where can we go for a cheap weekend away, not too far from London? without kids

[truffaut]

It is our opportunity to be away without kids, needs to be cheap and fabulous, max 2 1/2 hours from London....

Criteria needed.
Time of year? Soon?
What do you want to do when you get there? Windy beaches and long walks, or shopping and drinking?
Ideal type of accomodation? Hotel / cottage?

Certainly not saying I'll come up with anything but may start us off.

Just before xmas. We want to sit in nice pubs in the evening listening to live music, and go for nice walks during the day, a beach would be nice.

possibly

Whitstable? Haven't been for years, but it's by the sea, good pubs/restaurants.... have a look on the alistair sawdey website for nice b&bs.... less frantic than brighton...

And apparantly the pub on the beach at Seasalter is excellent for food, so long walk along the beach from Whitstable...

Bexhill on sea and see if anything good on at the De La warre pavilion?