Fancy a weekend break to a beach, driving from London, any ideas?

[SleepIsForTheWeak]

We don't want to be on the road too long, but are desperate for some seaside!
Any ideas?
ta

[SleepIsForTheWeak]

thank you for all your suggesions!
Off to check BBC weather (for what its worth)

[lou33]

the witterings, near chichester, it's lovely round there

[EmmieH]

ooh... so many options!

Brighton is fab for a weekend. Alias Seattle hotel www.aliashotels.comis down on the Marina and you can get some lovely rooms overlooking the sea. If you're taking the children, the Bluebell line railway is a lovely journey through the Sussex Downs. Bill's Produce Store in either Brighton or Lewes for breakfast or a picnic. Choccywoccydoodah www.choccywoccydoodah.com (I love that name!) is the most amazing chocolate shop in the Lanes area of town which looks more like and upmarket boho boutique than a chocolate shop. And then there's always north Norfolk which never disappoints. Get a beach hut on the amazing Wells beach from www.pinewoods.co.uk so you can dive in if it rains or just have somewhere to make a cup of tea and sandwich. Have a look at www.blakeneycottages.co.uk if you want to go self catering as they have some really lovely ones - not the sort that always smell slightly damp! www.greatlittleadventures.co.uk has some generally lovely things to do all around England.

[Blu]

DaDaDa - pretty sure...but if you have a cottage on the NN coast - and a hut on wells beach then I'd like to be!

Is your wife a Norfolk Fan?

SIFTW - look around on this site

[DaDaDa]

Holt is is another good town in that area with a couple of decent pubs. Handy for Blakeney/Cley and also for Sheringham if you want to go for something a bit more bucket and spade.

Blu, are you sure you're not my wife?!

[Blu]

Sandy / duney on the N Norfolk coast are Brancaster, Holkham, Wells - huge and fabulous beaches - and those are the ones with car parks at the beach. there are others but need a longish walk along a bank - not ideal with a 1 year-old.

I love Broadstairs, too. More 'seaside resort' then N Norfolk - but really lovely ones. There is a brilliant ice cream place in Broadstairs.

[Blu]

N Norfolk coast.

Day 1. Wells Beach, wild open space, beautiful views,bucket and spade, picnic in sand dunes or in the pinewoods behind. then into the litle town (possibly on the little children's railway that runs for part of the way between the beach car park and the quay / town) for hot donuts on the quay / fish and chips, Call in at the Big Blue Sky shop on the main rd for very expensive arty objets.

• then take DS to the Pub in Burnham Thorpe which has a wonderful garden out the back, excellent food and has much to do with Nelson.
  day 2 Potter down the coast towards blakeney / Morston (check what time the seal trips go) and book a trip to see the seals. Potter in Cley, buying picnic stuff from the Smokehouse and Picnic fayre, and look in made in Cley pottery. Potter along the coast a bit more to salathouse - feed ducks in pond, then down to Salthouse beach - all shingle - has free car parking, unlike Cley beach next door! Or potter on Blakeney Quay - your ds is probably a bit young for crabbing, though. Or go for walk on Holkham Beach and then visit to Holkham hall grounds, or Burhnham market.
  
  You can even stay in a windmill in Cley.

[kittylouise]

This is probably too far from NE London, but the most beautiful duney beach (IMHO) is Saunton, in North Devon, and you have got Croyde, Woolacombe and Putsborough (all gorgeous) round the corner. Family friendly pubs and B&Bs in Woolacombe and Croyde. B&Bs and holiday parks all over the place, and the best thing is now that August is over it is pretty quiet.

BUT it is a fair treck from London, say 4 hours at least. But worth it!!

[seeker]

Joss Bay is our favourite - it's near Broadstairs and Minnis and Margate (which has a fab beach, surprisingly enough) Joss Bay also has a surprisingly nice restaurant attached to the pub. I don't know about accommodation because I only live 25 minutes away, but there's tons of places to stay in Broadstairs. Sandwich is also nice - but further away.

[SleepIsForTheWeak]

ummm..... I am imagining something quite sandy / duney.. not a big town, can go for long walks etc
and a good child friendly pub!

[SleepIsForTheWeak]

oh, missed that!
yes, a 1yo DS
what do you suggest!?

[Blu]

Give us your complete specification - what sorts of places you like - wild and open with sand and dunes, or seasidey with a prom? Children etc, what sort of activities?

[SleepIsForTheWeak]

ooh, lots of options, exciting!
I think we will just have to stay where we can find availability - B&B or hotel....

[Blu]

Are you taking children? What age/s?

(I am an expert on N Norfolk!)

[Blu]

oh yes - Frinton had re-located itself in my befuddles mind.

If you like places like n Norfolk it would be worth it from n London fro the w/e, if you can go on Fri night. Fabulous beaches at wells and Holkham, little pottery places as DaDa says - and great places to eat. What sort of acommodation would you be looking for? Hotel / Guest house / B&B?

[Mercy]

Blu - same here! And we are in North London too!

We went to Wells in the last week of August and it took us 4 hours (including a 45 min stop).

I like a lot of the places mentioned here.

[bakedpotato]

frinton is only on the other side of colchester... essex, innit.

[DaDaDa]

The Witterings and Bosham are good places for the Sarf Londoners. Brighton is pretty grim anyway.

[DaDaDa]

If you're near the M11 then it would be 2.5 hours to North Norfolk, and a much nicer drive than slogging through London to Brighton.

[GreatAuntieWurly]

greta yarmouth, beach there is lovely.

[DaDaDa]

Suffolk is good, but North Norfolk is even better. Blakeney, Cley, Holkham, Brancaster (great sandy beach) and it's far enough away from 'civilisation' to feel like a real break if you're staying over.

[Blu]

How do people get through / across London so fast? It takes me 3.5-4 hours to get to norfolk and the first 1.5 hours is getting out of London! And i'm sure it would take me 1.5 hours at least to get to frinton!

[GreatAuntieWurly]

I wouldnt go southend either, lots of little boys in their boy racer cars driving along the see front all night. nice.

[Blu]

Aldeburgh is lovely..shingle beach, though. Sand further north at walberswick, Covehithe, I think.

[bakedpotato]

Frinton. Perfect beach, groynes, lots of sand. And very accessible from N London (2 hrs max from us). Check tides though. When tide's high, there's no beach.