Holiday destinations accessible from London, travelling by train

[Puddleduck21]

Hi, can anyone suggest a seaside holiday destination easily accessible by train from London. I'm thinking south coast/Devon/Dorset but am open to anything really. We just want somewhere you can get to easily by train (a 5-10 min taxi journey would be ok at the other end but not much more), with a nice beach and plenty to do if the weather is pants but not too touristy. Does anyone have any suggestions? Any specific recommendations for self-catering accommodation? Thanks so much!

How far by train? Could you or would you go to France and travel to the west coast?

Sorry see its in UK section - ignore me

Broadstairs, Margate, Whistable etc?

Tenby

You could go to North Berwick, a very nice (and naice) seaside town outside Edinburgh. You take the east coast to Edinburgh, approx 4 hrs 30, and then half an hour from Edinburgh to North Berwick on the commuter train. No need for taxis. Plus you can have a day trip v easily into Edinburgh. And there's a great Seabird Centre in NB which our kids love.

Isle of Wight? I can recommend a my holiday house

Isle of Wight, Lymington

Quiet non touristy destinations accessible by train don't really exist in Dorset.

Devon - Exmouth, Dawlish, Teignmouth

Northumberland, North Norfolk, broadstairs, Weymouth.?

Hastings and Rye about 2hours ?Camber sands is beautiful, there is loads to do in Hastings if the weather sucks (aquarium, smugglers caves, indoor play centre, museums).

St. Ives- pretty straightforward, but a long journey. It's utterly worth it though, had some great holidays there.

We're trying Tenby this year.

KnockmeDown, is Isle of Wight doable without a car once you're there?

Carbis bay just before St.Ives is quieter with a great beach.

I second broadstairs, Margate etc (bias)

Thanks so much for all these great suggestions. Lots of research to do. Tether, we went to Isle of Wight quite recently, without a car. There is a train that serves some areas, buses are fairly frequent and there are some hop-on hop-off routes, but it wasn't that easy to get to all the places we wanted to go to. I think if we went again I'd investigate car hire...

Have a look where the Night Riviera sleeper train goes. It begins/ends at Paddington and Penzance. We had a weekend staying at the pub in Sennen Cove that way (bus goes from Penzance to Sennen via tacky Land's End). Sennen is stunning and the sleeper train is a terrific experience.

I'd never heard of the Night Riviera sleeper. Thanks - that looks amazing. Will definitely consider that.

You're welcome www.seat61.com (run by a train fanatic) has lots of info. on it.

Bournemouth/Weymouth/Lyme Regis?