Best Dog-friendly Beaches Near London

Don’t be fooled by the ‘lake’ part, St Andrews has a sandy beach and turquoise blue waters where families do lots of exciting watersports activities and dogs can join in too!

There is also an onsite cafe that welcomes well-behaved dogs who need some shade from the sun. St Andrews is the perfect spot for active families and dogs as you can participate in kayaking, mega SUP rides, scuba diving, freshwater swimming, climbing and so much more. Dogs are allowed on SUPs in the PuP’s on SuP’s activity!

St Andrews Lake take is an hour and a half away from London by car. You can find out all about family activities in St Andrews Lake in our latest article, Family Fun At St Andrews Lake!

You may already be familiar with Ruislip Lido if you’ve read our article, Steam Train Railways in London as it is home to a picturesque miniature steam railway for kids. There is also a splash pad, Ruislip Woods, and of course, the 60-acre lake.

BUT we think you and your pooch will be more interested in the dog beach located next to the main beach. It’s the perfect place to let your dogs off to run, sniff and swim. Humans are not allowed to swim in the water but dogs can paddle in the shallow water. There are also plenty of trees if you are looking for some shade.

All in all, it’s a peaceful spot for dog owners and families and it’s just a 58 minute drive away from Central London. 

Walton on the Naze has beautiful sandy beaches that the kids and your beloved dogs will enjoy.  It’s a very dog-friendly place and many of the cafés and pubs will have water bowls outside for your pooch too. Just remember to keep your dogs on their leads during the high season (May-September).

There are plenty of great photo opportunities by colourful beach huts, steep cliffs and of course, action shots of your pooch by the sea!

Dogs are allowed all year round, Woof-yeah!

Soak up wonderful views of Chichester Harbour at this National Trust Beach. Head over to the East Head section of the beach where your dogs can run wild.

The stunning natural landscape of West Wittering is filled with all kinds of wildlife from vibrant wildflowers in the summer to nesting skylarks and even seals near the shoreline!  

Make sure to pre-book your parking before visiting if you are arriving by car.

We’ve found another excellent all-year-round haven for seadogs located in East Sussex! Expect blooming flowers, grassland, steep cliffs and spectacular views of the Seven Sisters and Cuckmere River. There are also cycle trails alongside the coastline so if your dog can keep up why not go on a two-wheeled adventure?

This stunning beach and harbour is a 2-hour drive however, the destination is worth the journey, okay? If you want to lessen your travel time we recommend getting a train instead as it takes 1.5 hours to get here from London. ANYHOO, this pet-friendly shingle beach has lots of space for your pooch to roam free all year round.

Make sure to pack a picnic blanket and some coats for the evening times as Whitstable Beach is known for its beautiful sunset.

If you are looking a traditional beach with charming qualities and colourful beach huts then West Mersea Island in Essex is a great place to take your bouncing pups. Go on walks along the seafront while the kids have a go on jetties, go crabbing or grab an ice cream! Just remember that dogs must be on leads during the peak season (Summer).

West Mersea has a very laid-back vibe so you and your dogs should be more than happy to visit this dog-friendly beach near London. It is approximately 70 miles away from London’s city centre which equates to a 2-hour drive.

White chalk cliffs, sandy coves, and mysterious sea caves… Kingsgate Bay leaves a trail of mini-adventures that stretch along the entire coast for both kids and dogs to enjoy. And what’s more? This beautiful beach is dog-friendly all year round!

Kingsgate Bay Beach neighbours Joss Bay and Botany Bay. There is also a nearby pub which is a short walk from the beach and the car park. There is also a children’s play area located at the pub so your little sprogs can spend the last of their energy swinging and running around while you guzzle a crisp drink in the sunshine.

Kingsgate Bay is one of the most beautiful dog-friendly beaches near London on our list!

Camber Sands is the perfect place for adventurous doggos with plenty of sand dunes to play hide and seek behind, tall grass, miles of sand to run along, and lots of interesting sniffing spots. 

Humans can enjoy everything from windsurfing to sunbathing along the shoreline. There is also a dog-friendly gastro pub nearby called William The Conqueror. You can enjoy Greek and Mediterranean cuisine and try something new like a halloumi burger!

This beach is dog-friendly all year round however, there are some restrictions during the Summer months as the beach becomes more popular with families. It takes 1-2 hours to travel here from London.

This is definitely one of our favourite picks for the best Dog-friendly Beaches Near London.

Sandwich is a private beach which costs £7 to enter. It’s dog-friendly all year round and is known as a sandy and shingle beach. If this beach is local to you and you like the idea of it being private then why not buy a yearly pass?

Also here is an additional disclaimer for you… There is a nudist beach towards the end of the beach so if you don’t want to enter this part of the beach be mindful of how far you’ve walked or stay at the top end.