Today I want to bring you my guide to the best seaside day trips from London. There are some beautiful spots to go to the beach and explore the coast near the city, and these places are ideal for sun, sand, and strolls when the weather warms up. Many of them are within an hour of London, and some of the best are accessible by train or coach. I hope you like them as much as I do.
Seaside Day Trips from London
My list of seaside day trips from London contains a variety of beaches and waterfront areas along the south coast of England.
Whether you’re looking for pebbles in Kent or sand in Sussex, delicious seafood or an iconic pleasure pier, there’s a coastal destination near the UK capital you’ll love.
Some of these places are ideal day trips from London by train, while others make quick day trips from London by car. Whichever way you choose to travel, I hope you have as much fun visiting these seaside spots 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 on Amazon here.
1. Seaside Day Trip to Brighton
I’ll start my list of seaside day trips from London with Brighton. It’s the most famous beach destination near the UK capital for good reason.
Located on the south coast in East Sussex, Brighton has everything from big pebble beaches with striped chairs to a famous pleasure pier with restaurants and rides.
Brighton is also known for the flamboyant Royal Pavilion and the shops and restaurants in The Lanes and North Laine. They make a day trip to Brighton a great idea.
Brighton is also one of the top day trips from London to the seaside by train. It’s an easy rail journey from the UK capital, and the trip takes around an hour each way.
You can get good deals on advance fares, so Brighton can also be one of the best cheap day trips from London.
2. Seaside Day Trip to the Seven Sisters
Also in East Sussex, the Seven Sisters make a great seaside day trip 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.
3. Seaside Day Trip to Camber Sands
Camber Sands comes next on my list of seaside day trips from London. This is one of the best beaches in East Sussex, and it’s one of the most popular stretches of shoreline on the south coast.
With its rolling sand dunes, pretty pebbles, and abundance of dogs, Camber Sands is the perfect place to go on a sunny day in England.
Add to that great local seafood shops and the nearby town of Rye, and this is one of my top picks for places to go to the seaside near London.
4. Seaside Day Trip to Hastings
Hastings also ranks among the top seaside day trips from London. This coastal town in East Sussex is known for its Norman history, but its beaches are what draw the majority of visitors.
There’s no shortage of them, either. Rock-A-Nore Beach is known for having stunning cliffs behind it. Hastings Beach offers a wide apron of pebble shoreline. It’s also home to Hastings Pier, which has striped beach huts on it.
The Stade, a shingle beach, is backed by colorful fishing boats, nets, and stalls selling fresh fish and seafood.
The waterfront in Hastings is packed with carnival rides, historic net huts, and lively restaurants. Behind them lies a maze of streets with heritage houses and a clifftop castle.
Taking a Hastings day trip is straightforward by rail, as there are direct services from London to the heart of town. Along with Brighton, it’s one of the easiest seaside day trips from London by train.
5. Seaside Day Trip to Beachy Head
Also in East Sussex, Beachy Head makes a great seaside day trip from London. Set above the chalk cliffs on the English Channel, the views of the coast here are unparalleled.
Beachy Head is known for its clifftop trails and famous lighthouse. You can park by The Beachy Head Story and explore the small museum before walking out to the RAF Bomber Command Memorial.
From there it’s a short walk to viewpoints where you can see the Beachy Head Lighthouse. There’s also a restaurant for lunch next to The Beachy Head Story, so it’s easy to make a day of it.
6. Seaside Day Trip to Margate
Over in Kent, Margate is another of the best seaside day trips from London. This hipster town is famous for both its waterfront and its vintage shops.
There’s a big beach in Margate with a lighthouse in the distance. The seafront is backed by colorful buildings and the famous Turner Contemporary art gallery. The Dreamland Margate amusement park is near the water, too.
Margate’s vintage clothing shops, cafes, and restaurants round out the scene, which is to stay nothing of the 16th-century Tudor House and streets like Love Lane.
It’s easy to go on a Margate day trip by train. There are direct services from London, and it’s a scenic journey.
7. Seaside Day Trip to Ramsgate
Ramsgate is next on my list of seaside days out from London. Not far from Margate, Ramsgate is a waterfront town in Kent known for its big sandy beach, heritage architecture, and royal harbor.
Ramsgate is one of the best beach day trips from London because its beach is huge.
Beyond the sand, the town is known for everything from shops to seafood restaurants and heritage houses. The side streets are fun to explore, and the views of the boats from the hill are exciting to see.
There’s a railway station in Ramsgate with direct services to London, so the town is an easy beach day trip from London by train.
8. Seaside Day Trip to Whitstable
Located on the north coast of Kent, Whitstable is another fun seaside day trip from London. It’s the perfect place if you love eating seafood by the shore.
That’s not least because the annual Whitstable Oyster Festival takes place in town every summer. It’s a fun event to attend if you like shellfish and good entertainment, and it makes Whitstable one of the best summer day trips from London.
But Whitstable is a great place to visit at other times, too. The beach is a fun spot to soak up the sun, and the high street has cute shops and great restaurants and cafes.
There’s a train station in Whitstable with direct links to London, so this is another good day trip if you want to travel by rail.
9. Seaside Day Trip to Deal
Also on the coast, Deal, Kent is another of the most popular seaside day trips from London. Located where the North Sea meets the English Channel, Deal features wide pebble beaches and a long pier.
Deal is most famous for what lies behind the beach, though. The seafront Deal Castle is legendary, and the pastel houses and historic pubs on Middle Street are both eye-catching and steeped in smuggling lore. There’s great shopping here, too.
There’s a train station in Deal with direct services to London, so this is an easy day trip if you want to take the train.
10. Seaside Day Trip to Folkestone
Folkestone is another of the top seaside day trips from London. Located on the south coast in Kent, this historic English Channel port town features big beaches and stunning cliffs.
Folkestone Beach is the perfect spot to soak up the sun on the waterfront. It has views of the lighthouse on the Folkestone Harbour Arm. Sunny Sands beach is a good alternative if you prefer sand to pebbles.
Beyond beaches, Folkestone offers an abundance of shops and streets to explore. You can even do a Folkestone to Dover walk and enjoy the beach under the famous white cliffs when you get there.
There are direct rail services to Folkestone from London, so this is a good option for a day trip by train.
11. Seaside Day Trip to Dover
Next on my list of seaside day trips from London is Dover. This coastal port town in Kent is known for its hilltop castle, chalk cliffs, and ferries to Calais.
Dover is popular with history lovers. Its seaside castle is one of the most famous in England, not least because of its layers of heritage and secret wartime tunnels.
It’s also a top pick for nature lovers. The White Cliffs of Dover form a sheer face above the Strait of Dover, and you can see all the way to France on clear days.
The coastal paths along the cliffs are great places for walks with views. There are beaches below, too.
Direct rail services operate from London to Dover, making it an easy day trip by train.
12. Seaside Day Trip to Eastbourne
The next place on my list of seaside day trips from London is Eastbourne. This resort town on the southeast coast in East Sussex is a popular place to go to the beach near the UK capital.
Eastbourne and the surrounding areas have miles of shingle beaches packed with pebbles and pools.
Eastbourne Beach features Eastbourne Pier, a Victorian landmark with great views of the town. There’s also a 1930s bandstand with live music performances on the waterfront.
Nearby Holywell and Falling Sands feature coastal views and rock pools bursting with sea life. Beachy Head and the Seven Sisters are close to Eastbourne, too.
There are direct trains to Eastbourne from London, so it’s an easy day trip by rail from the capital.
13. Seaside Day Trip to Chichester Harbour
Last on my list of seaside day trips from London is Chichester Harbour. This waterfront area in West Sussex is a great place for country walks.
The Chichester Harbour Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty (AONB) covers 46 square miles (74 square kilometers) of land, sea, and intertidal habitats. It’s full of bird life and quiet villages, and it’s a popular place for walking and sailing.
The area is right by Chichester, a famous cathedral city in England. It’s easy to combine walks around Chichester with the urban highlights.
There are train services from London to Chichester and the surrounding area, so this is an easy day trip by rail.
Seaside Day Trips from London
I hope you’ve enjoyed this list of seaside day trips from London, and that it’s helped you discover places you’ll love by the water.
If you have a bit more time, spots like Southwold, Norfolk, and St Ives are great coastal destinations for weekend breaks. Happy travels!
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As a public transport user I found this really helpful! thank you
You’re welcome! I’m glad to hear that.