How often to visit seaside?

I haven’t read the entire thread, so someone else might have suggested this already, but have you had a look at Ruislip Lido? It has a beach and wouldn’t cost the earth to get to.

We live 20 minutes from the beach and I work 5 minutes from the beach, so I’m there or passing all the time. It’s my happy place. But the photos I’ve seen of Ruislip Lido look really nice

Seaside people: Can you recommend a dog-friendly beach for me? We live in Hertfordshire - not close to the coast - but I’d be willing to drive a couple of house and would love to explore

I grew up in Scotland near Inverness/Nairn and we'd go to the beach for winter-ish walks, summer picnics, rock pooling, dolphin-spotting etc. We'd even swim 😮

It's important for me to see the horizon. But I also love mountains and hiking, rivers, lakes.... We can like all things.

I'd leave your DH at home and go out with the DC to the seaside. Save some pennies here and there over a couple of months for the arcade and ice creams.

Royal docks urban bezach in summer Urban-Beach - London's Royal Docks https://share.google/LDLU5dz48IwsL2H75

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Daytrip to essex use family railcard southend or clacton or folkestone v easy
Or a bus or coach
Ruislip lido for sand

Ooops! Yes that's in Sussex! My apologies.

Also, I'm not a snob and even enjoyed Blackpool, Skegness and Brighton -shock horror-

We live about as far from the sea as you can in the UK, and only going for a week's holiday once a year sounds normal to me.

I do love the sea, and everything about the seaside, and now we are older and the dc are adults, and money is less of an issue, I do occasionally go for a day trip, but even then it will only be once a year.

We both drive, as do our dc, so it is easy to arrange, and arrange fairly spontaneously (ie, when the weather looks good). But, there are also coach trips I see advertised, during the Summer months. Both commercial ones, and things arranged from groups such as play schemes / Children's Centres / etc. It might be worth asking about locally if anyone knows of anything like that from where you live ?

I think YABU in your expectation of trips more regularly if you are living hand to mouth, then treats and luxuries are what have to be the first thing you lose. Is there any way to increase your income ? Perhaps pick up a shift at a bar once a week in order to save for such treats ?

@Pllystyrene London is near quite a few beaches, albeit by car or train. mind you if I wasn't staying at my sisters monthly, who lives dead opposite the sea, I would never bother, I love mountains, forests and countryside.

Lolz! I agree, there was so much wrong in that post it's hard to know where to start! Of all the beaches in this country, I'm not sure Margate or Hastings would fit into the 'lovely' category. 🤣

Well we don't even go to the seaside once a year

So yes I think it's pretty normal to not go to the seaside regularly

I don't drive so if we do go we on a day trip on a coach
Which takes a few hours.

I live 2 mins from the beach. We rarely go. 🤷🏻‍♀️. It’s not compulsory.

Oh wow. You have no idea what you are missing out on! Obvs don't go near Brighton or Blackpool, they're horrific, but the UK has some of the most beautiful beaches in the world. As we don't get guaranteed weather, many of them are actually pretty quiet as long as you stay away from the resorts. They're certainly not all pebbley or peopley. You are so, so wrong and truly missing out!

I would love that too.

We are on the beach most days walking the dogs.

When I lived in Scotland as a child, we never visited the beach really except on our annual holiday to Spain/Italy. Now I live about as far away from the sea as you can be in England and I can't say it's something I feel like I'm missing out on. If we have a UK break it is generally by the coast but I could very happily live without it! I think my children have much more fun in local rivers, climbing hills etc.

Edited to add: It's very unusual for people in my county to visit the sea except on holiday so I think there are far more people in the same boat as you than you're perhaps thinking. I don't remember any of my friends growing up doing to Scottish beaches ever!

Very true.

We live somewhere with a huge nature park, water to do activities on, play parks with water play, and all sorts of things. Big campsite and everything. Never go.

Last time we went was well I actually cannot name it maybe 7 plus years ago maybe more.

We’re not in that situation (lots of beaches near us) but I really feel for you.

I think we always crave what we don’t have, when mine were small we really wanted to be in London going to the museums, parks, restaurants, markets etc!

I don't bother going to the seaside in the UK - I'm not letting my kids get in the water so it would just be stressful.

If you don’t drive, can’t afford the train and have married someone who doesn’t really want to spend his weekends driving some distance to a beach, then the answer to your question is ‘not very often’.

Other people live close to the beach, drive themselves, get railcards, do coach trips or go with friends.

Going to the park, woods, river or canal can be just as lovely though and you wouldn’t necessarily need your husband to drive you to those.

If you go at low tide there is a beach at the southbank its a lovely outing to do that.

Hi op a different perspective

I was in London with small children and like you I thought about the seaside a lot! I mvoed to the seaside when my kids were still in primary and they have very little interest in the beach!

I am happy living here but to be honest I think a lot about how amazing London parks are and how much I miss them!

London has AMAZING parks/playgrounds/ paddling pools - so much better than you would find in a lot of coastal towns.

I would just focus on enjoying how lucky you are to have all that free cool London stuff on the doorstep. I miss it now ive left!

Where is the lovely beach in Hastings and when did it move to Kent?

Well no from London I would not expect to go often at all. There’s other things to do.
i actually lived within sight of the sea for ten years and I’d go months without touching sand!

I live in London and I go for a day trip to the beach at least twice a year. Usually to see something else too - I look for cheap deal rail tickets.

Why wouldn't you? It's really quick to get to lots of beach destinations on the train if you can afford the fare. And on the coach, as above, if you need to go more cheaply

What is it about the beach that you particularly like and want to do more of?

I wouldn't go on a day trip to the beach if I lived in London I don't think.

Plenty of free options in London.

A couple times a week but I can literally walk to 4 beaches from my house. If lived on London I'd probably go every couple of years.