10 Best Beaches Near London By Train

Craving a beach getaway? Well, being in the capital doesn’t mean you have to miss out. There are plenty of beautiful sandy beaches within two hours of the big smoke. Grab your flip flops, get ready for some fresh salty sea air, and bring on the great British seaside escape; here’s a list of 10 must-visit beaches near London by train!

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Closest beaches to London By Train

Here’s my list of the best beaches and seaside towns near London by train.

Broadstairs BEACHES – Kent

Broadstairs was apparently Charles Dickens’s favourite coastal retreat and you can see why with the number of golden sand options.

Viking Bay is the most central with the clifftop promenade and harbour pier. Great for families too with beach huts and amusement rides. You’ll find all the surfers at Joss Bay. Very easy to hire boards and wetsuits at the Surf School on the beach if you fancy a go. The most spectacular is Botany Bay with its stunning views of white cliffs and chalk stacks which dominate the eastern end of the beach.

BY TRAIN FROM LONDON: 1.5 hrs from St Pancras International to Broadstairs
BY CAR: 1.5/2 hrs

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Margate – Kent

The classic seaside town offers all the British favourites from a sandy beach and amusement park to plenty of tempting fish and chip shops. The great British artist JMW Turner also had his own love affair with the coastal town and painted many a spellbinding seascape.

It’s recently been through a huge rejuvenation project with the opening of the Turner Contemporary Gallery and the revamp of one of the oldest surviving amusement parks in Britain, Dreamland. For some old school, Victorian kitsch don’t miss the mysterious Shell Grotto and meander down the harbour during sunset.

BY TRAIN: 1.5 hrs from St Pancras, Cannon Street or Victoria stations
BY CAR: 1.5/2 hrs

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Whitstable – Kent

A charming town on the North coast of Kent is famed for its seafood (especially the oysters). Its beach is a real treat too, West Coast’s shingle beach is perfect for a stroll while Tankerton beach is well known for its picturesque views of the sea and sky.

Little lanes full of bookshops, bakeries, quirky shops, and traditional pubs make this a perfect day trip destination.

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BY TRAIN FROM LONDON: 1.5 hrs from St Pancras, Cannon Street or Victoria stations to Whitstable
BY CAR: 1.5 hrs

Frensham Ponds, Surrey

Beaches don’t just exist on a coastline. Surrey has its very own beach in the form of Frensham Ponds set within an Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty. The two ponds were originally built to provide fish for the Bishop of Winchester’s estate during the Middle Ages.

Today Frensham Great Pond boasts a golden sandy beach, along with two marked swimming areas. Frensham Little Pond is purely for the local wildlife. The woodland trails and bridle paths around the pond are great for nature exploration.

BY TRAIN: 1 hr from Waterloo to Farnham and a bus 19 towards Haslemere Station.
BY CAR: 1 hr 20 mins

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Camber Sands – Sussex

While most of the beaches along the Sussex coast are made from shingles or pebbles, Camber Sands is the exception. Gorgeous golden sands stretch for five miles behind a wall of dramatic sand dunes, with long grasses and driftwood fences. You’ll be forgiven to think you’re in Cape Cod on a bright sunny day.

With perfect wind conditions, the beach is popular with windsurfers and kitesurfers. Film directors are also taken with the area, it has been used as a backdrop to many blockbuster movies such as The Theory of Everything and Monuments Men to TV Series After Life.

BY TRAIN: 1 hr 15 mins from St Pancras International to Rye, followed by a short bus or taxi ride.
BY CAR: 2 hrs

West Wittering – West Sussex

West Wittering is set in an Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty with views across Chichester Harbour. The large stretches of spotless sand and clear blue waters make it a Blue Flag holder.

Hire a beach hut, check out the wildlife in the grasslands and tidal pools and indulge in some traditional seaside fayre of fish and chips for a lovely beach day out.

BY TRAIN: 1.5 hrs from Victoria to Chichester
BY CAR: 2 hrs – to gain access to the beach drivers must pre-book a car park space

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Brighton BEACH, East Sussex

I can’t talk about the beaches close to London and not mention Brighton. Even with a pebble beach, it’s been a favourite Londoner escape for over 200 years.

The hip and happening destination has an amazing food scene, nightlife, and a bohemian shopping area with the famous Lanes. On a visit be sure to check out these great places to eat in Brighton too. Enjoy a classic British seaside day and visit the world-famous pier, amusement park, and arcade with a 99 ice cream in hand.

BY TRAIN FROM LONDON: 1 hr from London Bridge or Victoria
BY CAR: 1.5/2 hrs

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Alternatively, book a small-group full-day tour from London including the Seven Sisters.

Click for Brighton and Seven Sisters guided tour from London

Southend-on-Sea – Essex

Southend has been through a series of regeneration projects. It’s a place not to dismiss for a seaside escape. There are amusement parks and arcades and a host of new cafes, restaurants and galleries to keep you entertained.

Home to seven miles of sandy beaches sharing three Blue Flag awards, visitors are spoilt for sunbathing spots. Southend’s famous pier also has the longest pier in the world, with a small train to ferry you from one end to the other.

BY TRAIN: 1 hr from Fenchurch Street and a little longer from Liverpool Street
BY CAR: 1.5 hrs

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Walton-on-the-Naze – Essex

A classic seaside town facing the North Sea on the Essex coast, Walton-on-the-Naze is surrounded by the sea on three sides with three miles of beaches. There is plenty to do from wild walks in nature reserves and taking a stroll along the second-longest pier in Britain to climbing the Naze Tower.

BY TRAIN: 1.5 hrs from Liverpool Street to Walton-on-the-Naze
BY CAR: 2 hrs

Bournemouth Beach – Dorset

The West Country seaside just makes it in the 2-hour mark from London. Bournemouth beach is an incredible eleven miles long with beautiful spots like the Sandbanks.

There is something for everyone at this beach, with each section offering a different experience. Head to Pier Approach for fun family-friendly activities, try your hand at water sports with an artificial reef to keep the surfers happy. The seafront is also home to an IMAX cinema, oceanarium, and lots of restaurants.

See more on your visit and book some of these tours:

Click for Sightseeing Bournemouth Hop-On Hop-Off Bus & Boat Tour

Click for Poole Harbor and Islands Cruise

BY TRAIN: 2 hrs from Waterloo to Bournemouth
BY CAR: 2 hrs

Where are your favourite coastal escapes or beaches near London? Let me know in the comments box below

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