If, like me, you’re more accustomed to the beaches found in countries with tropical climates, you may wonder why even bother going to a beach in the UK?! After all, they are mostly pebbled beaches with not so clear water. Finding a sandy beach is like finding gold in the UK – no joke! But all hope is not lost! I will be sharing 3 of those goldmines that are roughly a 2-hour drive from London (give or take) in this post, as well as a couple of other famous British seaside retreats!
Dymchurch
I think it’s only right I begin this post by sharing the first beach I remember visiting as a little girl. You tend to hear people raving about the beaches of Kent such as Whitstable, Margate and Folkestone, but from my knowledge, very few people have heard of the sandy beach of Dymchurch found in Romney Marsh, which has historically been a favourite British seaside holiday destination! So, get your inflatables, buckets and spades and any other water sports equipment ready as there is plenty of room for everyone to enjoy the sand and sea at Dymchurch beach which is a blue flag awarded beach covering around 3 miles of Kent’s coastline. Whether you choose to spend a day, a weekend or longer at this not-so-hidden gem, you won’t be disappointed!
Whilst many people associate eating fish and chips, doughnuts or candy floss with a day by the seaside, for me its popcorn! The nostalgic memory of munching on homemade popcorn whilst sitting on the seawall at Dymchurch will always bring a smile to my face of summer days spent at Dymchurch beach.
Nearby attractions not to be missed include:
Dymchurch Railway
Dymchurch Amusement Park
Martello Tower
GOOD TO KNOW
Location: Hythe Road, Romney Marsh, TN29 0TJ
Parking: Paid, disabled spaces available
Facilities: Toilets with disabled access, Café/restaurant, First aid point, Promenade
Lifeguard Service: No
Dog Friendly: From the start of May until the end of September, dogs are not allowed on the beach between Sycamore Gardens and The Martello Car Park
Camber Sands Moving on to my favourite beach (so far) in Britain. Located in East Sussex, Camber Sands is recognised as one of England’s top seaside spots. It is famous for its sand dunes leading down to miles of unspoilt views of golden sand and sea. Camber Sands makes for the perfect summer’s day out or staycation, with its many holiday parks, so be sure to bag your stay early!
With around 5 miles of beach to choose from, you’ll find the most sand along the western section where the River Rother empties into the sea. But, to be honest you can’t go wrong with wherever you decide to make your base and can always move around! For those who want to get creative with their buckets and spades, arrive well before the tide begins to come in to access the large patches of wet sand - just right for making sandcastles!
Make the most of your stay around Rye:
Camber Castle
Mermaid Street
Rye Harbour Nature Reserve
Charles Palmer Vineyards
Avocet Gallery
Rye Castle Museum (Ypres Tower)
Rye Heritage Centre
GOOD TO KNOW
Location: Rye, TN31 7RT
Parking: Paid, disabled spaces available
Facilities: Toilets with disabled access, Café/restaurant, First aid point
Lifeguard Service: Yes
Dog Friendly: Dogs are allowed between May and September but must be on a lead and restricted between Zones F & H on the beach
Margate
The Bay, also known as Margate Sands is a sandy beach that has been given a Blue Flag Award and is deemed to have acceptable water quality.
Head towards the ‘kids’ section of the beach near the tidal pool to find that soft and silky sand, if you venture towards the harbour arm, the sand becomes more like mud in texture once mixed with the sea water. At high tide the water rises up to the main steps.
There are a number of eateries located along the seafront promenade. Take away pizza, ice cream, donuts and the most traditional of all – fish and chips shops are just a handful of the busiest vendors to be found. In and around King Street is the Old Town Quarter of Margate lined with a selection of vintage arts and crafts and clothes shops, as well as atmospheric cafes – it’s practically the coastal version of Shoreditch!
If you’d rather skip the queues (which literally go round the bend), keep it old school and take a picnic! Sadly, there was a great number of plastics floating along the edge of the water as the tide came in. Don’t add to water pollution, be responsible about whatever food and drink you take onto the beach, remember to bin it or take it back with you.
Attractions worth checking out if you have more than a day to spend in Margate:
The Turner Contemporary Gallery
Dreamland - Margate’s iconic theme-park
Margate Caves
Shell Grotto
Flamingo Arcade
Margate Museum
Tudor House Margate
GOOD TO KNOW
Location: Margate, CT9 1XP
Parking: Free parking is available on side streets 10-15 minute’s walk from the beach, or Margate Station car park is just across the road (paid)
Facilities: Toilets with disabled access, Deck chair hire, Children’s play area, Café/restaurant, Promenade
Lifeguard Service: Yes
Dog Friendly: Dogs are not permitted on the main beach from 1st May to 30th September
Brighton
Another beach that has received a Blue Flag waters award is one of the UK’s most famous pebble beaches: Brighton beach. The 4-mile promenade buzzes with the seaside town’s quirkiness throughout the year. As chilly as the water here can be, it won’t stop people going in for a dip or to practice water sports such as windsurfing, sailing, kayaking, stand-up paddle boarding and wakeboarding. A patch of sand can be found along Brighton beach; it is imported each summer to accommodate the volleyball court!
Aside from the beach, a trip to Brighton isn’t complete without a walk down the Victorian pier nearby where you will find a traditional fairground along with arcades and eateries.
Did you know that the eastern end of Brighton Beach is an official naturist (nudist) beach?!
Other attractions not to be missed in Brighton:
Brighton i360
Royal Pavilion
Sea Life Centre
Volk’s Electric Railway
Brighton Museum & Art Gallery
GOOD TO KNOW
Location: Brighton, BN2 1TW
Parking: Paid parking available
Facilities: Toilets, Café/restaurant, Pier
Lifeguard Service: Yes
Dog Friendly: Restrictions apply
Southend-On-Sea
Leaving you with a little twist with this final beach…
Ever since I can remember, my mum and I would go to Southend for a day out every summer. You could say it became a tradition! We have never spent an entire day solely on the beach, partially due to it being a pebble beach, but mostly because there’s just so much more to explore to make the most out of one day at Southend! When the tide is out, you could walk around half way as far as the pier stretches out or further – it is rather muddy though! Our typical day would usually include: browsing the high street shops after exiting the train station. We would then head straight for Southend Pier, a historical icon and the longest pleasure pier in the world, stretching over 1.33 into the River Thames! We tend to walk both directions, but there’s a single-track electric railway that you could also take. Then it’s time to take in the seafront from a different perspective, strolling along the seafront (both directions, as we begin in the middle) stopping for some ice cream or doughnuts as we soak in the scenery along the way! When the big kid in us wants to break out, we sometimes opt for a couple of rides at Adventure Island and finally after all that walking, our appetite is eager for a good meal - usually preferring one of the restaurants along the main high street. Other attractions include:
Sealife adventure (aquarium)
Mini golf - there are a few different spots to choose from along the seafront Bowling
Arcades - a typical part of British culture
Splash fountains along the seafront
Southend Central Museum/Planetarium
GOOD TO KNOW
Location: Southend-On-Sea, SS1 1EE
Parking: Multiple paid parking spots available
Facilities: Toilets, Café/restaurant, Shower, Deck chair hire
Lifeguard Service: Yes
Dog Friendly: Dog are not allowed on the beach between May and the end of September
Comments