5 Best : Lovely Beaches near London
1. Whitstable, Kent (pebbles) – 1h30 hr train from St Pancras/ Victoria
We are fans, for the food, the fab train connection from St Pancras, the easy going atmosphere, a decent pint, and enough stones for the kids to throw in to the sea, and ice cream to keep them from ever eating a proper meal… it’s got to be on the 5 best list. Read up for more tips and info from your ever faithful Bus Driver.
2. Camber Sands, East Sussex (ummm… sand!) 1h33 Charing Cross to Hastings, from station take bus 711 to Camber Sands.
Camber Sands is the beach at the village of Camber (near Rye). It is the only sand dune system in East Sussex and is east of the estuary of the River Rother at Rye Bay stretching as one expanse beyond the Kent border.The beach has become a popular location for kitesurfing, Kite landboarding and kite buggying due to its sand and favourable wind conditions. Kite launches are only allowed in the designated area at the eastern end of the beach near the Jury’s Gap car park.
3. Brighton, East Sussex (pebbles) 1hr7min from Victoria/London Bridge to Brighton
From iconic tourist attractions to beachfront cool, Brighton is a treasure trove of things to do and places to go. Vibrant, colourful, fun and free, Brighton offers the energy of the city and freedom of the sea. It really is unique. From the stunning heritage of the Royal Pavilion, Regency architecture and Victorian aquariums to the seaside fun of Brighton Pier, the Brighton Wheel and the famous pebble beach, Brighton offers something for every walk of life. Explore the exciting range of things to do in Brighton : Bursting with beachfront sports and events, tranquil green spaces, plus Brighton tourist attractions and activities for all the family, there’s so much in store just waiting to be explored. You’ll also find a world of beautiful Sussex countryside, castles, country houses, parks, forts and gardens just moments from the city!
4. Frinton On Sea, Essex (sand) 1hr 30 Stratford to Thorpe-le-Soaken with 1 change
Frinton’s beach has no traditional seaside traits; no shops selling buckets, spades and lilos, no merry-go-round, no ice-cream van. It does have more than a mile of sandy beach, though, which is lined by a promenade and several hundred beach huts.
5. West Wittering, West Sussex (sand) 2hrs Victoria train to Chichester, Bus Station then bus to West Wittering, Old House at Home (Found Road).
Offering wonderful views of Chichester Harbour and the South Downs beyond, the natural and unspoilt sandy beach of West Wittering has been a favourite destination for a family day out for generations. The highest water quality and excellent facilities have made it one of the premier Blue Flag beaches in the country.
Other stuff to read…
For the really keen, you can read up on the best beaches in the UK here from Tripadvisor, read what The Telegraph have rated as Britains best beaches here, and tell your friends the impressive stat that Rhossili Bay has retained the best UK beach title and come 9th in the world league table. Don’t forget the Good Beach Guide for those keen on water clarity, and marine conservation … though let’s face it, unless your super hard, we can only dream on taking our li-lo in the actual water, and will enjoy watching the kids freeze their teeny tiny feet in the English Channel. Enjoy, and leave a comment if you have any tips and trade secrets for the other places we have missed. xo
Creative Bus Stop 