To ask for a beach recommendation in South Devon

[saxonyv]

Driving down to Exeter to pick something up on Monday and hoping to tie in a beach visit on the way.
Sandy beach preferred so kids can make some sandcastles, parking not too far away if possible.
I have googled but there are so many lovely looking ones to choose from (and some that look lovely but have dodgy parking reviews)

Don’t mind if it’s within an hour of Exeter too :)

Exmouth is lovely, about 30 mins drive from Exeter. Big long sandy beach, plenty of places to buy ice creams etc. Town centre is about 10 mins walk from the beach and has some nice shops and restaurants.

Driving down from where? North or east? Lyme Regis?

Exmouth. Massive sandy beach, loads of car parks.

If it's going to be a warm day, if you arrive before 10am you'll be able to get a space along the esplanade/Queens drive or Foxholes car park. Otherwise I would head to Maer road car park and walk down, it's only 5 mins.

Oh and if you need buckets and spades or footballs or bats and balls or anything there's a shop next to Aby's catering on the front which will sell you anything you need for the beach.

That's East Devon, really. Exmouth and Sidmouth.

South Devon is more towards Cornwall - Paignton, Torquay.

Driving down from Swindon but will probably arrive around lunchtime.
Happy to travel a bit out of my way (within an hour or so) to get to a nice beach we can relax at for a few hours.
Kids are 7 upwards to teenagers.

There are beaches at Torquay, Teignmouth, Goodrington Sands and Paignton. Donkeys years since I've been here so no idea about parking. Don't think I've ever been to Paignton beach

Seaton and Sidmouth I can't remember if they are sand or pebbles. Budleigh Salterton and Beer are definitely pebbles

Exmouth Beach - I haven't been for a long time but my grandparents lived here so I have spent many an hour on this beach It's beautiful

Blackpool Sands - private beach on the coast road between Dartmouth and Kingsbridge. Just over an hour from Exeter according to Google maps. It's expensive to go on the beach but it is really pretty

All the other beaches I am familiar with are a bit further along and would take longer than an hour

edited for repetition

Exmouth ticks all of your boxes

Teignmouth also brilliant for all ages, parking, play area and crazy golf right next to the beach