It's been so hot in London this month that I'd been craving a beach day. When my planned trip to Leigh-on-Sea fell through due to rail disruptions, I had to seek an alternative. My search reminded me of all the other great beach day trips I've taken by public transport, and today, I'm sharing eight of my favourites.
Maybe it's because I grew up in Oxford — about as far from the coast as you can get in England — but I've always been drawn to the sea. Even when it's not swimming weather, there's something grounding about strolling on the sand, listening to the waves roll in.
Now that I live in London, I have a host of seaside destinations within an hour or two by train or bus. Of course, some of the most beautiful beaches are only accessible by car or require a long walk from the train station or bus stop. But you don't need a car for an enjoyable beach day.
Whether you prefer sand or pebbles, stunning scenery or amenities galore, my guide will help you find the perfect beach for your next day trip from London. I’ve started with Bournemouth — the most westerly beach on the list — and worked clockwise around the south-east coast.
NB: Some beaches below are patrolled, some aren't. Always pay attention to tide times and local signage, especially about currents. Don't take risks and respect the sea. This was brought home to me when I got caught in a rip tide in Bali. I'm a good swimmer but it was quite scary. Here's the UK RNLI's guide to what to do in a rip current.
Bournemouth
Why go?
Bournemouth's seven miles of golden-sand beach regularly features in lists of the UK's best seaside spots. With that much beach, it's easy enough to find a spot to spread out if you walk a little way from the pier even on the busiest days.
I visited for the first time last month after a small-group tour to Durdle Door and Lulworth Cove (well worth doing if the weather is good!). The weather ended up being cloudy on the Jurassic Coast but it was a glorious evening in Bournemouth. I loved relaxing on the soft sand and swimming in the clear, warm sea.
Beyond the beach
As most of my day was taken up with my visit to Durdle Door, I spent most of my time in Bournemouth on the beach. But I had great specialty coffee at Live On, breakfast at BigWigs Bakery and tried to spot the goats that live on the clifftops.
Getting there
Bournemouth is 100 miles southwest of London. South Western trains run from London Waterloo and take 1h45 to 2 hours. National Express and Flixbus run coaches but they take 3 hours. It's a 20-minute walk or 10-minute bus ride from the station to the beach.
Littlehampton
Why go?
When yesterday's day trip to Leigh-on-Sea fell through, I landed on Littlehampton as an alternative. This West Sussex town has two wonderful beaches — East Beach and West Beach — separated by a narrow channel of the River Arun.
East Beach (featured in the header image) is a mile-long stretch of shingle and sand, although you won't find much sand at high tide. There's a paved promenade along the seafront with cafes, amusements and beach shops. It gets quite busy in the western end but a calmer experience awaits if you stroll east.
And for an even more peaceful experience, head to West Beach, whose sand dunes are part of a nature reserve and a protected area. To get to West Beach, you'll need to cross the footbridge over the river near the train station and then head south to the water.
I walked ten minutes west and there were only a few other people around, even on a sunny Saturday. The tide was out when I arrived, so I had to wade out quite far to swim, although the sea had come in much closer by the time I left. Do watch out for the currents — Lord Byron almost drowned there.
Beyond the beach
I had a wonderful lunch at East Beach Cafe, which is right on the beach. My fish and chips were perfectly cooked and I also enjoyed a refreshing Paloma. If you're in the market for a takeaway, local favourite Fred's is said to be the best in town. Don't miss the seafood recipes in the sculptures on the riverside!
Getting there
Littlehampton is 65 miles south of London. You can take a Southern train from London Victoria, which takes about 1h45. If, like me, you're closer to London Bridge, you can connect onto the train at East Croydon. Both East and West Beach are 15 minutes' walk from the station.
Brighton and Hove
Why go?
If I don't need sand on my beach day, Brighton and Hove is usually my first port of call. The seaside city is only an hour from London and as I have family living nearby I go several times a year.
The five-mile stretch of beach from Brighton Marina to Hove Lagoon is a lovely place to stroll, with colourful beach huts, piers (current and former) and plenty of cafes, bars, shops and other things to do. Just bring water shoes and something to lie on to protect your feet and back from the pebbles!
Beyond the beach
Brighton and Hove is one of my favourite cities outside London, period. There are many excellent places to eat, drink, shop, caffeinate and explore. Check out my Brighton weekend guide and Brighton specialty coffee guide for my favourites. My top hotel pick is this arty boutique hotel.
Getting there
Brighton is about 55 miles south of London. It's one of the most accessible (and affordable) beach destinations by public transport. Southern trains from London Victoria and Thameslink services from London Bridge run frequently and take just over an hour.
Hastings
Why go?
I visited Hastings as part of a Sussex Coast road trip with my parents during lockdown. We had a wonderful walk at Seven Sisters and Beachy Head, where the scenery is stunning but which aren't as accessible by public transport.
Hastings and its neighbour, St Leonards-on-Sea, share a long stretch of shingle beach and Time Out recently rated them as England's best seaside destination for 2026, thanks to their art and culture, antiques shops and foodie spots.
Beyond the beach
Hastings is most famous for its prominent role in English history. Yes, that famous battle in 1066, where the soon-to-become William I (AKA William the Conqueror) defeated King Harold, took place a few miles north of Hastings.
William ordered the construction of Hastings Castle shortly afterwards and you can still visit the remains, where you'll get panoramic views of the coastline. It's also a lot easier to get tickets than the Bayeux Tapestry exhibition at the British Museum!
Getting there
Hastings is about 70 miles southeast of London. I slightly cheated with this one as I went there by car with my parents but you can get there on a Southeastern train from London Bridge in about 1h35. It's then 10 minutes' walk to Hastings beach.
Camber Sands
Why go?
With its three-mile stretch of soft, golden sand protected by an extensive sand dune system, Camber Sands is one of Sussex's best sandy beaches. It's a gorgeous place to walk, sunbathe or take a dip in the sea.
It can get very windy, even on the warmest of summer days. So, it's worth bringing a windbreak or beach tent, if you have one. You can also rent or buy them on the beach.
To get to Camber by public transport, you'll need to take the train to Rye, and then it's a 10-minute ride on the 100 bus to the beach. The first time I went, I brought my fold-up Brompton bike on the train and cycled to Camber instead.
Beyond the beach
In Camber, the beach and the nature reserve are the main attractions. One day, I'd love to stay at this beautiful boutique hotel. Nearby Rye is also worth a visit with its castle, picturesque cobbled streets and charming shops.
Getting there
Camber is about 80 miles southeast of London. The train journey from St Pancras to Rye takes just over an hour, with a change of trains at Ashford International. From Rye, you can take the 100 bus to Camber, although it only runs every hour. You can also walk or cycle: it's about 3 miles along a public footpath.
Margate & Broadstairs
Why go?
I've waxed lyrical about the delights of Margate and Broadstairs many times on this blog, most recently in my 10 Things I Love about Margate post, where I declared the Kent resort town the best beach day trip you can take from London.
Margate has something for everyone and beaches to suit all tastes: from the popular Main Sands, in the town centre, to the quieter beaches along the Viking Coastal Trail towards Broadstairs, where you can relax on soft sand while gazing up at striking chalk cliffs.
I like to take the train to Broadstairs and then walk along the Viking Coastal Trail to Margate. It's an easy-to-follow six-mile route and you can stop off along the way at whichever beach takes your fancy. For me, that's usually Joss Bay and Botany Bay.
Beyond the beach
When you've had enough beach time, there's plenty to do in Margate: from excellent shopping, art and dining to quirky seaside attractions. For more inspiration, check out my Margate guide or Margate and Broadstairs one-day itinerary. There's great coffee too! And for a cool overnight stay, I recommend this boutique hotel.
Getting there
Margate is about 80 miles east of London on the Kent coast. Southeastern trains take about 1h30 from London St Pancras and slightly longer from London Victoria. The train line stops in both Margate and Broadstairs but not always in the same order. Try to travel early to get a seat on sunny weekend days.
Whitstable
Why go?
Whitstable is located on the north Kent coast, about 17 miles west of Margate. You can visit both destinations on the same day trip but when I've got the coast in mind, I prefer to minimise travelling time and maximise beach time.
The shingle beach on Whitstable's seafront is a pleasant place for a stroll or a paddle. There are colourful beach huts and you might even spot a seal (though you'll probably need to take a boat trip for that).
Beyond the beach
I last visited Whitstable as a side trip from Canterbury. I packed a lot in during my short stay: eating oysters and lobster on the harbour, browsing the independent shops and galleries, taking a trip on a vintage lifeboat (sadly, I just missed the seal-spotting cruise) and visiting the castle.
Getting there
Whitstable is about 60 miles east of London. The fastest Southeastern trains take about 1h20 from London St Pancras and Victoria stations. The beach is about 20 minutes' walk from the station.
Leigh-on-Sea
Why go?
Leigh-on-Sea is probably the closest seaside destination that you can reach by public transport from London. The historic Essex town is just 45 minutes by train from Fenchurch Street Station and a return ticket costs only £12.50 off-peak.
Once a busy fishing port, Leigh has lots of character, with its historic buildings, cobbled streets and potential connections to The Mayflower. Bell Wharf Beach is a small, sandy beach in the heart of Old Leigh. Just be sure to check the tide times because the sea was a long way out when I arrived.
There's more space at Chalkwell Beach with its sand and shingle. Last time I went, it was warm but cloudy. I wanted to return yesterday to experience Leigh in the sunshine — and get some better photos — but disruption on the train line put paid to my plans.
Beyond the beach
Leigh has lots of independent shops (especially vintage and antiques), as well as some excellent restaurants and bars. I highly recommend Food for elevated cuisine in a relaxed setting, and Cult Coffee & Tattoos and Little Fin for specialty coffee. My Leigh-on-Sea guide has more suggestions.
Getting there
Leigh-on-Sea is about 40 miles east of London, near Southend on the north bank of the Thames Estuary. c2c trains run from London Fenchurch Street and Liverpool Street stations and take about 45 minutes.
Planning a trip to London? Explore my other guides and resources: London specialty coffee guide; my favourite London restaurants; London brunch guide; London cocktail guide; London long weekend guide; best day trips from London.
Found this guide useful? Please consider supporting my blog by buying me a coffee.
No comments:
Post a Comment