Seaside break with 5 year old, near London

[NewLife777]

Hello all. Looking for advice for a 1-2 night stay on the coast for 5 year old DS and self, during half term. Would have to be easily accessible by train from London (I don’t drive) and things to do in bad weather. Any ideas on locations and hotels please? Thank you!

How about Broadstairs? I often visit my friend who lives there on the fast train from Kings Cross. It's charming in a Victorian seaside way with a walkable town centre.

Southend on Sea and Margate both have railway stations. Can't help you otherwise as it is about 40 years since I went to Southend, and I've never been to Margate.

We go to Margate as I and the kids prefer sand, but there is Brighton if you don’t mind pebbles

Hastings ? The museum is cute (and free) if it's raining. Also a decent leisure centre. You could go to Rye for the day on the train which is very pretty. Equally Bexhill.

I’d go for Brighton simply as it’s got the most to do if the weather’s foul - aquarium, upside down house, toy and model museum, the pier, and the i360.

Do you want a sandy beach, or just to be near the sea.

Sandy beaches - Margate, Broadstairs, Walton on Naze, Dymchurch
coastal towns - Whistable, Worthing, Bexhill,

Hastings also has an aquarium used to be great- not sure about recently and the funicular as well as caves and a castle. Brighton is great for teens and better restaurants. For a 5yo I'd go for Hastings/Bexhill/Rye. The Delawarr is great too.

Thanks all.
any recommendations for good hotels please ?

Felixstowe. It's got it all. Train from Liverpool St

www.whitehouserye.co.uk/rooms

This looks lovely.

www.thedriftwoodbexhill.co.uk/room1

www.travelodge.co.uk/hotels/302/Hastings-hotel?WT_tsrc=GHA_Organic&utm_campaign=GHA_Hastings&utm_medium=GHA_Organic&utm_source=google

Cheap and cheerful

Brighton is lovely and quite a short journey from London. Or a bit further afield how about Ryde on the Isle of Wight. Train to Portsmouth and ferry across. It's a small town, easy to walk around with quite a lot to do. Wide expanses of sandy beach if you do get sunshine but also a cinema and other indoor activities if it rains. If you wanted to explore other parts of the island there is a train at the pier by the foot ferry or lots of buses.

www.seaspraybrighton.co.uk/rooms/family-room

Brighton every time. So much to do and we go regularly with our son. The jury's inn next to the railway station is great and that part of Brighton also has some lovely cafes.