When the sun graces Great British skies with a rare but treasured appearance, there's no better place to be than beside the sea. Luckily, England’s South Coast has a bounty of beautiful beaches to choose from. We've rounded up the cream of the crop below, as well as some lesser known alternatives that deserve a visit.
For more staycation inspiration check out our DK Eyewitness England's South Coast:
For more staycation inspiration check out our DK Eyewitness England's South Coast:
DK England's South Coast
View BookBlackpool Sands, South Devon
Best for: pretending you’re abroad
An enticing sight of azure water lapping the golden shore swings into view on the road from Dartmouth, rivalling anything you’d find in Spain. Backed by lovely woods of evergreen and scented pines, Blackpool Sands has a whiff of the Mediterranean that will soothe any foreign holiday FOMO.
Alternative: Porthcurno beach is among the finest on Penwith Peninsula. Sheltered by high cliffs on either side, the white-shell sand is perfect for digging your toes in.
An enticing sight of azure water lapping the golden shore swings into view on the road from Dartmouth, rivalling anything you’d find in Spain. Backed by lovely woods of evergreen and scented pines, Blackpool Sands has a whiff of the Mediterranean that will soothe any foreign holiday FOMO.
Alternative: Porthcurno beach is among the finest on Penwith Peninsula. Sheltered by high cliffs on either side, the white-shell sand is perfect for digging your toes in.
Botany Bay, Kent
Best for: a day trip from London
Travel 90 minutes from London St Pancras to Kent’s Botany Bay and you’ll find yourself on a beautiful stretch of sand studded with white cliffs and characterful chalk stacks. A favourite of photographers, Botany Bay is also a great spot for fossil hunting and exploring rock pools.
Alternative: Just 75 minutes from London, Camber Sands in East Sussex offers swoon-worthy sunsets.
Travel 90 minutes from London St Pancras to Kent’s Botany Bay and you’ll find yourself on a beautiful stretch of sand studded with white cliffs and characterful chalk stacks. A favourite of photographers, Botany Bay is also a great spot for fossil hunting and exploring rock pools.
Alternative: Just 75 minutes from London, Camber Sands in East Sussex offers swoon-worthy sunsets.
Chesil Beach, Dorset
Best for: avoiding sand
Extending in an incredible arc from the Dorset coast to the Isle of Portland, Chesil Beach is the largest tombolo in the world. Stretching for 29 km (18 miles), the far end is often obscured in a heat haze on a warm summer’s day. A shingle beach, this is the perfect spot for sun seekers who want to avoid getting sand in mysterious places.
Alternative: At the end of the steam railway line, the lonely Dungeness headland is an almost desert-like spit of shingle. Here, you'll find the scenery dominated by a lighthouse and a nature reserve.
Extending in an incredible arc from the Dorset coast to the Isle of Portland, Chesil Beach is the largest tombolo in the world. Stretching for 29 km (18 miles), the far end is often obscured in a heat haze on a warm summer’s day. A shingle beach, this is the perfect spot for sun seekers who want to avoid getting sand in mysterious places.
Alternative: At the end of the steam railway line, the lonely Dungeness headland is an almost desert-like spit of shingle. Here, you'll find the scenery dominated by a lighthouse and a nature reserve.
Kynance Cove, Cornwall
Best for: scenic beauty
On the west of the Lizard Peninsular is one of Cornwall’s most beautiful beaches and worst kept secrets. Extremely popular in summer, Kynance Cove attracts the crowds with its picture perfect serpentine stretches of white sand dotted with spectacular rock stacks.
Alternative: Lesser known but with a majesty of its own, Par Beach on the southern shore of St Martin’s offers crystal-clear waters and long empty expanses of powdery white sands.
On the west of the Lizard Peninsular is one of Cornwall’s most beautiful beaches and worst kept secrets. Extremely popular in summer, Kynance Cove attracts the crowds with its picture perfect serpentine stretches of white sand dotted with spectacular rock stacks.
Alternative: Lesser known but with a majesty of its own, Par Beach on the southern shore of St Martin’s offers crystal-clear waters and long empty expanses of powdery white sands.
Lyme Regis, Dorset
Best for: fossil hunting
Stretching between East Devon and Dorset, the Jurassic Coast records 185 million years of history. The area is one of Britain’s premier fossil hunting regions, with Lyme Regis as its capital. You can also walk out to sea along massive walls, but be aware waves often crash over the Cobb.
Alternative: Charmouth’s dramatic coastal cliffs frequently crumble and fall into the sea, revealing fossils by the bucket-load. The shells of ammonites, extinct squid-like creatures, are easy to find here.
Stretching between East Devon and Dorset, the Jurassic Coast records 185 million years of history. The area is one of Britain’s premier fossil hunting regions, with Lyme Regis as its capital. You can also walk out to sea along massive walls, but be aware waves often crash over the Cobb.
Alternative: Charmouth’s dramatic coastal cliffs frequently crumble and fall into the sea, revealing fossils by the bucket-load. The shells of ammonites, extinct squid-like creatures, are easy to find here.
Fistral Beach, Cornwall
Best for: surfing
One of the world’s top surfing destinations, Fistral Beach in Newquay hosts all the big UK surf competitions and is the perfect playground for those chasing the waves. Don’t let the prestige put you off – you don’t need to be a pro to surf at Fistral Beach, where regular and consistent waves make it an ideal spot for novices to pick up the sport.
Alternatives: Mawgan Porth has similar waves but without the crowds. Don’t fancy surfing? Watergate Bay also offers bodyboarding, SUP and kitesurfing.
One of the world’s top surfing destinations, Fistral Beach in Newquay hosts all the big UK surf competitions and is the perfect playground for those chasing the waves. Don’t let the prestige put you off – you don’t need to be a pro to surf at Fistral Beach, where regular and consistent waves make it an ideal spot for novices to pick up the sport.
Alternatives: Mawgan Porth has similar waves but without the crowds. Don’t fancy surfing? Watergate Bay also offers bodyboarding, SUP and kitesurfing.
Saunton Sands, North Devon
Best for: a dog’s day out
No one enjoys the beach with as much wild abandon as man’s best friend. While most beaches are fair game from November to March, many are restricted to dogs come April. Open year round to visitors of the four-legged variety, Saunton Sands in North Devon is a perfect place for pooches to frolick.
Alternative: Porthkidney beach near St Ives also welcomes dogs all year round.
No one enjoys the beach with as much wild abandon as man’s best friend. While most beaches are fair game from November to March, many are restricted to dogs come April. Open year round to visitors of the four-legged variety, Saunton Sands in North Devon is a perfect place for pooches to frolick.
Alternative: Porthkidney beach near St Ives also welcomes dogs all year round.
Woolacombe, North Devon
Best for: families
A scenic 5 km (3 mile) stretch of uninterrupted sand along the North Devon coast, Woolacombe is the perfect place for building sandcastles, digging pits and exploring a warren of dunes. When you need to cool down, the water is ideal for swimming and surfing. Renowned for its cleanliness, water quality and facilities, this is the ideal spot for a family getaway.
Alternative: One of the largest in Cornwall, Perranporth beach can feel like you have the place to yourself. Great for surfing, snorkeling, sailing and generally splashing around.
A scenic 5 km (3 mile) stretch of uninterrupted sand along the North Devon coast, Woolacombe is the perfect place for building sandcastles, digging pits and exploring a warren of dunes. When you need to cool down, the water is ideal for swimming and surfing. Renowned for its cleanliness, water quality and facilities, this is the ideal spot for a family getaway.
Alternative: One of the largest in Cornwall, Perranporth beach can feel like you have the place to yourself. Great for surfing, snorkeling, sailing and generally splashing around.
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