Day trip to sea in January????

[Daytripper25]

Is this mad? Where could we go? Me dd 15 and Dh. We live in North Hertfordshire, so needs to be easy to get to from there, driving. Or is everything just shut? Thinking perhaps Brighton?

Only ever been to the sea in summer!

Brighton will not be shut, it’s a busy place all the year round.

Southend on Sea is closer.

Brighton never shuts 🤣.it's a long way from you though. I don't live a million miles away from Brighton,I'm in a village,we take our dogs on the beach in winter, because they are long haired the bungalow is open plan, and the forests are too muddy. Apparently you are never further than 70 miles away from a beach in this country. If I was you, I would go further north, some great scenery,wild beaches. My gkds like a picnic even in winter. Go for it!

I live in the west of Ireland and twenty miles from the sea. We go to the beach all year round.

Best time to visit the sea, winter😎 We live within a mile of the sea so visit all year round.

It’s quieter and the sea is often more dramatic. Southend has the longest pleasure pier in the world and the walk to Leigh on Sea is glorious.

Brighton is always busy with lots to do.

I can’t think where else is near to Hertfordshire, my geography is crap.

Norfolk coast is beautiful.

Bournemouth is sandy beaches and will be lively.

Winter beaches are the best. I was swimming on Boxing Day.

Oh I love walking along a beach wrapped up cosy in winter! Definitely go. You'll enjoy.

It's a bit far!

Camber sands, broadstairs

Well those of us who life at the seaside manage all year round: just because you only visit the seaside in summer doesn't mean to say life just stops in seaside places during the winter.

We live by the sea and go several times a week - it will be quiet (and cold) but I love it.

I grew up in North Herts and we used to go to Hunstanton in Norfolk for day trips. Pretty windswept in winter though, so maybe wear your thermals and take a flask of tea😁

I know, I was merely saying that people do go to the beach in January and it’s not “mad” to do so.

We live at the beach. We go for a cold blustery walk on Christmas Eve and have lunch at a greasy spoon. Yesterday we went to another beach and spend the afternoon in the amusements.

If I could get there in a day I would do it!

I wasn't suggesting you don't...I just don't want to go somewhere like hunstanton and expecting fish and chips if nothing much is open

There will usually be plenty open although the chance of this is better if you go at the weekend and the weather is decent rather than a wet and blustery Tuesday, where people running the fish and chip shops etc might decide it's not worth opening.

I go to the Yorkshire coast all year round (weather permitting) and there's always a cafe, fish and chip shop etc open. It's often quite nice as less crowded, although I expect on days like today it will be quite busy - I went to Whitby between Christmas and New Year a couple of years ago and it was like everyone in Yorkshire and the North East had the same idea - it was absolutely rammed, it took me ages to find a parking space, and I had to queue for nearly half an hour for my fish and chips and that wasn't even at the Magpie.

What do you mean by 'shut'?

The Suffolk and Norfolk seaside towns are lovely in winter. You can cut through using the A120 and A12.

What sort of a question is that?

We are going today... just about to set off.. We go most Sundays in every season.
It's brilliant and revitalising.
It's about 90 mins to our nearest coast ( East coast) Whitby/ Filey/ Robin hoods bay etc.
Let dog have a run on the beach.
Get a bag of chips.
Just wrap up warm.
Be loads of people there and shops open.

Do you recommend any particular one? Am thinking nice beach for walk, fish and chips, warm coffee shop and amusements!

Extraordinary ignorance to assume the coast is "shut" in winter

You must be somewhere near me @ReadyforSpringNow - West Yorkshire?

I bet it will be busy today if you're going to one of those places and will be arriving in the early afternoon. I'm going for a walk on the Wolds instead.

But that's my point: locals eat fish and chips, and go to cafes and eat out , even in winter.