We all have fond childhood memories of being on a beach in the UK, and returning the favour with our own families is the best way of carrying the tradition on. Between dramatic coastlines, working harbours, and rolling dunes, the UK has enough variety to fill a summer of family days out without leaving the country at all.
1. Nairn, Scottish Highlands
Beyond the sandy beach and low dunes, the surrounding waters of Nairn, on the Moray Firth in the Scottish Highlands, are one of the best places in the UK to spot dolphins, with Chanonry Point a short drive away for near-guaranteed sightings. The beach has won Scotland’s Best Beach award for over three decades.
2. Woolacombe, Devon
For families chasing waves rather than wildlife, Woolacombe in Devon remains one of the country’s most reliable surf beaches. Three miles of sand backed by dunes give plenty of room to spread out, while several surf schools cater specifically to beginners, making it an easy introduction for children trying a board for the first time.
3. Tenby, Pembrokeshire
Tenby, in Pembrokeshire, trades big surf for harbour charm instead, with sandy beaches sitting either side of a working harbour lined with pastel houses, and regular boat trips run out to Caldey Island. It’s a slower kind of holiday, built around wandering the town as much as the sand itself.
4. The North Yorkshire Coast
The North Yorkshire coast offers something different again, since three distinct towns sit close enough together to combine into a single trip. Scarborough brings the arcades and piers of a classic seaside resort, Whitby pairs a working fishing harbour with the Abbey looming above, and nearby Robin Hood’s Bay is one of the best spots on the coast for rock pooling and crabbing.
5. Camber Sands, East Sussex
Camber Sands, in East Sussex, with three miles of golden sand, is worth choosing when the goal is simply to relax. Its easy reach from London makes it a popular but genuinely spacious option for families wanting room to spread a picnic blanket without a long drive.
Travel Essentials and Things to Be Mindful Of
A few essentials make any UK beach day easier, such as checking tide times before setting off and bringing a windbreak earns its keep on any of Britain’s breezier stretches of coast.
Sturdy footwear is worth packing too, since shingle beaches like Whitstable and Robin Hood’s Bay’s rock pools are far kinder to feet in proper shoes than bare skin.
Anyone with an existing health condition, or mobility issues should also consider the logistics of the beach trip, including:
- General accessibility options
- The weather forecast
- The facilities – e.g. toilets, places to eat and rest
- The medical support options at the beach
The terrain is also a big factor for how easy it can be to traverse the beach. People with diabetes, for instance, comfort footwear specialists Gentle Grip recommend, in a guide developed alongside Diabetes UK, checking feet regularly and choosing supportive shoes over bare feet on shingle or uneven sand.
Worth Staying Close to Home For
None of this makes a UK beach holiday less spontaneous, only better prepared for. With this much coastline on the doorstep, there’s rarely a reason to look further afield.