whitstable is an archetypal seaside resort on the south coast, with its hand-painted shop fronts and fresh fish restaurants. After a dip in the (sometimes chilly) sea head to Whitstable Castle and explore the 18th century manor house. Or stay on the beach and sample the fresh oysters at The Forge (or their scampi with a crisp beer). Open until sunset, it is the ideal base for people-watching.
How to get there
Southeastern trains from London Victoria to Whitstable take one hour and 20 minutes.
Where to stay
Hotel Continental offers beach-chic rooms with sea views. Rooms start at £126 per night.
Margate, Kent
Margate has enjoyed a renaissance in recent years, with our expert describing it as “well and truly on the up”. Although the horizon-defying beach can get busy on the hottest days, it’s undeniably a delightful spot. The train from St Pancras only takes around 90 minutes, making it an easy and accessible day out.
As for the beach itself, wild swimmers will enjoy the tidal pool in the middle: a delight for casual swimmers and serious lane swimmers alike. A more nostalgic day out could mean a trip to Dreamland, the pastel-pink theme park, which is full of hustle and bustle and kitsch. Further into town, the eccentric Shell Grotto is a great diversion.
How to get there
Southeastern trains from London St Pancras take around 90 minutes, and trains from London Victoria take two hours.
Where to stay
The chic No42 by GuestHouse offers sophisticated views and a sumptuous restaurant. Prices start at £190 per night.
Broadstairs, Kent
If the Margate crush seems unavoidable, try getting off the train earlier, in Broadstairs. A quieter place, the town was, in short, the town of Charles Dickens as he wrote Bleak House. The house where he stayed now sits on a promontory overlooking the wide expanse of the beach, where Punch and Judy reign supreme.
It was enough to choose a spot on the beach and lie flat for a great and enjoyable day. There’s also plenty to explore in the town itself, like the ice cream parlors of the 1950s – try Morelli’s for an unbeatable gelato.
How to get there
Southeastern trains from London St Pancras to Broadstairs take one hour and 20 minutes.
Where to stay
The Bay Tree Hotel is a smart waterfront hotel with 10 rooms. Prices start at £70 per night.
Ramsgate, Kent
Another Auction delight, one that rewards a simple day of buckets and spades with the family. If the weather isn’t favourable, explore the wartime Ramsgate tunnels: the UK’s largest network of underground passages open to visitors. Combine these with the smugglers’ caves, built into the rocks at Pegwell Bay, and you have an adventurous day out.
You can also walk along the coast to Broadstairs from here, meaning you can take in both beaches. Frolic on the sand at Ramsgate, then follow the coastal path along the shore for about 40 minutes – traditional pubs in both towns are great refreshment centres.
How to get there
Southeastern trains from London St Pancras to Ramsgate take two hours.
Where to stay
Rooms from £125 per night are available at the elegantly refurbished Albion Hotel.
Dungeness, Kent
The only exception to our rule… Gloomy, beautiful Dungeness is the place to head for an eerie day on the coast. This coastal expanse is Britain’s only wilderness, but that doesn’t mean it’s sparse: instead, this strange headland is teeming with wildlife. Although it is not impossible, it is quite difficult to get by train. A steam railway operates seasonally between Rye and Dungeness; the more modern traveler is advised to drive.
When they arrive, Prospect Cottage (booking required) is the place to go to see artist Derek Jarman. It is now a creative hub, and its beautifully designed garden, growing poppies and sea kale from sand and pebbles, is a pleasant diversion on a hot day. For more nature, the Dungeness RSPB reserve is home to marsh humps and pipits.
How to get there
It is best to drive to View Cottage – there is a car park to the right of the building. Or travel via the mini railway (more information here).
Where to stay
Castaways B & B is located on the beachfront with views across to Calais. Rooms start at £90 per night.
Brighton, East Sussex
Busy, bright, Brighton. It’s an iconic seaside town for a reason, and your best bet is to arrive early and pick up goodies from The Flour Pot or Sugardough bakeries – think exceptional croissants and freshly baked bread. Walk around The Lanes, then it’s time for the reason you’re here: head to the beach.
The highlight is a stone beach, so towels (or deckchairs) are highly recommended. Once you have your spot, read, relax, and swim to your heart’s content. And remember to stay, because Brighton is at its best at sunset, when the murmurs of mist fly over a blazing sea and the pier lights up. Stay as late as your train ticket allows, or spend the night in one of the city’s many Georgian townhouses.
How to get there
Southern trains from London Victoria and London Bridge to Brighton take around an hour.
Where to stay
The state-of-the-art Una Hotel is one of the best places in the city to spend the night. Rooms from £196. Plan the perfect trip to Brighton with our expert guide.
Littlehampton, West Sussex
Littlehampton is a vision of a British seaside town, with its mile-long stretch of sand and shingle. With lifeguards on duty during the summer (along with the children’s wristband scheme) it’s the perfect sunny day out for the family.
There are plenty of facilities along the promenade: the East Beach cafe is a favourite, with its arched architecture. Or for something more traditional, head inland towards Harbor Park Amusements, home to water slides, arcade games and soft play.
How to get there
Southern trains run from London Victoria to Littlehampton, taking around one hour and 45 minutes.
Where to stay
Move slightly inland to Arundel to stay in the medieval houses of Bailiffscourt Hotel & Spa. A night’s stay starts at £315.
West Wittering, West Sussex
With its tranquil grassy dunes and wide open horizons, West Wittering beach, near the mouth of Chichester harbor, is nothing short of stunning in the summer. Take a picnic blanket and you’ll soon arrive to stake a claim in the sand.
If you’re more adventurous, West and East Wittering are popular with surfers. Not confident enough to do it yourself? Go to one of the nearby surf schools for equipment and instruction.
How to get there
Southern trains operate between London Victoria and Chichester. Bus 52 takes visitors from the station to the Old House at Home pub; from there, it is a short walk to the beach.
Where to stay
The East Walls Hotel is a lovingly restored Georgian villa in Chichester, with rooms starting from £115 per night.
Port Meadow, Oxford
Not all beaches need the sea. Port Meadow, in the northwest corner of Oxford, is a bucolic open space ideal for sunbathing and wild swimming. On the banks of the river Thames there are small sandbars, which means that wild birds and visitors make their (very picturesque) base on a hot day.
Pick up supplies from the city center before heading to the wildflower filled meadows: note that as the commons are still used for grazing, you may be sharing the space with cattle or ponies wild
How to get there
Great Western operates services between London Paddington and Oxford, taking just under an hour. From Oxford station, Port Meadow is a 20 minute walk.
Where to stay
The Porterhouse Grill & Rooms Hotel offers hip rooms from £264 per night. Plan the perfect trip to Oxford with our guide.
