UK Beaches: 45 Brilliant British Beaches and Seaside Towns by Coast
Sand between your toes, a windbreak that won't stay put, a flask of tea and a 99 melting faster than you can eat it. Say what you like about British weather, but when the sun comes out there's nowhere better than a proper UK beach.
This guide rounds up 45 cracking beaches from Cornwall to County Antrim, grouped by coast so you can plan a day trip, a long weekend or a full-blown road trip. Some come with piers, arcades and chippies right behind the sand. Others are wild, empty and gloriously quiet, the kind of place where the only noise is the waves and the odd oystercatcher.
We've started with the best picks for families, then worked our way round the country. Where a beach sits in a town with its own guide, the link takes you straight there so you can sort out food, amusements and somewhere to stay. Pack the spade. You'll need it.
Best beaches for families
Gentle water, plenty of sand, toilets and food close by, and something to do when the clouds roll in. These five tick every box for a day out with the kids.
Weymouth Beach Soft golden sand, a shallow bay that shelves gently into calm water and a long Georgian esplanade behind it. Weymouth is about as classic as a family seaside gets, with donkey-ride and Punch and Judy traditions, deckchairs and plenty of cafés. When little legs tire, the harbour is a short wander away for crabbing off the quay. Explore Weymouth →
Woolacombe Beach Around three miles of sand backed by grassy dunes on the North Devon coast, with lifeguarded zones in season and loads of room to spread out. Older kids can have a go on a bodyboard while toddlers dig moats by the rock pools at the Barricane end. Bring a picnic and stay till the sun drops. Explore Woolacombe →
Skegness Beach Wide, flat and gloriously sandy, Skeg's beach sits right next to everything a family could want: the pier, the Grand Parade arcades, the fair and Natureland Seal Sanctuary. It's the town the Jolly Fisherman made famous, and it still does bracing in the best possible way. Go early in summer to bag a good spot. Explore Skegness →
Bridlington South Beach Bridlington gives you two beaches split by a working harbour, and the South Beach is the one for little ones: long, sandy and lined with beach huts and kiosks. Watch the fishing boats come in, grab fresh seafood from the harbour side, then pop over to the North side for the cliff-top views towards Flamborough. Explore Bridlington →
Whitmore Bay, Barry Island A neat horseshoe of sand just outside Cardiff, with a fairground behind it and a prom packed with chips, ice cream and amusements. Fans of Gavin and Stacey will spot plenty of familiar corners. The bay is sheltered, compact and easy to keep an eye on the kids, which makes it a dream for parents. Explore Barry Island →
South West England
Surf, coves and that turquoise water you'd swear was abroad. Cornwall, Devon and Dorset are the UK's beach heartland for a reason.
Fistral Beach, Newquay The UK's surfing poster child. Fistral faces straight into the Atlantic swell, so the waves roll in reliably and the line-up is full of boards most of the year. Book a lesson with one of the surf schools on the sand, or just grab a hot chocolate and watch the experts. Newquay's town beaches are calmer if you want a paddle. Explore Newquay →
Porthmeor Beach, St Ives Pale sand, clear water and the white curves of Tate St Ives sitting right above the beach. Porthmeor is the surfy side of town, while Porthminster and the harbour beach are calmer. Spend the morning in the water, then wander the cobbled lanes for pasties and galleries. Parking is tight, so the park-and-ride train is your friend. Explore St Ives →
Perranporth Beach A huge sweep of sand on Cornwall's north coast, big enough that even a sunny August afternoon never feels rammed. There's surf for beginners, rock arches and caves to poke about in at low tide, and a famous bar right on the beach for a sundowner. Walk north over the dunes for even more space. Explore Perranporth →
Bournemouth Beach Miles of golden sand stretching from Poole towards Hengistbury Head, with a pier, pastel beach huts and a prom that's perfect for bikes and scooters. Bournemouth's beach is clean, easy to reach by train and backed by gardens running up into town. Head along to Boscombe for a slightly more laid-back vibe and its own pier. Explore Bournemouth →
Sandbanks, Poole Fine sand and calm water on a spit of land famous for its eye-watering house prices. The beach itself is free and it's brilliant for families, with shallow bathing and views across Poole Harbour. Hop on the chain ferry at the tip for a short crossing to Studland and the start of the Jurassic Coast. Explore Poole →
Studland Bay Four miles of sandy beaches looked after by the National Trust, backed by heathland and dunes on the Isle of Purbeck. Knoll Beach has the facilities, while the quieter stretches feel properly wild. Walk out to Old Harry Rocks, the chalk stacks at the southern end, for one of the best cliff-top views in Dorset.
South East England
Chalk cliffs, shingle with character and some of the easiest seaside day trips from London.
Brighton Beach It's pebbles, not sand, and nobody cares. Brighton's beach is all about the buzz: Palace Pier rides, seafront bars under the arches, volleyball courts and the i360 tower rising above it all. Bring something squashy to sit on, grab chips, then lose an afternoon in the Lanes. Hove's end of the front is calmer. Explore Brighton →
Margate Main Sands A big crescent of soft sand right in the middle of town, with Dreamland's rides on one side and the Turner Contemporary on the other. Margate mixes old-school seaside with a trendy Old Town of cafés and vintage shops. Fancy a dip without the waves? Walpole Bay's tidal pool is just along the coast. Explore Margate →
Botany Bay, Broadstairs White chalk cliffs, sea stacks and rock pools make this one of Kent's most photogenic beaches. Go at low tide for the best exploring, and keep an eye on the incoming water. Broadstairs town and its smaller Viking Bay are a short coastal walk away, with ice cream parlours and a proper old-fashioned feel. Explore Broadstairs →
Eastbourne Beach Shingle at the top, sand appearing as the tide drops, and one of the most elegant seafronts on the south coast. Eastbourne's pier, bandstand and floral gardens give it a gentle, unhurried charm. For a big day out, walk or drive up to Beachy Head and the Seven Sisters for jaw-dropping chalk cliff views. Explore Eastbourne →
Camber Sands East Sussex's sandy secret that isn't really a secret: miles of beach backed by rolling dunes that wouldn't look out of place in the desert. Camber is great for kite flying, sandcastles and long walks at low tide. Pop into nearby Rye afterwards for cobbled streets and a cracking pub lunch. Explore Camber →
West Wittering Beach A long, sandy, privately managed beach at the mouth of Chichester Harbour, with grassy areas behind for picnics and views across to the Isle of Wight. The sheltered water is popular with windsurfers and paddleboarders. Walk out to East Head, a sand and shingle spit, at low tide. Arrive early on hot days; it fills up fast.
East of England
Big skies, sea breezes and a coastline that swings from bright lights to empty pine-backed sands.
Great Yarmouth Beach Wide golden sands running the length of the Golden Mile, so the arcades, piers, Pleasure Beach and chippies are only a few steps from your towel. It's loud, cheerful and made for a full day of fun. In winter, the grey seal colony at nearby Horsey is a brilliant reason to come back. Explore Great Yarmouth →
Wells-next-the-Sea and Holkham Colourful beach huts on stilts line the edge of the pinewoods at Wells, and the sand keeps going west into the vast, wild expanse of Holkham. At low tide the sea is a long way out, so this is a walking beach as much as a swimming one. Finish in Wells quay with fish and chips. Explore Wells-next-the-Sea →
Hunstanton Beach Famous for its striped cliffs in bands of red and white, and for being one of the few places on the east coast where the sun sets over the sea, since it faces west across the Wash. Kids love the rock pools under the cliffs. Hunstanton's Sea Life centre and amusements are handy for showery days. Explore Hunstanton →
Southwold Beach Rows of brightly painted beach huts, a white lighthouse standing in the middle of town and a pier with quirky handmade amusements. Southwold is the Suffolk seaside at its most charming, all sand, shingle and sea air. The Adnams brewery is based here too, so the pubs are reliably good. Explore Southwold →
Cromer Beach A Victorian pier with a proper end-of-the-pier show, a sandy beach below the cliffs and the famous Cromer crab in just about every café. At low tide the sands open up for rock pooling and fossil spotting. Hop on the train along the coast to Sheringham for another seaside stroll. Explore Cromer →
Lincolnshire and Yorkshire
Jamie's home turf and the land of donkey rides, harbour fish and chips and cliff-top abbeys.
Cleethorpes Beach A long stretch of sand looking out over the Humber, where the tide goes out so far it feels like you could walk to the horizon. Cleethorpes has a pier, a boating lake, a miniature railway trundling along the front and a signpost marking the Greenwich Meridian. Amusements, chippies and rock shops fill in the gaps. Explore Cleethorpes →
Mablethorpe Beach Quieter than Skeggy but just as sandy, Mablethorpe has a wide beach, rows of beach huts and a cheerful high street full of seaside treats. It's a good shout for families who want space to build sandcastles without the crowds. Follow the prom south to Sutton-on-Sea for an even more peaceful stretch. Explore Mablethorpe →
Filey Bay Five miles of firm golden sand curving round from the rocky finger of Filey Brigg. Filey is genteel, unspoilt and perfect for long beach walks, with fishing cobles pulled up on the Coble Landing. Explore the rock pools on the Brigg at low tide, then head up to the Crescent gardens for a sit-down. Explore Filey →
Scarborough South Bay One of Yorkshire's great Victorian resorts, Scarborough still has all the trimmings: a sandy beach, a busy harbour, arcades along Foreshore Road and a castle on the headland. Cross to the North Bay for a quieter beach and Peasholm Park's boating lake. The cliff lifts and the coastal path save your legs on the steeper bits. Explore Scarborough →
Whitby West Cliff Beach Beach huts in a neat row beneath the cliffs and a sandy shore that runs north towards Sandsend. Whitby wraps it all up with the 199 steps, the ruined abbey, kippers and some of the best fish and chips you'll ever eat. Walk the sands to Sandsend at low tide for a cracking few miles. Explore Whitby →
North West and North East England
From Blackpool's bright lights to Northumberland's castle-topped dunes, the north does beaches with bags of character.
Blackpool Beach Miles of sand right under the Tower, with three piers, the trams rattling along the prom and the Pleasure Beach at the southern end. Blackpool's beach is the warm-up act to a day of rides, arcades and doughnuts. Stick around after dark in autumn when the Illuminations light up the whole front. Explore Blackpool →
Southport Beach An enormous flat beach where the sea can seem miles away, giving you acres of room for kites and ball games. Southport's long pier stretches over the sands, and Lord Street's tree-lined shopping is a short walk inland. Pleasureland and the seafront amusements keep everyone happy if the weather turns. Explore Southport →
Formby Beach Golden sand dunes and pinewoods looked after by the National Trust, and one of the best spots in England to see red squirrels. Follow the squirrel walk through the trees before heading over the dunes to the beach. It's easy to reach by train from Liverpool, and a world away from the city.
Saltburn-by-the-Sea A Victorian gem with a pier, a water-powered cliff lift and a sandy beach that draws surfers from across the North East. Saltburn feels a little bit special, with tall cliffs, quirky cafés and Italianate gardens in the valley. Walk the beach towards Huntcliff for big views back along the coast. Explore Saltburn →
Bamburgh Beach Wide white sands with a mighty castle perched on the rock above them. Bamburgh is Northumberland at its most dramatic, with views out to the Farne Islands and dunes that are made for running down. Combine it with a boat trip from nearby Seahouses to see puffins and seals in season.
Wales
Wild headlands, sweeping bays and some of the friendliest little seaside towns going.
Tenby North Beach Pastel houses stacked up above the harbour and a sandy bay with Goskar Rock sitting in the middle. Tenby has three main beaches, and North Beach is the postcard view. Grab an ice cream, wander the medieval walls, then catch a boat from the harbour across to Caldey Island and its monks. Explore Tenby →
Saundersfoot Beach Tenby's smaller, quieter neighbour, with a sandy beach right next to a pretty harbour full of bobbing boats. Saundersfoot is great for little ones and for crabbing off the harbour wall. Walk the Pembrokeshire Coast Path between the two towns for a scenic hike, then catch the bus back. Explore Saundersfoot →
Rhossili Bay Three miles of sand at the tip of the Gower Peninsula, guarded by the tidal island of Worm's Head. Rhossili turns up on just about every best-beaches list going, and one look from the cliff-top car park tells you why. At low tide, the ribs of an old shipwreck poke up from the sand.
Llandudno North Shore A graceful curve of Victorian hotels wrapping round the bay between the Great Orme and the Little Orme. Llandudno's pier, prom and shingle-and-sand beach make it the queen of North Wales resorts. Take the tram or cable car up the Great Orme, or try the sandier West Shore for sunset views. Explore Llandudno →
Barmouth Beach A big stretch of golden sand where the Mawddach estuary meets Cardigan Bay, with mountains rising behind. Barmouth has a traditional seaside front with rides and amusements, plus the timber Barmouth Bridge carrying the railway and a footpath across the estuary. Walk it for gorgeous views of Snowdonia. Explore Barmouth →
Porthcawl Rest Bay A surfer's favourite on the Glamorgan coast, with rolling waves, rock pools and a lifeguarded patch in summer. Rest Bay is the wilder side of Porthcawl, while Coney Beach and Trecco Bay offer funfair fun and family-friendly sands. Grab a coffee and watch the surf schools in action. Explore Porthcawl →
Scotland
Scotland's beaches range from city-side sands to remote island bays with water so clear you'd think you were in the Caribbean. Pack a jumper anyway.
West Sands, St Andrews Two miles of firm sand running alongside the famous golf links, made world-famous by the opening scene of Chariots of Fire. West Sands is fantastic for long walks, kite flying and paddling, and the town's ruined cathedral and castle are a short wander away. Bring a ball and run the beach in slow motion.
Portobello Beach, Edinburgh Edinburgh's seaside, with a sandy beach and a long, lively prom lined with cafés, ice cream and the odd arcade. It's a short bus ride from the city centre and popular with year-round sea swimmers. The Victorian Turkish baths at Portobello Swim Centre make a brilliant warm-up after a chilly dip. Explore Portobello →
Luskentyre, Isle of Harris White sand, turquoise water and mountains all around: this is the beach that makes people do a double take at photos of the Outer Hebrides. Luskentyre is remote, peaceful and utterly stunning. Don't expect cafés or amusements, just pack a picnic, a windproof and plenty of camera battery.
Ayr Beach A long sandy beach with a broad esplanade and views across the Firth of Clyde to the peaks of Arran. Ayr is a classic Clyde coast day out, easy to reach by train from Glasgow. Pair it with a visit to nearby Alloway and Burns country, then head back for fish and chips on the front. Explore Ayr →
Northern Ireland
The Causeway Coast and the Mournes give Northern Ireland some of the most spectacular beach backdrops in the UK.
Portrush Beaches Portrush has two town beaches, East Strand and West Strand, plus the dramatic Whiterocks with its limestone cliffs and caves just along the coast. Surfers love it, families love the amusements, and the Giant's Causeway is a short drive away. Get out on a boat trip for a sea-level view of the cliffs. Explore Portrush →
Portstewart Strand Two miles of golden sand cared for by the National Trust, backed by towering dunes, and one of the few beaches where you can drive onto the sand. Portstewart's prom is a lovely spot for an ice cream, and the views towards Donegal on a clear day are something else. Take a kite. Explore Portstewart →
Newcastle Beach, County Down A long sandy beach where the Mountains of Mourne really do sweep down to the sea, just like the old song says. Newcastle's promenade has cafés and seaside treats, and Murlough's dune system lies just along the bay. Walkers can head into the hills, while everyone else enjoys the view.
Planning your beach day
Check the tide times before you set off. On big flat beaches like Southport, Cleethorpes and Holkham the sea can race back in faster than you'd think, and rock pools and coves are best enjoyed on a falling tide. Lifeguarded beaches use red and yellow flags to mark the safest swimming areas, so stick between them, especially with kids.
Popular spots fill up quickly on sunny weekends and school holidays, so go early or late, or try the train. Plenty of these beaches have a station within walking distance. Take layers even in August, a windbreak, sun cream and a bin bag for your rubbish.
Most of all, mix it up. Pair a wild beach in the morning with a seaside town in the afternoon and you get the best of both: peace and quiet, then chips, ice cream and a wander along the prom.
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