Summer has already arrived, making it the best time to visit the seaside with your friends and family. We Londoners lead very busy lives, and the fresh seaside air provides much-needed relaxation. Fortunately, there are several beaches not too far from London that are perfect for a day trip.

Ruislip Lido

Ruislip Lido Beach is actually within London itself, located near Ruislip underground station. You can get there via the Metropolitan line train. If you are departing from London Liverpool Street station, the journey will take approximately 1 hour and 21 minutes. You need to take the Uxbridge train to reach the beach. From the Ruislip station bus stop (stop B), take a short bus ride on bus number H13 to Ruislip Lido, which takes about 10 minutes (8 stops). The total transportation cost for this journey is £5.35. If you are coming from different parts of London, simply head to Harrow on the Hill and transfer to the Uxbridge train.

Brighton

One of the nearest beaches to London is Brighton Beach. You can book a ticket to go to the beach via the Thameslink line from London Farringdon station. The ticket price is £22.70 without a railcard and £14.95 with a railcard. It is a direct train from Farringdon station and takes roughly 1 hour and 19 minutes.

Pro Tip: If you love to travel frequently outside London, I suggest you buy a railcard. It will save you ⅓ of your ticket price. A railcard typically costs £30 and is valid for one year.

Bournemouth Beach

Bournemouth Beach is one of the best beaches in the UK. It is a sandy, family-friendly beach where you can enjoy a day trip with your family and friends. The beach offers numerous facilities, including parking, baby changing facilities, beachside restaurants, and more. There is a direct train from London Waterloo station to Bournemouth station, which takes about 2 hours. The ticket price ranges from £30 to £36, depending on when you book the ticket.

Pro Tip: Book your tickets at least 2 weeks in advance to get a good deal.

Eastney Beach Portsmouth

Portsmouth is a sea side area. You can find fresh sea side air in this area. There are lots of sea beaches Portsmouth has, Eastney is one of them. Eastney has an “excellent” water quality rating from the national regulator, the Environment Agency (EA). To visit Eastney Beach from London, take a train from London Waterloo station to Fratton station. From there, walk 9 minutes to Talbot Road station. Catch bus number 25, named Lifeboat Station, and ride for approximately 8 minutes (10 stops) to Ferry Road. Then, walk another 5 minutes to reach Eastney Beach. The journey from London Waterloo station takes roughly 2 hours. The cheapest day return ticket costs £42, and with a railcard, it costs £28.

Mersea Island, Essex

Mersea Island is a great place to sit, relax, and enjoy delicious food with your friends and family. You can choose between the east side or the west side of Mersea Island. West Mersea is a small fishing town with a soft sandy beach, and you will find lots of shops and restaurants there. The east side has a large, wild beach and is perfect for nature lovers.

To get to Mersea Island from London, take a train from London Liverpool Street station to Colchester Town station. The ticket price is £23. From Colchester Town station, walk 4 minutes to Military Road (stop D). From this bus stop, take the 86 bus towards West Mersea High Street and get off at Blue Row. Then walk another 13 minutes to reach the beach. The total journey time is approximately 2 hours and 15 minutes.

Southend Sea Beach, Essex

Southend is a small town in Essex, located in the southeast of England. You could call it a seaside hub, as it boasts numerous beaches. Some of the notable beaches include Thorpe Bay Beach, Southend Pier, and Chalkwell Beach, each with its own unique charm. For example, Thorpe Bay Beach is a sandy beach that has won both Blue Flag and Quality Coast awards, guaranteeing not only clean water but also a safe family environment with a host of facilities. Similarly, Southend Pier is the longest leisure pier in the world.

You can travel from Barking Underground Station to Southend Central via the c2c National Rail. The ticket cost is approximately £12.

Camber Sands 

Camber Sands Beach is located in the village of Camber near Rye, in East Sussex, England. This beach is unique for its fine, golden sand and is home to the only sand dunes in East Sussex.

To get to Camber Sands, you need to catch a Southeastern train from King’s Cross St Pancras International station, taking the Margate train. Change trains at Ashford International station and take the Southern Eastbourne train to Rye. From Rye railway station, stop B, take the 100 Camber New Romney bus for a 14-minute, 7-stop ride to Pontins. Then walk 5 minutes to reach the golden sands beach. The transportation cost for the train is approximately £35.

Tankerton Beach and The Street, Whitstable, Kent

Tankerton Beach is another beach near London, located in Whitstable, Kent. At low tide, a long, pleasant 750-metre walk can take you right out to sea, making it ideal for paddling and enjoying nature.

To get to the beach, take a 1 hour and 20-minute train ride from London St Pancras International to Whitstable station, which costs around £19. From Whitstable station, it’s a 20-minute walk to the beach, during which you can enjoy the natural scenery.

Walton-on-the-Naze Beach 

Walton-on-the-Naze beach is located near Colchester town in Essex. It is home to the second longest pier in Great Britain and features a sandy beach, perfect for kids to make sandcastles. This family-friendly beach has many seaside restaurants and cafes.

To get there, start your journey from London Liverpool Street station via the Greater Anglia railway service to Walton-on-the-Naze, with a change at Thorpe-le-Soken station. The train journey costs £24.60.

Botany Bay, near Broadstairs, Kent

Kent has many seaside towns, and Botany Bay is one of the standout beaches. One of our most photographed bays, Botany Bay is famous for its stunning views of white cliffs and beautiful chalk stacks. When the tide is out, Botany Bay is a great location for fossil hunting and exploring rock pools. There is plenty of exposed sand to enjoy when the tide is in, but due to the bay’s shape, the ends are cut off at high tide.

The journey to Botany Bay Beach takes approximately 2 hours and 15 minutes, involving a mix of bus and train travel. First, take a train from London St Pancras International to Margate (1 hour 30 minutes). From Nayland Rock bus stop, take a bus to Yardhurst Gardens, which is another 25-minute ride to Botany Bay Beach. The train journey costs around £20.