Child-friendly seaside town

[mimos4]

We're looking to go on holiday in the UK in May, and would like to go to the seaside. We had a lovely time in Southend last year, so something like that would be great. It needs to be no more than 1-1.5 hours by direct train from London. The children are between 18 months and 4.

I welcome all suggestions! Thank you 😊

Broadstairs. Especially the quieter bays like Botany Bay and Joss Bay.

The centre of town is small but has enough child-friendly places to eat to keep you occupied, and then you can either go down to the main Viking bay (which is lovely when it’s quiet but full of teenagers and language school trips in August), or walk along the promenade until you find somewhere quieter. Sea is shallow and there are lifeguards.

When your children are older (or if you have a bike seat or trailer for them) you can take them on bike rides along the coast - the promenade carries on for miles.

With children that age, I’d go for Worthing or Southsea. Both are really well set up for young families. Southsea is a bit further to travel but has more things to do (castle, museums, aquarium etc).

Weymouth

I immediately thought Broadstairs, it's also easy enough to get to Margate and Ramsgate to visit on the train as well but they have lovely sandy beaches.

I did think about Broadstairs. Is it like Margate?

Is Eastbourne any good for children?

I should have mentioned one family will be from London, and another from Cambridge. So somewhere between the two rather than on the south coast would be ideal.

Is Clacton on Sea any good?

Broadstairs is nothing like Margate, thank goodness, it's fab. Parking is a nightmare though.

Camber Sands
Bracklesham Bay
The Witterings
Swanage if you want to go that far
Isle of Wight

Ignore me - missed the train part!!

Deal/Walmer?

St Ives, Cornwall. Five beaches within walking distance, lots of rock pools to explore, lots of other activities like boating, seal-watching, fishing trips etc, and enough more grown-up stuff around to keep adults sane. And it's absolutely beautiful.

Expensive generally, but will be less so in May as you are escaping the school holiday period.

Oops, sorry, missed the bit about the train journey. But can you be persuaded to try a longer journey? The train journey from St Erth to St Ives is absolutely spectacular in terms of the views.

Barry Island. Cheap, cheerful and 1.5Hrs London - Cardiff.
Plenty for kids to do, lovely beach.

I'd suggest Southwold in Suffolk but no idea about trains!

The promenade stretch from Bournemouth to Sandbanks is perfect for children & adults. Especially in May.

Harbour side in Sandbanks is great, the water is usually warm when the tide is in as it starts of shallow so kids can safely play. More of a lake vibe as no waves, but if they want waves it’s just the other side of the road on the promenade.

The arcade side of things is bournemouth.

Staying in Bournemouth, Westbourne, branksome & canford cliffs is ideal.

Ditto Bournemouth. You don't need a car. Loads to do. Huge sandy beaches.
You can get to Swanage from Bournemouth on the Purbeck Breezer open-topped bus.

Thanks everyone for all the suggestions.

What's better would you say, something along the Kentish coast, like Broadstairs or Whitstable, or Clacton? With the latter, we'd visit Colchester too.

I think broadstairs much more appealing than Clacton. I’ve done both with Dd when she was younger. Sorry clacton!

I liked Herne Bay. Shingle beach and a lovely playground.
But then I love Margate. Unpretentious and a lovely sandy beach. I also enjoyed Broadstairs, but Broadstairs can be busy.
St Mildred's Bay was easy to park, few people, sandy beach, good cafe. And the beach is an easy walk from Westgate on Sea Station.

Sheringham on the Norfolk coast family friendly beach or Pinewoods Caravsn Park in Wells Next athe Sea in Norfolk.

@Polyethyl go up the coast to Botany Bay, Kingsgate Bay, Joss Bay. Halfway between Margate and Broadstairs, you can either walk/ride a bike, or take a bus. Practically never busy (long sandy beaches so lots of space).

The OP said a maximum of 1.5 hours direct from London.

There is zero point suggesting, Wales, IOW and Devon 🙈

I personally love Clacton..
The pier is amazing
Go karts, Bumper cars, Funfair, Bowling, Contained softplay area, Crazy golf inside and outside , Pool tables, Air hockey etc

Colchester Zoo which is so much better than London Zoo

Great Yarmouth is a great place to go. Had many happy holidays there as a kid at Camber Sands and surrounding areas.

@twilightcafe

That bus goes past my house and it’s the best ride ever in the summer 😂 my kids absolutely love it when get on it for fun. A rollercoaster through the treetops!

I do make them walk from Alum Chine to Studland first though.

Broadstairs has a nice gentle beach. Pricey though.

Someone mentioned Southwold but there isn’t a train station very close - nearest is about 25 min by taxi