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

aah I was just thinking that too

I feel I've done Brighton a bit much, but how about Brighton for you?

are you nearer the W or E side of London?

Boradstairs is lovely - pretty quaint although with a definate Kentish seaside feel to it - go along to Joss bay for a massive, flat sandy bay - 2 minutes out of the centre of broadstairs (if you don't want the centre) and great.

We are North East London (innit)

How about Le Touquet? It's only about an hour or perhaps less from Calais and has lovely beaches.

Suffolk isn't miles and miles - Southwold / Walberswick. Nearer are Whitstable, Broadstairs, (both v close to each other)Camber - close to pretty Rye...or Eastbourne? How important is a sandy beach? Other attractions? Good walking / museums / cultural things? Hastings has nearby Bexhill, and Battle inland.

NE - Suffolk, then? How long do you consider 'too long'? Would 2.5 (maybe 3) hours to the N Norfolk coast be too long?

Another vote for suffolk here. aldebrugh and surrounding area is fab, loads of good retaraunts, and things to do for the children.

No offence but I wouldn't go to Southend it is heaving and tacky (no offence to anyone who likes it, just not my taste).

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.

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

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

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!

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.

greta yarmouth, beach there is lovely.

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.

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

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

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.

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?

Are you taking children? What age/s?

(I am an expert on N Norfolk!)

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

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?

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