Lady’s 11 Beach Day Trips from London

Today I want to bring you my guide to beach day trips from London. There are a lot of great places to go to the seaside near the UK capital, and these spots are perfect for sun and sand when the weather is warm.

Beach Day Trips from London

These beach day trips from London will show you a range of destinations along the south coast and in Kent. Whether you’re looking for pebbles or sand, great seafood or pleasure piers, there’s a place you’ll love.

Some of these spots are perfect day trips from London by train, while others make easy day trips from London by car or on a tour. Whichever way you choose to travel, I hope you enjoy visiting these beaches as much as I have.

There’s more about day trips in the book Escape London: Days Out within Easy Reach of London, too. You can get it here.

1. Beach Day Trip to Brighton

I have to start my list of beach day trips from London with Brighton. It’s the quintessential seaside destination, after all.

Down on the south coast in East Sussex, Brighton has everything I love about the seaside in one place. From wide beaches with colorful chairs to one of the UK’s most famous piers, it’s the whole package.

Add to that great seafood, an opulent Royal Pavilion, and fun shops and restaurants, and Brighton is perfect for a sunny day out from London.

2. Beach Day Trip to Camber Sands

Next on my list of beach day trips from London is Camber Sands. This loveliest of East Sussex beaches is one of the best of its kind in England.

With its scenic sand dunes, adorable dogs, and nearby seafood shops, Camber Sands is an ideal place to spend a warm day on the waterfront in England.

Along with neighboring Rye, it’s one of my favorite places to go to the seaside near London.

3. Beach Day Trip to Hastings

Also in East Sussex, Hastings is another of my favorite beach day trips from London. This town is famous for its Norman history, but its beaches are what draw most visitors to its shores.

And there are plenty of them. Rock-A-Nore Beach has dramatic cliffs in the background. The Stade is a shingle beach lined with colorful fishing boats, nets, and stalls selling all kinds of fish and seafood.

Hastings Beach features a big stretch of pebble shoreline punctuated by Hastings Pier, which is lined with colorful beach huts.

All along the waterfront are modern carnival rides, historic fishing net huts, and colorful restaurants. Behind them is a tangle of streets with beautiful heritage houses, and above them are cliffs with castles and viewpoints. Hastings has it all.

4. Beach Day Trip to Margate

Over in Kent, Margate is next on my list of beach day trips from London. This hipster town is not only a great place to soak up the sun, but also the culture.

The beach in Margate is stunning with its lighthouse in the sea. The shore is lined by colorful buildings, the famous Dreamland Margate amusement park, and the Turner Contemporary art gallery.

Margate is also home to lots of vintage shops, cafes, and restaurants, so it’s a great place to have an all-around day out on the coast.

5. Beach Day Trip to Ramsgate

Next on my list of beach day trips from London is Ramsgate. Not far from Margate, this seaside town in Kent is known for its sandy beach, historic architecture and—thanks to George IV—the only royal harbor in the United Kingdom.

Ramsgate is a great place to go to the beach near London, not least because its beach is enormous. But there’s a lot more to see besides, from pretty shops to great seafood restaurants and heritage houses.

6. Beach Day Trip to Deal

A short distance from Ramsgate, Deal is another of the best beach day trips from London. This seaside town in Kent lies where the North Sea meets the English Channel. It has sweeping pebble beaches and a famous pier.

But what I really love about Deal is what lies behind the beach. From Deal Castle to the pastel houses and historic pubs on Middle Street, there’s a lot to love here.

Add to that centuries of smuggling legend and lore, and Deal is a great place to explore.

7. Beach Day Trip to Whitstable

On the north coast of Kent, Whitstable is a great beach day trip from London. It’s one of my favorites, as there’s great shellfish right on the shore.

Speaking of seafood, the annual Whitstable Oyster Festival makes for the perfect summer day out when the sun is shining.

The beach in Whitstable is an ideal place to indulge in seaside day trips from London, and the high street is lined with cute shops and delicious places to eat.

8. Beach Day Trip to Folkestone

On the south coast of Kent, Folkestone is another of the great beach day trips from London. This historic port town on the English Channel has wide beaches with stunning cliffs behind them.

Folkestone Beach is a great place to soak up the sun on a day trip from London. It has views of the Folkestone Harbour Arm with its lighthouse, too. Sunny Sands beach is right nearby and is a great option if you prefer sand to pebbles.

Behind the beaches, there are a lot of great shops and streets to explore in Folkestone. It’s a fun place to spend a day out on the coast.

If you’re ambitious, you can even do a Folkestone to Dover walk and enjoy the beach under the famous White Cliffs of Dover when you arrive.

9. Beach Day Trip to Eastbourne

Back in East Sussex, next on my list of beach day trips from London is Eastbourne. It’s a popular place to go to the seaside near the UK capital, not least because it has miles of shingle beaches with pebbles and rock pools.

From Beachy Head with its chalk cliffs and famous lighthouse to Eastbourne Beach, there’s a lot to love about the seaside in this part of England. Eastbourne Pier is a Victorian landmark worth taking in, too.

Holywell and Falling Sands are great with their coastal views and rock pools bursting with aquatic life as well.

10. Beach Day Trip to the Seven Sisters

Not far from Eastbourne, Seven Sisters is another of the best beach day trips from London. Set against the famous chalk cliffs on the South Downs, the pebble beaches on the English Channel here are beautiful.

This is an easy beach day trip by car, as there’s a National Trust information center with parking at Birling Gap and the Seven Sisters. There’s a cafe and ice cream van here, and visitors can walk down a set of stairs to get to the beach below.

11. Broadstairs

Broadstairs rounds out my list of beach day trips from London. This seaside town on the Isle of Thanet in Kent is packed with sandy beaches, chalk cliffs, and scenic coastline.

There are a lot of great things to do in Broadstairs, too. From shopping to eating fish and chips, the town has plenty to offer.

Add to that Charles Dickens connections and lively pubs and ice cream shops, and there’s no shortage of things enjoy in this place.

Beach Day Trips from London

I hope you’ve enjoyed this list of beach day trips from London and that it’s inspired you to soak up the sun on some of England’s best stretches of sand.

There are more beaches further afield, too. If you have a weekend, destinations like Southwold, Norfolk, and St Ives are great places to travel. Now to wait for sunny weather…

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