To think I can find a quiet sandy beach no more than 2 hours drive from London

[Ghanagirl]

Just as the title says really, we are not going on hols this year but would love my two to spend at least one day playing at the seaside, anyone know of any possibilities?

When you say 'quiet' how quiet exactly? There are some nice little beaches between Shoreham >> Lancing >> Worthing or there's also West Wittering - which is very beautiful but probably not what you might call secluded! Worth a look though.

The witterings in Hampshire are lovely and not too far from london

Dymchurch in Kent is a lovely little sandy beach at the end of Dymchurch village. Npt many fancy facilites so it only attracts locals, OAPs & v young families. It has a lovely sandy beach.

Thanks for suggestions, by "quite" just meant somewhere I could take picnic plus buckets spades and watch my 6 year old twins play and have a little elbow space friend went to Southend earlier in the summer and returned traumatised, it was crowded and she lost her 4 year old!

Which part of London would you be leaving from? As that definitely makes a difference!

Camber sands is a fantastic beach on the Kent/Sussex border.

And I second dymchurch too - grew up in the area Andes the beaches.

dymchurch doesnt really get that busy, its got a little (tiny) amusement park nearby with a couple of rides and fish and chip shops etc. its nothing special but itz fairly local to me so i like to take my dog there

We liked Littlehampton. Went on a chilly late summer day so it was probably quieter than usual, but it was less than 2 hrs drive, the beach was sandy, there was a nice park with little rides and an indoor kids' amusement place/cafe.

The Rye end of Camber sands is pretty quiet and the beach the other side of Rye Harbour is lovely and has big sandy patches at low tide and is very quiet (It has a nice walk or cycle through a nature reserve to get to it)

Climping, near Arundel, West Sussex. From South London, that part of the coast is about 1.5 - 2 hours drive.

Broadstairs - or anywhere in Thanet for that matter. Lovely sandy beaches there, and lots of little coves that don't get quite as packed as the main beach.

Isn't Frinton quite quiet?

It was when I went at christmas

www.tripadvisor.co.uk/Attraction_Review-g635678-d2140586-Reviews-Joss_Bay-Broadstairs_Isle_of_Thanet_Kent_England.html
Joss bay!

I would also suggest Dymchurch or Camber. Both are lovely. If its vv busy at Camber, just walk up along the beach a bit and it gets much quieter. Dymchurch is great esp at low tide (lots of beach space). However if you're going from east London, don't forget Chalkwell. Easy on the train, quiet (not pretty though) but a much safer alternative to Southend with little ones and very easy if you don't drive.

Dymchurch is heaving, St Mary's bay £2 all day car parkhas a lovely beach, car park has toilet block and there is a cafe hut and little shop on the beach too.
www.stmarysbay.net/visitors/beach.htm

I live near Hythe btw

Littlestone, Greatstone too.

Hythe is pebbly and slopes so avoid

Folkestone has a very small sandy beach but full of ruffians

Thanks we live northwest London, near mill hill

Walton on the Naze or Frinton

Both nice, sandy and quiet...especially if you use the Naze beaches at Walton, it's a lovely nature reserve.

The Witterings are lovely. Been a few times and although busy not ridiculous! At West Wittering they give out bracelets for your child(ren) which you write your phone number on. They're at the main life guard station.

Botany bay ( near broad stairs in Kent)

Frinton or Broadstairs!

Frinton is lovely and quiet, nice clean beach as well.
Another bonus is free parking, unlike Southend!

Isle of wight, not far from London and only a short ferry ride. Beautiful secluded sandy beaches.

Another vote for frinton. Lovely beach, but check the tide times, it disappears at high tide.

camber sands
walton on the naze
sheerness (more ground up mussles than sand though)

Isle of Wight is gorgeous but bloody expensive bit of water to cross! If you're going that way, West Wittering is better. Get there very early or you'll be stuck in a traffic jam all morning. It's a private estate, huge car park you have to pay, but reasonable for the day. We always go left at the first toilets where the surfy stuff is - it's the dogs allowed bit, but clean and less crowded then the no dog bit. Very rarely seen dogs there to be honest.

Yes it is but you can pay for it with tesco vouchers!