Best Beaches Near You

The UK is not only known for its vibrant cities and rolling countryside, but also for its stunning beaches. From the wild beauty of the Jurassic Coast to the sandy shores of Cornwall, there’s something for everyone in this small island nation. Whether you’re looking for family-friendly fun, romantic beachside strolls, or a spot to cool off on a hot summer day, we’ve rounded up the best beaches near you in the UK.

a family on a beach

Best Beaches In The South

Durdle Door Beach Dorset

Durdle Door

Durdle Door Beach is one of Dorset’s most iconic landmarks and is possibly one of the most beautiful beaches in England. The turquoise water here is lovely, while a national trail runs over the cliff tops. It’s also sat right on the Jurassic coast which makes it perfect for fossil spotting along the pebble shoreline. A fun fact? The surrounding area was featured in kid’s favourite film, Nanny McPhee!
Shape Location Get directions

Durdle Door
Wareham BH20 5PU

Path You'll love this if…
you enjoy an iconic view. The natural limestone arch has been formed over years of erosion by the waves and has even given the beach its name. The name Durdle is derived from an old English word ‘thirl’, which means to drill or pierce. Who knew a trip to the shore could be so educational? Oh, and by the way, did you know you could go fossil hunting in Dorset? An a archaeological beach adventure - sounds exciting!
West Wittering Beach

West Wittering Beach, West Sussex

West Sussex is known as one of the warmest places in Britain. West Wittering Beach is a popular beach, internationally recognised for its local wildlife and spectacular views. Wander along the vast expanse of the flat sandy beach and take in the blue water stunning views. Ideal for family swimming with a picnic or have a go at wind or kite surfing! The latter might not be best with young kids though so instead why not watch more daring folk take to the seas while you dig a big hole or create your very own sandcastle? During the summer months, you do have to pay to enter but we think you’ll agree it’s worth it.
Shape Location Get directions

West Wittering Beach
Pound Rd, West Wittering, Chichester PO20 8AJ

Path You'll love this if…
If you like swimming. The warm climate, soft, golden sand and shallow water are all great for introductory swimming lessons and gaining confidence in the water.
Child building sandcastles

West Bay Beach

West Bay Beach is one of three Blue Flag beaches within 10 miles from Margate.  A beautiful stretch of sand which is perfect for tanning, digging, castle building and so much more! This gem features regularly on England’s best beaches lists.
Shape Location Get directions

West Bay
Esplanade, Margate, Westgate-on-Sea CT8 8PR

Path You'll love this if…
you enjoy rock pool exploring! You and your tiny nature lovers will have lots of little creatures to find, so make sure you bring a bucket and a net along.

Best Beaches In The North

blackpool beach

Blackpool Beach

A trip to Blackpool Beach is truly the ultimate day at the seaside. Let’s take a stroll along the famous golden mile and see what is on offer.

Blackpool Pleasure Beach is arguably Britain’s most famous theme park with an award-winning mix of all things fun. Did you know that ‘The Big One’ at Blackpool Pleasure Beach is the UK’s tallest rollercoaster with speeds of up to 87 mph?! Then there’s Nickelodeon Land which has loads of character-themed rides.

And if the pleasure beach thrills are not enough, Blackpool is home to not just one but three piers with traditional seaside arcades and penny slots mixed with modern attraction such as SEA LIFE. There’s also plenty of space for families with stretches of sand to enjoy on a sunny day.

Shape Location Get directions

Blackpool Beach, Blackpool

Path You'll love this if…
you want all the fun of a theme park on the coast. You could spend one day whizzing and whooshing on all sorts of rides, the next eating ice cream and paddling in the ocean. It’s the perfect pairing.

Bamburgh Beach

We’re all about teaming two days out in one and Bamburgh Beach offers lots of seaside fun, with added castle! The brooding Bamburgh Castle is sat just behind the shore making it the most dramatic entry on our list. It’s also simply a jolly spot with views of the Farne Islands, horse riding and the occasional kitesurfer.

Families will love the fact that there’s cracking rock pooling here so be sure to bring buckets and spades. As well as a camera to get a snap of your gang by the magnificent white-painted stag painted on the rocks nearby.

Shape Location Get directions

Bamburgh Beach
Bamburgh NE69 7DF

Path You'll love this if…
you like history. With its ancient backdrop, this the best location for staring out to sea and imagining enemy hordes on the horizon. You could even draw swords and battle for victory amongst the dunes!

Best Beaches In Wales

Marloes Sands Beach, West Wales

Marloes Sands

When you visit this National Trust beach you’re in for a real seaside treat. Located near the coastal village of Marloes in West Wales get ready to experience stunning views of the rugged coastline and beautiful clean waters.

Marloes is a great place to visit in Summer because it’s tucked out of the way, in the West Wales countryside. This combined with the fact that at low tide there’s access to a huge sandy beach means even if it’s busy, you’ll be guaranteed a peaceful spot.

Shape Location Get directions

Marloes Sands Beach

Path You'll love this if…
you like exploring rockpools and spotting wildlife. Marloes has a wide variety of rockpools and gigantic UK spider crabs and starfish have been spotted here! An exciting discovery for little ones we think you'll agree! So you might need a big bucket and net if delving into the many rockpools. During September months the beach is a well known breeding ground for grey seals too.
kids on the beach wearing sunglasses

Abersoch Beach

Great view of the mountains, sheltered sandy beach and a lovely family-friendly atmosphere. No wonder Abersoch Beach is one of the most popular in Wales!

Here you’ll get the best of both worlds. Looking for a chill-out family day at the beach? No problem – at Abersoch Beach, your little ones can waddle happily into the water under the watchful eye of the life guards. Into water sports? You won’t be disappointed either. There’s a special area of the beach, exclusively for water sports – from power-boating to windsurfing.

Shape Location Get directions

Abersoch Main Beach
Abersoch

Path You'll love this if…
if you just love the buzz of summer fun by the sea. If you’re the latter, you’ll love Abersoch Beach a popular surf spot with a lively atmosphere.

Best Beaches In Scotland

a sandy beach on a sunny day

Kiloran Bay

Kiloran Bay is one of the finest beaches in the Inner Hebrides – it’s accessible by road but it’s not too crowded and has plenty of golden sands to go around. The scenery is stunning, you could just sit there soaking in the view of this Scottish beach.

If you’re lucky, you can spot dolphins, otters and even whales swimming by!

Shape Location Get directions

Kiloran Bay
Colonsay, Isle of Colonsay PA61 7YT

Path You'll love this if…
you're a fan of sandy beaches , crystal clear water and a peaceful location. This lovely beach ticks all the right boxes!
a beach with beach chairs

We hope you’ve seen the seaside scenes you were seeking! And if you’re looking for best beaches in the UK near you, take a look at the links below.

Beaches in Cornwall | Beaches near London | Beaches in Devon | Beaches in Kent | Bristol Beaches | Beaches near Birmingham | Beaches in Essex | Beaches in Dorset

VIP Pass - 2 for 1 offer