To ask - does anyone know anywhere for a common/old-fashioned seaside day out?

[whatever17]

I live in SW London. The obvious answer is Brighton. But Mum is feeling miserable and I think a day (or night or 2 in a B&B) would cheer her up. I am thinking deck chairs, fish n chips, bingo, amusement arcades. Just old fashioned non-fancy stuff and I will take her and Dad and the kids.

I really can't think of anywhere my side of the M4. Not too far, 3 hours tops.

Just next door to Hastings too!

Its probably just under 3 hours from you - Frinton.

It's fab! Very quiet, very old fashioned - no amusements. Very genteel.

Bollocks. Bexhill on Sea is just next to Hastings. Not Worthing. Which is miles away and nowhere near as nice.

Littlehampton, its perfect there, pebbly beaches but loads of them and not too hectic.

Brighton I find over crowded and very "Try Hard".

I'm with Bexhill too, lovely walk along the front eating fish and chips and people watching.
Weymouth is good too.

Littlehampton is pretty near for you OP, straight down to Arundel and you're nearly there.

(No sniggering at the name at the back. Yes, you!)

Just found the website www.royalvichotel.co.uk/ Not sure if this in your budget - we had a family room, a suite in fact, - for £105 including breakfast for all four of us.

Or Whitstable, lovely town but not so much for the arcades though.

Just scrolled down to suggest Littlehampton

Bexhill has a wonderful italian restaurant on the main promenade also a fantastic fish and chip shop. Nom nom!

Is Weymouth too far? They have arcades, Punch and judy, donkey rides etc and the beach is lovely.

North Wales, Llandudno... gorgeous and quite olde worlde. For the perfect hotel, St Tudno's, sublime with attentive yet unobtrusive service and afternoon tea! Highly recommended. :)

Whistable is nice (fishing town - good places to eat along the front and some very nice shops but no sandy beach but you could do there and Broadstairs in one go if you're driving and Broadstairs has the beach and a really good old fashioned Italian ice cream parlour.

Hastings sounds good - and possibly there might be some old biddy historical tour.

I know she would only bother with the beach for 10 minutes or so but she would love the fish n chips and a wee turn at bingo.

Are there rides for the kids? Over 11 - so not Blackpool Pleasure Beach but more than little donkeys.

SOUTHWOLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLD!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! The pier is amazing and there is an arcade too!!!!!

My two love the fair at Hastings there is something for everyone. It costs a pretty penny though!

East, East, East Sussex!! Avoid the seaweedy bungaloid coast that is West Sussex!

Southwold? Where is it?

Googling now.

How long in the car is Southwold from Hammersmith (J2, M4)

Southwold is in Suffolk and is just lovely. I've stayed there several times and always had a great time but it can be expensive.

Weymouth! Great family friendly beach, traditional without being too tacky and with a lovely old harbour. It's just under 3 hours from Waterloo. (and is much better than Bournemouth !)

Bimbo - everything costs a pretty penny! What is the fair like - a theme park or a carny fair?

Im not a driver but im guessing two and half hours. Get on the A12!!!

Bognor, Selsey, West wittering...