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Original poster

People visit beaches on warm days - crowds, hell

85 replies

TunaMayoP · 30/04/2025 20:12

Never understood this thing when we have warm weather, people think “ooh let’s go to the seaside”.

Roads get clogged, parking is a struggle, massive queues to buy ice cream, food and to
use what few toilets the beach has and super crowded. This is my hell.

OP posts:
KimberleyClark · 01/05/2025 07:59

I like beaches to walk along at sunset but can’t say I’m one for sitting on them all day, and resort beaches packed with umbrellas and sun loungers are my idea of hell.

Heronwatcher · 01/05/2025 07:59

YABU. There are so few days where the weather is glorious you take it when you can. Plus most English beaches are fine, especially if you leave to get there early (I’ve been in Whitstable before 8) and take a picnic. Nothing I’d like more than to be sitting on a beach today instead of being in an office!

Plus the same could be said for anywhere really in decent weather- national parks get really crowded as do “sights” like Trafalgar Square or Westminster. Unless you’re going to sit in a darkened room all day you sometimes just have to get on with it!

Skirtless · 01/05/2025 07:58

TunaMayoP · 01/05/2025 07:52

The former is what I hate! Love very quiet beaches. I live 65 miles from a beach

Show quote history

Well, me too, but I grasp that my personal preferences aren’t everyone’s.

Beamur · 01/05/2025 07:57

I hear you!
I'd rather go to a drizzly windswept beach by myself and enjoy my garden on a sunny day.

Original poster
TunaMayoP · 01/05/2025 07:52

BigDahliaFan · 01/05/2025 07:20

A really crowded beach with bad parking etc is my personal idea of awfulness. But people like the beach, they like somewhere with a pier to walk on, loos, and fish and chips. So places like tha5 will be busy on a nice day.
I live in the middle of nowhere with the choice of 30 almost empty dog walking beaches and 2 busy oness. I’m very lucky….

The former is what I hate! Love very quiet beaches. I live 65 miles from a beach

OP posts:
BigDahliaFan · 01/05/2025 07:20

A really crowded beach with bad parking etc is my personal idea of awfulness. But people like the beach, they like somewhere with a pier to walk on, loos, and fish and chips. So places like tha5 will be busy on a nice day.
I live in the middle of nowhere with the choice of 30 almost empty dog walking beaches and 2 busy oness. I’m very lucky….

TortolaParadise · 30/04/2025 22:15

It is reasonable to go to the seaside on a sunny day IMO.

minnienono · 30/04/2025 22:10

Plenty of quiet beaches too, they just tend to have steps and no facilities

StMarie4me · 30/04/2025 22:08

You can’t understand why everyone isn’t the same?!

AnglaisVacheFolle · 30/04/2025 22:07

I think the main reason is that, in England at least, the coast has the most 'right to roam' access, plus on popular beaches there are usually facilities like toilets and cafes, and of course there's access to water which is what so many people want in hot weather! There is a right to roam in only 8% of England, much of it in remote areas of mountain, moor, heath and down, rather than the places the majority of us live.

And even where we do have access, what we can do is limited; often with no right to swim or cycle, camp, or canoe. Our footpath network is brilliant but unevenly distributed and insufficient, offering a right of passage with no right to be; only to pass through.

This is very different in Scotland (not sure about Wales) and vastly different across much of Europe. So it's not at all surprising to me that people are desperate to get to a beach when it's hot, where else could they go to get access to water in most of England?

Talipesmum · 30/04/2025 22:04

It’s so often massively exaggerated just for the news clicks though. Even Bournemouth on hot midsummer days is still great if you just aim for one of the bits of beach 15-20 mins walk along the coast a bit. They always show the same side angle picture of the most crowded bit right by the pier, and if you go a little way along it’s fine.

TesChique · 30/04/2025 22:01

You dont understand why people visit the seaside on a hot day?

Interesting.

beardediris · 30/04/2025 21:57

I live with waking distance of 2 stunningly beautiful beaches (no loos but free parking) on a warm summer day at the weekend or BH I might find 4 people on it max generally there’s no one on it. It’s complete bliss
Our busiest local beach (loos and free parking) close to a camp site maybe 50 people max on a sunny day at the weekend/BH.
Youre going to the wrong beaches OP.

SummerDaysOnTheWay · 30/04/2025 21:46

rosegoldwatcher · 30/04/2025 20:33

This thread made me recall the ridiculous statement, "(this place) would be more popular if it was less busy."

Is a beach more beautiful if no-one is there to see it?

Well yes!

Picle · 30/04/2025 21:45

TunaMayoP · 30/04/2025 21:33

It’s usually Bournemouth

Google crowded UK beach

Show quote history

Or Brighton.

NinaGeiger · 30/04/2025 21:42

Alright, Ted Hughes

BacktoBeginnersFran · 30/04/2025 21:41

rosegoldwatcher · 30/04/2025 20:33

This thread made me recall the ridiculous statement, "(this place) would be more popular if it was less busy."

Is a beach more beautiful if no-one is there to see it?

That's hilarious 😂
What's that from?

nomas · 30/04/2025 21:41

BashfulClam · 30/04/2025 21:36

Try living there. Trying to go about your daily life whilst 200 x the normal population all crowd into the area. Some of them are so inconsiderate and leave rubbish, park like bellends etc.

That can happen in other places. London is full of tourists. But they bring in money.

nomas · 30/04/2025 21:39

TunaMayoP · 30/04/2025 21:33

It’s usually Bournemouth

Google crowded UK beach

Show quote history

Crowds don’t bother everyone. Everyone does their own thing on their little patch.

BashfulClam · 30/04/2025 21:36

Try living there. Trying to go about your daily life whilst 200 x the normal population all crowd into the area. Some of them are so inconsiderate and leave rubbish, park like bellends etc.

Original poster
TunaMayoP · 30/04/2025 21:33

JackieDaytonaLuckyBrews · 30/04/2025 20:24

That's absolutely fine.
Others obviously really like it, so great. Sun, sea breeze, picnic-I can think of worse things. I don't recognise the description of the beaches that we go to.

It’s usually Bournemouth

Google crowded UK beach

OP posts:
Whammyyammy · 30/04/2025 21:31

This is why I only go to the beach abroad. Always quiet

People visit beaches on warm days - crowds, hell
DreamySloth · 30/04/2025 21:27

Before kids I definitely wouldn’t go but my 5 yo DD loves the beach and the sea and the sea is a bit chilly unless it’s warm. So I’m now one of those who go when it’s hot and busy.
But yeah, would’ve avoided it like the plague before.

mindutopia · 30/04/2025 21:18

I go to the beach and swim in the sea year around, except I do try to avoid the summer holidays and the really nice bank holidays. I will go on a random sunny day in April because generally no tourists yet. I think the surf especially gets really dangerous in places in the summer. Too many people on body boards with their go pros and kids messing around when they don’t really understand the sea. Nearly got knocked out and pulled under last summer by some 50 year old dad trying to film himself but not being able to steer on a body board. There are some amazing quiet beaches though and we make the most of them the rest of the year.

RufustheFactuaIReindeer · 30/04/2025 21:07

MereNoelle · 30/04/2025 20:45

Those of us who live 2.5 hours from the beach probably wouldn’t choose a really shit day to make the rare journey.

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Exactly

i live in a small seaside town, quite obviously I am at the beach in all weathers