Perfect peace on Cley Beach, Norfolk
6/10 Cley Beach, Cley-next-the-Sea, Norfolk
On the north Norfolk coast, Cley Beach is about a three hour drive from London. Much quieter than other beaches in the area, it’s a popular place for easy walks.
If you’re keen to fish, there are fantastic sea-fishing facilities here. The nearby wetlands are a haven for birds and small, wild mammals. And for a break you can explore medieval architecture in Cley-next-the-Sea. Keep your eyes especially sharp for St Margaret’s Parrish Church and the famous Cley windmill.
Bucket and spade vibes on the beach at Folkestone
7/10 Sunny Sands/Folkestone Beach, Kent
Less than two hours from London is Sunny Sands/Folkestone Beach is a Kent family favourite. Its flat sands and shallow seas are ideal for younger kids. And older ones enjoy the challenge of mermaid-hunting in Folkestone. Don’t believe us? Go take a look, there are mermaids everywhere.
Looking for fish and chips on the seafront? This part of the Kent Coast also has some of the UK’s most award-winning chip shops.
Pristine Winchelsea regularly wins clean beach awards
8/10 Winchelsea Beach, East Sussex: one of the cleanest top beaches in England
Winchelsea Beach in East Sussex, is one of the best beaches in England for outdoorsy families. It’s also a regular recipient of the Clean Beach Award, so it’s safe for kids to play.
Popular activities here include shrimping, swimming and kitesurfing. Rye Harbour Nature Reserve is also just a walk away. So you can take a beach-break and go exploring saltmarsh, shingle and woodland. Look out for marsh frogs and brown hares.
Winchelsea Beach’s east side has a dog-friendly area.
View of tranquil Osea Island beaches in Essex
9/10 Osea Island Beach, Maldon, Essex
Only reachable at low tide by a narrow causeway, Osea Island is so stunning it’s worth some patience. Less than two hours from London, the island has four and a half miles of the best beaches in England.
And if you want more than just a day out, Osea is known for its beach cottage rentals and beach huts for hire, most with impressive views over Blackwater estuary.
Possibly the most famous beach huts in England, Southwold, Suffolk
10/10 Southwold Beach: one of the best beaches in England for beach huts
For a picturesque seaside town, complete with beach huts, Southwold in Suffolk is one of the best beaches in England. Water sports are big here and older kids can try jet-skiing and windsurfing.
Keen anglers should buy a day pass to fish off the pier. Boat trips from Southwold Harbour are iconic local traditions. And if you time one right, there’s a good chance of sighting seals and occasionally even dolphins.
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