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?

The high speed train goes from st Pancras to Margate. The old town is lovely and the beach very well looked after, big, sandy and clean.the newer town is disheartening, but for a sandy beach Margate is lovely, we had some great few days down there last summer.

Broadstairs.
I go regularly for the day with my little ones, they love it there. Ditch the car though, go by train if you have a network or friends and family railcard.

From Mill Hill, tube to St Pancras International then high speed train to Broadstairs, journey takes 1 hour 22 minutes then a short stroll downhill to the sandy beach. Rock pools, Italian ice cream parlour mmmm.

Leigh-on-Sea. We go there with my mum and her dogs. We drink Champagne on the beach with fish & chips

Leigh is full of dried oil patches everywhere though?

Or at least it was the last time I went.

Admittedly that was about 2yrs ago.

Southend on sea is probably the easiest beach to get to from North London. buy it is very comericalised. I don't know if there are any quieter beaches in that general vicinity.

dymchurch is lovely as in camber, my fav is joss bay (near margate/dover) from blondesland :) which is j5 m25 or j2 m20 you can get to joss bay in about an hour

i am about an hour from london car wise, tho obv depends which part of london you are in, so all 3 could be done in 2 hrs

Dymchurch DOES get busy - loads of people plonk themselves on top of each other and right by the slip way!

Greatstone/Littlestone/St Marys bay better bet - quieter/more space fewer chavs

if heading to this neck of the woods you must check tide times - dymchurch = no beach at all at hig tide
greatstone = no water at all at low tide, sea goes out for miles

I am from Barnet too - Leigh on Sea Beach
Leigh on Sea
Essex
SS9 2ET

About 1 - 1.5 hours drive (about 50 miles)

Thanks everyone, now poring over all info with DH

I can't believe how quiet the beach at Frinton always is, it''s a beautiful sandy beach at low tide. Probably 2.5 hours from NW London though.

Don't go to Worthing/Shoreham.

I live 4 miles away and even I wouldn't bother. Nothing but stones.

Margate beach is lovely. Very touristy, but I should imagine it's easy to find a quieter spot just outside the town centre.

Alternatively (and I know doesn't really compare) Ruislip lido has sand, water, nice walks nearby, a model railway and children's play equipment. Does get busy with North London on a sunny weekend though...

Just between Margate and broadstairs - botany bay beach is fab, soft sand loads of shells to collect and clean sea, and 5 mins drive to main broadstairs beach where you can go to Morellis ice cream parlor on the cliff top, lovely old fashioned town with nice restaurants little shops etc.

Another vote for Frinton. Yes the beach disappears at high tide but you've got the greensward to play on.

Leigh on sea isn't that great and southend is crazy when weather is good. If you do come to south Essex, carry on driving to Thorpe Bay. We were there yesterday afternoon and were pretty much the only people on that stretch of beach.
Pm me for directions to free parking.

Quiet sandy beach available at Tyneham in Dorset. On a clear run it's about 21/2 hours from North London. It's just round from Lulworth and has the best beach in Britain.