To go to the beach tomorrow ?!

[Imknackeredzzz]

Everyone seems to think I’m mad, want to take my 2 and 5 year old to the coast tomorrow. Is it just going to be too hot for them? I’m thinking while splashing around they might be ok with the sea breeze, but am I setting myself up for a fall?

If not any tips anyone?!

depends where you go and how many other people have the same thought

keep them suncreamed and not too uncovered and watered and they should be ok

I’ve been at the beach three days in a row. Arrived early. Left before lunch. Put a tent up and lathered them with suncream and in wet suits. Also chose quieter beaches - there were about twenty groups of people between two groynes where we were this morning.

Depends where you are. In much of the country it’s not even that hot at the moment, despite wall-to-wall heatwave coverage because it’s hot round London again.

Bournemouth Brighton Studlands etc - yep! I'd say you're mad.

Nothing to do with weather or the humidity but everything to do with thinking a crowded beach and hours of traffic is just not a pleasant day out!

But the coast in this weather? No!

Perfectly sensible imo. But then I'm 10 minutes from the beach and being able to swim in the sea and get the cooler sea breeze these last few days has been a life saver!

Although Saturday there was neither sun or breeze and it was like sitting in treacle

How close are you to the coast?
I would suggest having an early start and getting there for 8/8.30.
Places get busy about 9am onwards. Even quieter beaches will get car parks filling up.

Take snacks, tent, whatever you need and plenty of drinks that have been frozen overnight. They act as a good rehydration tool as well as ice packs!

I would suggest leaving lunchtime or taking picnic and sitting in shade at lunchtime and keeping out if the sun for at least 2 hours.

Ds and I lay in tent, read and play cards!

If staying for the day aim to leave at 4 to avoid the afternoon crowd also leaving at same time.

Sorry if you live near coasts and go all the time and know that those tricks if the trade.
It's just by asking you don't sound like you live near a beach and go that much!

Its going to be 30+ here (southeast) alongside the storm warnings. I think it would be mad, especially with a toddler. You won't be the only one though, as I imagine the beaches will be packed minus social distancing.

If you do go, lots of suncream.

It depends where you're going and what the forecast is like.

Hot day and going to a popular area then you're mad.
Sunny but not hot day and going to a quiet beach then you're not mad.

The advice is to avoid young children being in direct sunlight for long periods between 10am and 4pm when the sun's rays are strongest...

So I wouldn't unless you have some sort of beach shelter that they can sit under to protect them from the sun. If I were taking mine, I would dress in UV protective wetsuits and a swim hat that protected the back of the neck and apply factor 50 repeatedly (you'll need a special waterproof suncream).

I'm lazy and would find the above a faff so the closest we'll be getting to the beach tomorrow is our sandpit.

We went to a couple of Kent beaches at the weekend. Chose the pebbly ones and there was loads of space between people - we all had about 10 metres stretch each probably more. Go early, take picnic and leave after lunch. We had a great time!

I live in Sussex near the beach. Please don't come here.

Not only are the beaches crowded but the roads are full of badly parked cars and lots of near accidents being seen. I struggle to get out my road.

If it's somewhere quieter / less popular then sure. But it's so hot here it's not much fun - us locals stay away until the evening.

Ffs .... I hate this narrative that “all the beaches are packed”. I live in south coasts most popular seaside town.... beaches between two piers are indeed “packed”. But this city has almost 6 miles of coast - they are obviously not all heaving .

Take shade
Take sum team and drinks
Don’t go to popular beaches
Check out parking before setting off

A dip in the sea on a sweltering day is a great joy in life

Indeed @DelphicOracle I can vouch that the Far East Of that beach around a high bit of land was very quiet this morning and still plenty of spaces in the car park when we left at about 1.

This is my local beach last week.

Got busier but not packed and plenty of distancing!

Depends where you're thinking of going? There are storms forecast for the next few days.

I went in the evening and it was quieter. Plenty of sunscreen, lots of shade and water and they'll be fine if it's actually sunny.

Make sure you have LOTS of water with you, hats and suncream for everyone, and some portable shade (e.g. umbrella, or a little tent)
And don't go to Brighton or similar, the crowds would be horrendous and you'd be stuck in traffic for ages.

We live in the south east, and I wouldn't go to the beach right now myself (too sunny, too crowded). The hills and woods are much nicer, for that kind of weather.

@DelphicOracle

Ffs .... I hate this narrative that “all the beaches are packed”. I live in south coasts most popular seaside town.... beaches between two piers are indeed “packed”. But this city has almost 6 miles of coast - they are obviously not all heaving .

Take shade
Take sum team and drinks
Don’t go to popular beaches
Check out parking before setting off

A dip in the sea on a sweltering day is a great joy in life

Whereas where I live, the beaches have been ridiculously busy, no parking and huge traffic tailbacks.

This is my two enjoying miles of beach to themselves last week. Choose your beach wisely, go off the beaten track a little and enjoy it.

Depends where you are going? We went to a quiet beach in NW yesterday, it was mix between hot sun, clouds & breeze and was lovely. Lots and lots of space in between families so social distancing was not a problem.

Why is going to the beach in summer mad?! I'd go –take shelter, sun cream, lots of cold drinks and have fun! We went last week and it was fine, although we did leave very early in anticipation of traffic. But friends who arrived later didn't see much traffic either. And it tends to be cooler by the coast anyway.

As the others said, this is very location dependent. We are on the Isle of Wight, and some beaches are rammed. We have been each day, but have normally waited until mid afternoon and gone for beaches that are less known to tourists. Ours are pretty beach savvy as we go a lot, so we travel very light, lotion before we go, wear rash vests and long shorts to protect from sun etc.

I wouldn't go anywhere that involved a fair drive, or having to park and walk for miles etc.

This was yesterday. A few families but plenty of space.

Please don't come to Brighton. It is unbearingly hot with no shade or breeze and difficult to park

We're staying in Bournemouth this week. OK it was pretty packed yesterday but even just up the road from the pier at East Cliff it was perfectly possible to social distance. Today even more so.

Depends where about your going, my local beach is empty, took the children this morning saw a lady and her dog and that was it. Further down the coast I believe it’s a different story.

@Shelley54

I live in Sussex near the beach. Please don't come here.

Not only are the beaches crowded but the roads are full of badly parked cars and lots of near accidents being seen. I struggle to get out my road.

If it's somewhere quieter / less popular then sure. But it's so hot here it's not much fun - us locals stay away until the evening.

This - but change Sussex to Southsea ...