Days out from London by train to seaside destinations. Any suggestions?

[IlanaK]

I want to do some days out with my family this summer to seaside locations. We live in Central London so can go anywhere that a train will take us to. I don't want to travel much more than 1.5 hours each way if possible.

Basically, I am looking for suggestions of places where we can walk from the train station to the seafront (or a bus maybe?). I would like a variety of places: one with a good classic sandy beach, maybe one with rock pools, etc/

Any suggestions please!

[theyoungvisiter]

Brighton! Pebbly beach but you can't beat it for a bit of retro fun wandering up and down the om, pom prom. And you must go on the pier and eat candy floss.

1 hr from Victoria and then a 10 min walk to the beach.

You can also change trains at Brighton and go further down the coast for less touristy experience, Seaford has a beach which gives onto the Seven Sisters (that beautiful stretch of white hills you always see in films) and you can walk along the coast to Beachy Head if you like walking.

[Kbear]

Westgate-on-sea - station near to beach (10 mins walk) - sandy beach and rockpools further along. You can get a cab from Westgate station to Westbrook beach which is even nicer. 5 mins away in cab.

Hastings beach is lovely - don't know how far from station though.

[IlanaK]

I don't think Brighton would work for us as the kids are young and they would want sand not pebbles. The other suggestions sound great though - thanks!

[Kbear]

Hastings is stony though, but fishing boats on the beach, small sealife centre which is worth a visit. FAB fish and chips!

[Kbear]

Westbrook is dog-free in the summer too if I recall.

[Kbear]

info here

[theyoungvisiter]

Reading that back I should clarify - you can't actually walk to Beachy Head unless you like long walks, it's several miles of very hilly countryside, I meant you walk towards Beachy Head.

[Simplysally]

Southend or Margate are pretty close to London although Southend isn't actually 'seaside' as such. It's got a funfair, pier but the beach is shingly with bits of sand. Shoeburyness is further down from Southend but is just a beach there - dry sand so rubbish for sandcastles etc.

If you like razz-ma-tazz, Clacton or Walton on the Naze is more genteel. Frinton used to be very old fashioned as well for a bit of understated seaside stuff.

[babyOcho]

Frinton-on-Sea in Essex is sandy, but not that much to do (no pier).

The art deco buildings are lovely.

[nancy75]

broadstairs has a sandy beach, as does margate

[plantsitter]

Southend is ace for a traditional windy walk down the pier go on the dodgems eat some candyfloss type day out.

[theyoungvisiter]

Don't write off Brighton just because of the sand. Ok you can't make sandcastles but other than that, it's very family friendly and has lots to do. We used to go there all the time as kids.

I mean I would do the sandy beach too, but it's nice for a change.

[fishie]

eastbourne
southend

[IlanaK]

I suppose I should clarify - we are not looking for a traditional seaside day out with funfair etc. I am looking to be able to actually take my kids to a sandy beach and also rock pools as we live in Central London and are not going on holiday this year so no beach experience for them.

So, I really do want a sandy beach. Not totally isolated - we would want a local high street or something, but it does not have to be a bustling town centre.

[southeasterastra]

bournemoth eastborne is full of old ladies

[babyOcho]

Defo Frinton

[plantsitter]

Looks like Kbear's suggestion is your best bet then. Can't think where else you can get from London in a day with a sandy beach and rockpools and a high street.

[theyoungvisiter]

well in that case anywhere on the south coast directly below London is pretty much pebble, or shingle at best. It's a chalk and flint coast so the rocks don't make sand. You will need to go further east for true sand, although there is the odd pocket on the south coast I can't think of anywhere with a station.

The other thing is that anywhere with a sandy beach and a station within shooting distance of London will be very, very busy on a sunny day. You should probably look at going midweek.

[glucose]

we went to shoeburyness last year I think on the only sunny sunday. It was
a tolerable hour or so on the train for a then 3.5y old & 7y old. Beach is walking distance from station, there is a tidal paddling pool which was really warm, when the tide goes out there is a long strech of sand- which is by no means the best for sand castle, but there are little tidal pools of tiny fish, crabs, & lots of sand wormy things.
ok its so its the thames estuary and not really the coast nor classic seaside, but does have sand, sun, water, and ice lollies. Both my dd & my friends dd are only children, and they soon made friends with the other children also having a day out.

[IlanaK]

Bournmouth and Shoeburyness sound perfect - a good contrast to each other too. Thanks! But keep the ideas coming

[Simplysally]

How about Herne Bay?

[Pollyanna]

my inlaws live in Frinton. The children love the beach - we do flasks and picnics. check tides before you go though, when the tide is in there is no sand at all.

Town is as dull as ditchwater (and a bit weird too), but kids don't mind at all!

[helsbels4]

Whoever said Eastbourne is full of old ladies obviously hasn't been there! Yes, there are old people, just like everywhere else but it is a myth!!!!! You walk along the seafront and you see "young" people everywhere! The beaches are stony at high-tide but sand at low and plenty of rock-pools towards the Holywell end of the seafront. It's beautiful!

[IlanaK]

Does anyone know if Whitsable is sandy beach? Their website doesn't say. I used to go to Uni in Canterbury and have fond memories of that area. Its not too far either. Bournemouth looks great, but I am thinking it is too far. 97 minutes by train plus tube time this end and time that end to get to the beach. Frinton looks nice, but maybe just a little too isolated. My kids would be very upset by the no-icecream vendors policy!

[ByTheSea]

Walton is right next to Frinton and you can definitely find ice cream too. Pier and sandy beach are nice and a short walk from the train but make sure to check the tide tables.