Day trip to Camber Sands?

[Splitsunrise]

First off I know it's been one of the beaches in the news today for being rammed! We're thinking of going tomorrow...... we'd take the train (don't have a car), go really early, and walk as far along the beach as we can, as I know it's 3 miles long. Hopefully we would have a better chance of it being slightly quieter! Other option is doing it on Sunday instead as the trains seem to be running the same then, though obviously shops would shut early.

Any advice? Is there anywhere decent to get fish and chips or other food that's not a sit down meal? Is there anywhere to refill water bottles?

Thank you!

Margate.

What about going into London and a cafe along the river/ sit in the south bank?

Broadstairs will presumably be rammo, But you might be lucky walking round to Joss Bay etc.

If you do Broadstairs you could walk to one of the bays either side. Dumpton gap has loos and a little cafe but is quite tidal. Viking Bay (main beach at Broadstairs gets very busy) so I would avoid. If the tide is right you can walk all the way to ramsgate along the beach and walk back along tops. Ramsgate Station is a way out of town though so I wouldn't get train there

Two words.

Weever fish.

@MitziK I heard this on another forum!! I hadn't heard of them...maybe I should google..

Now googled. I have sea shoes! Eugh

I’d stick to whitstable if you enjoyed it.

If your SW London what about travelling down to Littlehampton?

Avoid big places like witterings etc and there's lots of lovely beaches that way.

Birchington or Westgate, which is the stop before margate , there isn't much there but there is a beach cafe and a Beach bar , although I haven't been this year , so couldn't be certain they are open . You can even walk to Margate from there although its a long way , and I swear its even further on the way back Broadstairs also has quieter beaches if you walk along past the main one .

If you must go to a beach on one of the hottest days of the year and during a pandemic, try Bognor Regis - not too busy and gloriously sandy at low tide.

Unless you arrive v early in the morning you won’t get parked. I wouldn’t recommend it, appalling scenes on local news, unless you love being a traffic jam, give it a wide berth OP.

@roselily she's going on the train

If you're in London what about Hyde Park lido? Am assuming it's open?!

Folkestone sandy beach is tiny and it will be absolutely rammed.

Just go somewhere quieter.

Contrary to what a previous poster said going by train is absolutely fine. I know the Government have delivered mixed massages. Don’t use public transport - do use public transport etc etc Studies have shown public transport is VERY safe and wearing masks improves things still further.

Thing is - just regard anything Boris Johnson says as a downright lie or total bullshit and you won’t go far wrong.

The comment about public transport was more about how much of a pain it is to get to camber rather than the risk.

I really can't see any appeal in a day out on an absolutely crowded beach on a boiling hot day - even without Coronavirus. Why are people doing this or even thinking about it

I agree. And Camber Sands is overrated anyway. It's right next to Rye which is lovely and presumably where you were going to go to by train anyway. You could look at Hastings if you want a beach.

Camber sands is a wonderful beach!

We’ve been to west wittering twice this summer and it’s been lovely both times. You have to book the car park and there is limited capacity so it’s not been busy.

Looks like a train to Chichester then a bus or taxi?

@Ricekrispie22

Bus 120 goes from Rye to Camber Sands every 30 minutes, and takes about 20 minutes. The sandiest, and therefore most popular, section of the beach is the western end, nearest to Rye. As you walk east along the beach it transitions into shingle. Even on a glorious day, it can be windy. Wear sunglasses to protect your eyes. When the tide is out, it feels close on a mile to the water’s edge. But you don’t want to be caught unawares when the tide comes in, which it does at pace! There are loads of places for fish and chips. The Pelican Fish Bar is probably your best bet for takeaway.

The buses frequently stop Running via camber due to the traffic and terrible roads.

It's manic.

Go somewhere else. Everyone says go early to miss. And when everyone has same idea it only leads to disappointment.

Littlehampton. Easy to get to, nice beach, short walk from the station. It was not at all busy last weekend and is a gem of a town.

No no no no.
We've just got back from holiday near there.
We walked down 9pm one night and it was still very busy. Car parks were full before 11am, and Cars parked everywhere, people on top of each other, no social distancing at all during the say.
Despite being the closest beach that we could walk to, we chose to go elsewhere. Rye Harbour was nice and clear (though a cooler day) and we saw a seal.

We went to Dymchurch today.
Much emptier, but still as busy as I've ever seen it before. There's more space though so we walked a long way to be out of the worst area.

Don't go. I live just down the coast and it keeps getting closed because it gets too crowded too quick

Honestly don't go. I've stopped going to UK beaches years ago because of the pictures on tabloid newspapers today as it's hell. I only go when it's a nice weather in Sprin, Autumn and winter. If you go during a heatwave like today, you're pretty much stuck there all day and will take a packed train there and back. To me, going to the beach should be 5 minutes tops away from my bedroom (hotel room) where I can get the chance to escape if the heat gets to me. The bar should be nearby where I don't have to walk miles to the nearest co-op when I feel like a snack/drink and most importantly, even without the pandemic, I can't stand a packed beach. This is why sunbathing on the beach means abroad to me.