Lady’s 15 Places to Go to the Seaside Near London

Today I want to bring you A Lady in London’s guide to the best places to go to the seaside near London. There are a lot of great coastal spots and beaches near London, and they’re perfect places to be when the weather is warm and the sun is out. Whether you want to go for a day trip or a weekend getaway, they’re ideal waterfront escapes.

Seaside Near London

It’s that time of year. The time when my inner Californian sheds her seasonal layers and celebrates the English sun. Or as much of it as we get in London.

But given we get a lot some days, I always keep a few coastal spots in mind for spontaneous weekend getaways or day trips from London.

If you’re looking for somewhere to go when the weather warms up, I hope this list helps you find your perfect spot.

Beaches Near London

One great thing about the UK capital is its proximity to the south coast. The English Channel is an hour away by train, and other parts of the coast are only slightly farther.

It’s great to be able to get to the beach so quickly, especially given how unpredictable the British weather can be.

My list includes my favorite spots to travel to on the seaside near London. I realize that “near” is a relative term; being Californian I think nothing of spending several hours getting to a destination.

But whatever your definition is, there’s a place that will be near enough to satisfy your inner beach lover, sailing enthusiast, or sun worshiper.

1. Brighton

Brighton is perhaps the most famous place on the seaside near London. This coastal city with its pleasure pier has no shortage of things to entertain.

From its expansive beaches to its opulent Royal Pavilion, Brighton has something for everyone. I love shopping in The Lanes, a tangle of narrow streets near the waterfront.

That’s to say nothing of eating good seafood, which Brighton’s restaurants have in spades. And when it comes to nightlife, Brighton is one of the best places in England for it. It’s worth spending 2 days in Brighton to experience the best of it.

2. Camber Sands Beach

On the more peaceful end of the spectrum, Camber Sands beach in East Sussex is one of the most beautiful stretches of shore I’ve seen in England. With grassy dunes and a rocky waterfront, Camber Sands feels natural all around.

As an added bonus, Camber Sands is close to Rye, one of the prettiest towns in East Sussex. It’s easy to combine the two for a best-of-both-worlds trip to the seaside and the storybook streets.

3. Whitstable

If you love food, Whitstable is hard to beat. It’s my favorite place to go to the seaside near London for seafood.

Whitstable is famous for its oysters, as evidenced by the annual Whitstable Oyster Festival. But it’s a great place to go at other times to soak up the sun, take in the colorful boats, and explore the shops on the high street.

4. Margate

Dubbed Shoreditch-on-Sea, Margate is a hipster paradise on the coast in Kent. A curving beach with a lighthouse at the end of a pier welcomes sun worshipers to its shores, and an amusement park keeps them entertained.

Colorful buildings line the waterfront, and a contemporary art gallery rounds out the scene. They make Margate one of the most unique places on the seaside near London.

Away from the sand, vintage clothing and antiques shops lure visitors into the town’s streets. Those streets are pretty in their own right, too. Love Lane pretty much sums up how I feel about Margate. It’s one of the best beach day trips from London.

5. Ramsgate

Not far from Margate, Ramsgate is another seaside town on the Kentish coast. It tends to get overshadowed by other destinations, but it’s worth a visit for its wide beach, colorful seafront houses, and quiet side streets.

Ramsgate is also known for its historic marina, which is the only harbor in the country to have royal status thanks to a grant by George IV in 1821.

It’s worth wandering along the waterfront and taking in the shops, cafes, and heritage sites in the area. Ramsgate is one of the best seaside day trips from London.

6. Folkestone

Folkestone has never been the most glamorous town on the seaside near London, but a recent visit reminded me how much it has to offer.

With historic streets, steep stairways, and cobblestone lanes full of colorful shops, it’s a great place to explore. Hotels like The Relish make it ideal for weekend getaways from London, too.

Add to that a waterfront with a lighthouse and a mermaid sculpture overlooking a sandy beach, and Folkestone has a bit of everything for a sea lover.

7. Southampton and the Isle of Wight

Southampton and the Isle of Wight are slightly farther from London, but still worth visiting for those that love the seaside.

Southampton is a great place to embark on a sailing trip. I once enjoyed a good day on board a boat in the Solent, the strait that separates the Isle of Wight from mainland England.

It was my first introduction to sailing in Southampton, and it was great. As someone who grew up sailing every weekend in California, it was nice to know there was somewhere I could do it on the seaside near London.

The Isle of Wight is also great for sailing, not least during the annual Cowes Week regatta. But if your sea legs aren’t up to the task, the Isle of Wight has plenty of pretty beaches, streets, and colorful facades to take in.

You can even channel your inner royal at Osborne House, Queen Victoria’s palatial holiday home.

8. North Norfolk

To the northeast of the capital, the North Norfolk coast is one of the prettiest places to go to the seaside near London.

Holkham Beach alone makes it worth the trip, what with its generous swathes of sand stretching way into the horizon.

I love the rows of cheerful beach huts on Wells-next-the-Sea Beach, too. I can never decide which color I want, but it’s a good problem to have.

There are also pretty towns like Burnham Market, which offer all the shops, cafes, pubs, and restaurants I could want. Stylish Burnham Market hotels like The Hoste make North Norfolk an ideal weekend trip.

9. Guernsey

You may be surprised to see a Channel Island on my list of places to go to the seaside near London, but like I said, near is relative.

I can never get over how close Guernsey is to the UK capital, and how easy it is to hop on a plane and be on an island near the coast of France for a couple days.

Guernsey not only has secluded beaches with turquoise water, but also rich history, delicious seafood, pretty towns, and great hotels like the Duke of Richmond.

10. Sark

And that’s to say nothing of neighboring islands like Sark. Visiting this gem is like stepping back in time, what with the lack of cars and relaxed pace of life.

Sark is one of the most unique places I’ve ever been to. Its sparkling blue water is magical, and the local lobster is some of freshest around.

11. Hastings

Bringing things closer to the UK capital again, Hastings is one of the best places to go to the seaside near London. This town on the south coast in East Sussex is a great spot to spend a day out in the sun.

Taking a Hastings day trip from London will allow you to experience the beaches, pier, and waterfront restaurants.

It will also give you time to walk through the narrow historic lanes in the Hastings old town, head up the hills for spectacular views over the English Channel, and shop at the great vintage stores.

12. Southwold

Out in Suffolk, Southwold is another of my favorite places to go to the seaside near London. This coastal town has big beaches, a pleasure pier, and pretty streets with idyllic cottages.

Southwold offers a great mix of waterfront entertainment, retail therapy, and good pubs and restaurants. It’s also famous for its colorful beach huts, which make for great photo opportunities.

There are so many things to do in Southwold that it’s an ideal place to go for a weekend.

13. Deal

Over in Kent, Deal is another of the best places to go to the seaside near London. Located between Dover and Ramsgate, it has a unique mix of historic and modern attractions.

Deal is home to castles established by Henry VIII, streets steeped in smuggling lore, heritage pubs, and a great beach. Deal Pier is fun to walk along, and offers great views of the seafront.

A day trip to Deal is a great way to take it all in, but chic hotels like The Rose make it worth an overnight stay.

14. Eastbourne

Next on my list of places to go to the seaside near London is Eastbourne. This coastal resort town 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 is home to Eastbourne Pier, a Victorian landmark with great views of the town. There’s also a 1930s bandstand offering live music 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 as well.

There are direct trains from London, so it’s an easy trip by rail from the capital. It’s worth spending a weekend in Eastbourne to take in all there is to do and see.

15. Broadstairs

Broadstairs rounds out my list of places to go to the seaside near London. This beach town on the Isle of Thanet in Kent is perfect if you love sandy beaches, chalk cliffs, and beautiful 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.

Places on the Seaside Near London

There are plenty more places to discover on the seaside near London, but I hope this list has given you a good start for your explorations.

Whether you’re into beaches or towns, seafood or sailing, there’s something you’ll love about these spots.

Find this post helpful? Buy me a coffee!

New here? Join thousands of others and subscribe to the A Lady in London blog via email.

Some of the links in this blog post are affiliate links. At no cost to you, I earn a small commission when you click on them and make a purchase. It doesn’t affect the way you shop, and it’s a great way to support the A Lady in London blog.

Pin it!