Day trips from London to the beach - where to go?

[Earlybird]

Now that the weather is starting to look better and warmer/sunnier days are more likely, I'm thinking about weekend activities. Would love to hear from those of you who have suggestions about travelling by train/bus/public transport from London to the beach. We need to be able to walk to the beach if possible, or once there, take an easy/direct route via local public transport and will exact need directions.

Where can we get to relatively easily, and how would we travel?
Any tips for parts of the beach to go to?

What else is there to do besides the beach - interesting shopping, museums, local places of interest?
Any great parks/playgrounds nearby?

Would also appreciate suggestions of good, kid friendly restaurants.

Thanks for any ideas. There's so many threads of people wondering what to do in London, thought I might turn it around and find out what us Londoners can do when we venture outside the city!

chichester west wiitergin
parking is a marethough

Could I get there by public transport from London, or is it a place where a car is needed?

Don't go to Southend

what about brighton? or bournemouth? it is 2hrs on the train from waterloo.

Hastings, Eastbourne,Brighton and many other towns on the coast that are lovely for days out. All of them have direct links by train from London and the beach is within a 5 min walk at Hastings, 10mins at Eastbourne and about 15mins at Brighton.

long way to the beach from Bournemouth Train Station

Am I right in thinking that trains to Brighton go from Victoria?

I've been to Brighton and Bournemouth, but both times was for business conferences - obviously a world away from going for a day out with a 5 year old. Don't want it to turn into a "why did I think this was a good idea" endurance contest.....

And suzywong - I seem to remember that Bournemouth to the beach was a taxi ride....though, I'm sure I could figure out a public transport route.

What I want is E-A-S-Y and F-U-N. Can I do it, or is it over ambitious?

you are probably right, i stopped living in Bournemouth a long time ago.
It is one of the best beaches in the country and you could do a lot lot worse. Only 90 mins from Waterloo.

Brighton - 45 mins on the fast train from Victoria, I think! I love taking ds (nearly 3) to Brighton - it's very child-friendly, imo.

snafu - sounds good. What do you do once you're there? I'm after some specific suggestions from those who've got it sussed!

Hastings is wonderfull for a day out as I said before 5mins walk to the (pebble) beach, crazy golf, trampolines, sealife centre and fishermans museum in the old town and a little funfair. For May day there is a large Jack in the Green festival and in August there is the old town carnival. Eastbourne get filled up slightly more with old people but is wonderful all the same.

flutterbee, that sounds great. No idea how big Hastings is. Are all those things walkable? Do you have any suggestions for where to eat?

Oooh well, we tend to just have a wander along the front, chuck some pebbles in sea, schlep along the pier... There's a children's funfair at the end of the pier which is not bad, plenty of ice-cream and little rides etc along the way.

Then we will wander up into the Lanes and there are loads of child-friendly restaurants around there (bog-standard stuff like Pizza Express and lots of funky little cafes etc, all very welcoming to kids) Last time we were there they had a morris dancing festival in one of the little pedestrianised squares which ds was transifixed by - possibly not everyone's cup of tea though

It's just a very funky and friendly place with lots to see even if you're just having a stroll around. Will be jam-packed on a sunny day, that's the only problem!

Hastings is a very walkable place, to get to the far end of the old town (sealife centre) from the train station with a 5yr old will be no problem especially as once you hit the sea front you just walk straight along it on the promanade away from the road (for most of it) but near all the activities.

There are plenty of the normal fish and chip places and small cafes but I would reccommend either Katies Pantry on George street (Old town, pedestrianised) whish is a lovely little tea room or on the same stree the Hot Potatoe (the clues in the name) or at the far end of the same street Faggins for larger meals but very good price and standards.

You can also go up the cable cars to the east and west hill to visit the castle (a big let down don't go) on the west hill or on the east hill the country park, perfect for little ones to run around and the views are second to none.

these londeoners with no cars e?

Hey cod - I took the mayor seriously when he introduced the congestion charging zone! I live in central London, and it made no sense for me to pay £8 everyday to drive around on top of tax, insurance, petrol, etc so I got rid of the car. With only one child, public transport is no problem for me....unless, of course, I consider venturing outside London!

Charing Cross to Westgate - might have to change at Strood. Nice clean beach at Westbrook (dog free in summer).

KBear - how long on the train, and how close is beach to train station?

London Waterloo to Weymouth on train. Weymouth beach is just round the corner from the station. Lots of shops too if you want to wander around.

We catch the same train from Poole to Weymouth sometimes. Kids love it.

Check out South Eastern trains website but I reckon about an hour. Westgate station very near beach - five mins walk.

KBear - sounds like a definite contender. Any suggestions for other things to do there, or places to eat?

Outward Journey Option 1
Station Timetable Train Company Travel By
LONDON VICTORIA dep 09:03 SOUTH EASTERN TRAINS
WESTGATE-ON-SEA arr 10:41
Duration: 1:38

No changes if you go from Victoria. When you going? I wanna come too!!!

There is a cafe on the beach - usual fare - great bacon sarnies. Buckets and spades and inflatables to buy too. Nice clean toilets!

We've had some GREAT days there.