The best sandy beaches near London by train
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Sandy beaches within day trip distance of London
Looking for the closest sandy beach to London? There’s nothing worse than being in a landlocked city on a hot summer’s day – particularly if those days don’t come along as frequently as we would like here in the UK. So I’ve put together this list of the best sandy beaches near London by train.
Where is the best seaside near London? Do you have a favourite? Let me know in the comments at the end of this article. I have always enjoyed trips to Camber Sands in East Sussex but I fell in love with Viking Bay in Broadstairs during a trip to Kent earlier this year.
I’ve tried to be realistic with this selection of beach day trips from London – the journey to them should take no more than two hours from central London by train, including the walk or bus ride from the station to the sea.
Bear in mind that some of these beaches near London will have sand predominantly at low tide. So when the tide comes in the beach might disappear – do check tide times before setting off with your bucket and spade.
Looking for beach holiday inspiration in the UK? Read my bumper guide to the best UK beaches for families. And if you fancy a slightly longer trip, I’ve written an article about family short breaks across the UK – ideal if you’re short of time but want to get away somewhere with the kids.
Disclaimer: This post contains affiliate links. Should you click to purchase, it is at no additional cost to you, although I receive a small commission that goes towards the running of this blog.
Which sandy beach is closest to London by train?
Is there one closest seaside to London by train? Once you factor in the walk to the beach or the connecting bus, most of the sandy beaches I have listed here are a similar distance from London. You’re looking at around two hours or just under for most of these sandy spots.
Essex sandy beaches near London by train
Essex has the greatest concentration of sandy beaches close to London by train. And there’s plenty of variety too – peaceful seaside retreats and plenty of bright lights and candy floss for those who want it.
Frinton-on-Sea in Essex
- Travel from London Liverpool Street
- Journey time is 1 hour 30 including a change of trains at Thorpe-le-Soken
- Station is half a mile from the beach, around 15 minutes on foot
This is our “local” beach – it’s still a good hour and a half away by car from where we live in Hertfordshire but it’s our closest stretch of sand and we love it!
The beach stretches for several miles and is backed by colourful beach huts. When the tide comes in, the beach disappears for around half an hour – people tend to retreat to the grassy area above the beach – plenty of space there for a game of footie.
Frinton-on-Sea has a fairly long high street which caters predominantly for locals – it’s not an overly bucket and spade kind of place. There’s a popular fish and chip shop in town which is a magnet for visitors – you’ll find a queue of customers snaking down the high street.
Frinton has plenty of parking. Even during one of those crazy hot days during covid (when we were allowed to travel!) we managed to find a place to park near the beach.
Walton on the Naze
- Travel from London Liverpool Street
- Journey time is 1 hour 35 including a change of trains at Thorpe-le-Soken
- Station is less than half a mile from the beach, around 5 minutes on foot
Frinton-on-Sea’s noisier neighbour boasts an impressive pier with all the usual seaside fun – arcades, funfair rides and donuts. The actual “naze” is a headland left in a natural state with heathland and saltmarshes.
Clacton-on-Sea
- Travel from London Liverpool Street
- Journey time is just under 1 hour 30
- Station is just over half a mile from the beach, around 15 minutes on foot
The biggest of the seaside resorts on the Essex Sunshine Coast, Clacton has everything you’ll find in Walton and lots more.
This seaside near London is perfect for daytrippers who want plenty to do at the beach. Clacton has theatres, a golf course, the pier and amusements plus an annual air show in August.
Canvey Island – Thorney Bay beach
- Travel from London Fenchurch Street to Benfleet
- Journey time 45 minutes or an hour by train, then bus 21 or 27 for 15 minutes
- Station is three miles from the beach, but there is a regular bus service
There are pros and cons to visiting Canvey Island’s sandy beach. It’s a shorter journey from London than most sandy beaches but you’ll be swimming in the Thames estuary rather than the actual sea. It’s a popular dog beach so if you fancy a day out with your pooch this is a good choice. However, bear in mind that along the waterline, sharp stones tend to collect so wear water shoes.
Leigh-on-Sea – Bell Wharf beach
- Travel from London Liverpool Street or Fenchurch Street
- Journey time is around an hour
- Station is half a mile from the beach, around 15 minutes on foot
If the adults among you want a day of seafood and traditional seaside pubs, but the kids want to play in the sand, Leigh-on-Sea – with the little sandy beach of Bell Wharf – will keep the whole family happy. It’s around an hour’s walk from central Southend with Westcliffe-on-Sea along the way.
Southend
- Travel from London Liverpool Street or Fenchurch Street to Southend Central
- Journey time is around an hour
- Station is half a mile from the beach, around 15 minutes on foot
Southend is probably the closest sandy beach to London but it’s not everyone’s idea of the perfect day at the seaside. Southend’s pier, at just over two kilometres, is apparently the longest in the world. If you don’t fancy a walk, there’s a little train which trundles along the pier.
Shoeburyness
- Travel from Fenchurch Street or Liverpool Street
- Journey time is around an hour (slower trains are 1 hour 30)
- Station is less than half a mile from the beach, around 10 minutes on foot
Shoeburyness sits at the eastern end of Southend’s urban sprawl. If you fancy somewhere a little quieter than the bright lights of the city, Shoeburyness – a mix of sand and shingle please note! – is a peaceful alternative.
Kent sandy beaches near London by train
You’re spoilt for choice when it comes to Kent sand beaches near London by rail. I love Viking Bay, the curve of sand in the town of Broadstairs. The wider area of Broadstairs has a string of sandy beaches but Viking Bay is the Broadstairs beach which is accessible by train.
Not fussed about the sand? Whitstable is a really fun seaside break for families – at any time of year.
Margate
- Travel from London St Pancras (faster) or Victoria
- Journey time approximately 1 hour 40, depending on departure point and time of day
- Station is less than half a mile from the beach, 5 minutes on foot – you can see the sea from the station!
Need a bit of contemporary culture with your beach break? If the thrills and spills of Dreamland aren’t for you perhaps the art on offer in the Turner Contemporary will be more up your street.
We visited Margate on my birthday and I was delighted when all the members of my family agreed to join me on a trip to the museum. Alas, it was shut – don’t visit on a Tuesday in February.
Down on the sandy beach, we did discover the metal cast of Antony Gormley staring out to sea. We were there at low tide so we could wander across the rocks and greet this statue. If you visit at high tide, he’ll be hiding beneath the waves.
The bay has a huge sweep of sand, making it a great choice on a hot summer’s day. There’s plenty of space for everyone at this sandy beach near London.
Broadstairs – Viking Bay
- Travel from London St Pancras (marginally faster) or Victoria
- Journey time ranges from 1 hour 30 to 1 hour 50, depending on departure point and time of day
- Station is half a mile from the beach, 10 minutes on foot
We visited beautiful Broadstairs on a sunny day in February. It has an appealing warren of streets above its crescent shaped beach. Overlooking the beach is a promenade backed by restaurants. Down on the sand, there are rows of decorative beach huts and the sand is piled high to create a ridge that follows the curve of the beach.
Birchington-on-Sea – Minnis Bay
- Travel from London St Pancras (marginally faster) or Victoria
- Journey time 1 hour 30
- Station is 1.5 miles from the beach, 30 minutes on foot – but for half of this you’ll be walking along the promenade which makes it more appealing.
Minnis Bay is the name of the beach in the village of Birchington-on-Sea. This big sweep of sand is popular with families and its tranquil setting is in sharp contrast to the bright lights of Margate some five miles to the east.
Minnis Bay is backed by rows of colourful beach huts and there’s a long promenade, a paddling pool for little ones and a play area near by.
Ramsgate Main Sands
- Travel from London St Pancras (fastest), Victoria or Charing Cross
- Journey time ranges from 1 hour 20 to 2 hours, depending on departure point and time of day
- Station is one mile from the beach, 10 minutes on the Loop bus
As well as the generous sweep of sandy beach at Ramsgate, visitors to this popular seaside near London can also check out the Royal Harbour and marina backed by lots of traditional boozers, cafes and restaurants.
Sandy beaches near London by train in East Sussex
East Sussex has a mostly pebbly and shingle coastline. But there is one brilliant exception – the vast and beautiful Camber Sands. In my opinion it’s the best sandy beach near London by train.
Camber Sands – Rye
- Travel from St Pancras
- Journey time is just over an hour plus 20 minutes by bus
- Rye station is three miles from Camber Sands, there is an hourly bus to the beach. This is a walk of about an hour.
There isn’t a great deal of parking at Camber Sands (relative to the size of the beach) so taking the train is a sensible choice on a hot summer’s day – just ensure you set off early to get a seat. The nearest train station to Camber Sands is Rye and when you visit this delightful town you’ll wonder whether you should have booked an overnight stay. Rye has bags of character and feels really atmospheric in the evening.
Rye benefits from regular fast trains from London St Pancras via a quick change at Ashford. Buses from Rye to Camber Sands beach are once an hour.
Camber Sands is one of my favourite UK beaches – even on a sunny August day the beach is big enough to swallow up thousands of visitors and still have space for more. It is stunning.
West Sussex beaches with sand near London by train
There are lots of great beaches in West Sussex including the beautiful sandy beach of West Wittering. However, many of them are tricky to reach by train – I’m thinking of families here and the hassle of herding children off trains and onto buses on a hot summer’s day.
Littlehampton
- Travel from London Victoria
- Journey time is just one hour 45 minutes
- Littlehampton station to East Beach is just under a mile’s walk – about 15 minutes on foot.
Hoping to gain kudos with its record-breaking bench (the longest in the UK) and trendy beach cafes, Littlehampton is a seaside on the up. It has some appealing streets to explore and plenty to keep the kids entertained.
Dorset sandy beaches close to London by train
There are some fabulous sandy beaches in Dorset but if you’re looking for an easy day trip to a sandy beach near London, I think most of them are just a little bit too far. Bournemouth is just under two hours from London Waterloo and with its sands stretching some seven miles, it’s definitely worth the journey.
Bournemouth
- Travel from Waterloo
- Journey time is just under two hours
- Bournemouth station is just over a mile from the beach, around 30 minutes on foot but there are regular buses which take about 10 minutes.
With all those miles of sand, it’s no wonder that Bournemouth is one of the most popular sandy beaches near London. I’ll never forget the image of the crowds descending on Bournemouth beach during the pandemic – so many people needing a glorious day at the seaside.
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Do you have a favourite sandy beach close to London? Let me know in the comments below.
