Toddler friendly beach near south east london

[TiredButTerrific]

Hi everyone ! I’m new to South East London. I want to make use of the good (ish) weather and take my 1.5 year old DC to a toddler-friendly beach (sandy not shingles, accessible for a buggy, clean, shallow water, some good eateries nearby). Any recommendations ?

Driving or public transport?

Broadstairs has lovely beaches. There is the main one (Viking Bay), which you can access with a buggy to either side - otherwise you’d need to use lots of steps.

Viking Bay is accessible by train (station is in the lovely town centre which is by the beach), and you can also park fairly nearby if lucky.

There is Morelli’s ice cream parlour by the beach which is a slice of 1950’s heaven! A couple of fish and chip shops available, some lovely restaurants just behind the beach, and some nice independent shops and charity shops.

There are also Botany Bay and Joss Bay in Broadstairs which are lovely too and more small and secluded.

Southend has a mostly sandy children’s beach which can get quite crowded however on sunny weekends. Funfair, cheap bowling, crazy golf, - 45 minutes from West Ham on the train or just under an hour from Liverpool St.
There are quieter beaches like Hythe that are close but these are pebbly.

Camber Sands. Rye nearby that’s lovely. Sussex.

I second Broadstairs. Easy to get to on the train from Bromley too.

Another vote for Broadstairs!

Camber Sands is the usual option for SE Londoners

That said Broadstairs is lovely it’s just that we all mainly did day trips to Cambersands for a day at the beach so in my mind it must have been quicker and easier to get to

Brighton has a lovely gated seafront play area with paddling pool and sand which will probably suit your young DS well.

@Seeline either would do.

If you are driving, there’s loads of beaches in the Chichester area. Depends how far East you are. DD goes south from Victoria station.

Camber Sands, Margate, Southend, Leysdown.

Dymchurch is lovely, and so is Walton-on-the-Naze.

@PomegranateVase are Botany Bay and joss bay accessible (to a buggy)?

Another vote for Broadstairs!

@TiredButTerrific

Apologies - they aren’t. I had to ask my Husband to check. Viking Bay is though.

I agree that Broadstairs is good for toddlers. I used to take mine there.
I don't know why people are suggesting places in Essex. They are really not easy to get to from south London.
The best places to go do depend on whether you are driving or going by train. By train there are several Kent beaches from Bromley South or Sussex beaches from East Croydon. Littlehampton is probably the best for your criteria in Sussex. Margate station is right next to the main beach which is all sand and lots of cafes nearby - this was my second choice with small children.

camber sands. There’s a car park that gives you direct access to the beach

@NoisyParakeet- North Greenwich has the Jubilee line. Two stops to West Ham then frequent fast trains to Southend, Leigh-on Sea or Shoeburyness. Depends on where you live in SE London as to which beach is easiest to get to. Leigh has a sandy area with natural sea pool.

As a previous poster mentioned Brighton
also has a great kids bit, paddling pool, sand and lots of little trendy cafes right by the area to get snacks and drinks for kids and adults. Easy for pushchairs too.

Thanks everyone ! Will go to a couple of these and see which works best for us…

The trouble with Camber Sands is that you have to wrestle the buggy over the dunes for quite a long way before you even see the sea. Also, if you're not driving, you've got to factor in the train to Rye & then the bus journey to Camber village, which is about three miles away.

You'll also need to check the tides, because when the tide is out, it goes out for nearly a mile, leaving you with a vast expanse of wet sand & not much else for twelve hours.

Sandy?! It is not sandy 😂 it’s mostly rocks and shells

Before going to camber sands make sure you familiarise yourself with the tides and tidal pattern.

Genuinely at that age I'd go for sandpit and paddling pool at home.

Dymchurch is good. There’s a car park just opposite the sandy beach plus there’s a place to get fish and chips. There’s a little fun fair too with rides for smaller children.