Getting from the city to the sea is a breeze. There’s plenty of variety—from quaint old-school promenades to more upmarket alternative beach getaways. The London seaside day trips featured here are easy to get to within two hours from central London and cost under £50.00 in travel fares.
Note: We looked at day returns for weekday travel, but be sure to check the prices of returns, as well as tickets on different days, for potential savings. Fares vary quite a bit!
Looking for something a little less sandy? You’ll find more cheap and easy day trips here.
1. Brighton, Sussex
Not your typical seaside hangout, Brighton has always been one of the UK’s cooler, edgier coastal towns. It has most of what Londoners love about the capital’s best neighbourhoods: great pubs, music venues, clubs, restaurants, independent shops and cafés. But it has the one thing us Londoners don’t—a beach.
It’s a pebble beach, rather than a sandy beach, so factor that in if you’re craving a walk across some sand. However, with so much else to do besides taking in the sea air, it’s fun to visit Brighton all year round.
At just over an hour’s journey time from central London, it’s perfect for a day trip. The main hub for wandering about away from the seafront itself is the Lanes. It’s a maze-like cluster of narrow streets filled with great, independent places to shop, eat and drink. You can also peruse curios, vintage finds and random chintz at Snooper’s Paradise, check out street art in North Laine and stick around for live comedy at Komedia in the evening (in ordinary times, anyway).
Food and drink
There’s no shortage of great places to eat and drink in Brighton—if you’ve a craving there’s somewhere to satisfy it, particularly if you’re veggie or vegan. Modern Indian restaurant The Chill Pickle has great lunchtime Thalis for £17.00–£19.00, or go for low-key Vietnamese street food at Milk No Sugar, close to the station, or Goemon Ramen near the Hove seafront. But you’ll never be more than a stone’s throw from a decent place to eat in Brighton, whatever your dietary requirements. If you opt to eat outside though, be warned– the seagulls are massive and notorious for swooping down to steal chips from unsuspecting tourists.
Getting there
Transport is easy, there are lots of trains running on both the Southern (From Victoria) or Thameslink route (via London Bridge, St Pancras, Blackfriars and Farringdon). Going from Victoria is roughly £10.00 more than going via Thameslink though, so your best bet is from one of the other stations listed. Then you’ll have a healthy chunk of change left over for chips. Just be sure to eat them out of sight of the seagulls.
Cost: £21.60 off-peak on Thameslink, return ( super off peak weekend tickets from £14.50)
Journey time: Approx. 60–90 minutes from Victoria, Blackfriars, St Pancras or Farringdon
2. Margate, Kent
Unlike Brighton, Margate on the Kent coast has sandy beaches. More than one, in fact. It’s become so popular with Londoners looking for a new, cheaper place to live that it has a kind of Hackney-on-Sea vibe. These days you’ll find spots like Cliffs, a coffee shop/yoga studio and barbershop all in one, pink-fronted vintage shop Peony Vintage and experimental arts venue Tom Thumb Theatre (imagine an old Vaudeville theatre as reimagined by David Lynch).
Aside from the hipsterfication of Margate, the soaring retro colours of the Dreamland amusement park, crazy golf and old school ice cream shops along the seafront keep a classic British promenade feel.
With its decent size and holiday atmosphere, Margate Main Sands is the most popular beach by far. But if you want a less crowded beach for a wander and swim, Westbrook Bay is the place to be. It’s a more secluded spot with space to admire the pretty beach huts and check out rock pools at low tide.
There are plenty of things to do and see close to the beach too. Turner Contemporary is a relatively new gallery. Open since 2011, it’s a bright airy space and the regular galleries are free to visit. The cobbled streets of Margate Old Town are pretty to amble through, and are filled with brilliantly-named shops and pubs like Handsome Freaks and The Lifeboat Ale and Cider House.
Round off a nautical wander with a trip to the Shell Grotto—Margate’s very own local mystery. The grotto is a 21 metre-long, subterranean winding passageway covered with mosaics made of over 4 million shells. Nobody is quite sure who built it or why. Age estimates range wildly between 200 and a rather fanciful 3,000 years old.
Food and Drink
Margate has a decent and growing foodie scene. For fish and chips. Head to Peter’s Fish Factory, a family-run place in the Old Town if you’re looking for some classic seaside fayre. For Caribbean flavours, head to Mullins Brasserie, which is a modern European brasserie that uses Caribbean. Bajan chef-owner Antonio Forde has transformed old butchers into contemporary restaurants serving up dishes like creole fish stew, ital stew (vegan), and jerk chicken, with mains ranging from £11.00–£17.00.
One of the best spots for seafood is Angela’s of Margate, which has a changing menu based on what’s fresh off the boats that morning, but with dishes that include Dover Sole with green sauce and Monkfish bisque and mains between £20.00–£25.00, it’s no surprise that it’s a Margate favourite.
Getting there
Cost: £30.00 off-peak, one way
Journey time: Approx. 90 minutes from St Pancras
3. Leigh-On-Sea, Essex
At under an hour direct from the city on the (C2Sea) link, Leigh-on-Sea in Essex is one of the closest sandy beaches to central London. This laid-back town is quite a bit smaller and calmer than Brighton or Margate, more quaint than cool.
It’s a lovely place to spend a low-key, sunny Sunday away from the City. With an old town vibe and an historic centre, there are considerably fewer people around than at nearby southend on sea. Just on the edge of Old Leigh is the small but delightful Leigh-On-Sea Beach, with old fishing boats, fresh seafood and cute cockle sheds (little painted shacks).
If you fancy stretching your legs after lazing on the sand, you can stroll along the Leigh Heritage Trail, where you’ll find cinder paths, old houses with cliffside gardens, a metal obelisk and a yacht club (sailing is a big thing around here).
Stage 2 of the trail also includes the pubs, small galleries and cafés of Old Leigh, like Sara’s Tea Garden. Further along the trail, you’ll pass a bird reserve and the old ruins of Hadleigh Castle. Some of the trail is fairly steep though, so not one to attempt if you’ve only got sandals or flip-flops to walk in.
Food and drink
Food-wise, seafood is a big draw in Leigh-on-Sea. That said, places like The Oaktree serve up Mediterranean and Asian food with plenty of veggie, vegan and gluten-free options. Main courses will set you back around £15.00.
Getting there
Cost: £20.10 off-peak day return
Journey time: Approx. 45 minutes from Fenchurch Street
4. Bexhill-on-Sea, Sussex
Bexhill is a charming coastal town with interesting architecture and a shingle (pebble) beach. The town centre is a haven for vintage fans, with independent shops and pop-up fairs. Bexhill-on-Sea even made it into the Guinness Book of World Records in 2017 for hosting the world’s largest Charleston dance.
One of the main draws is the 1930s, modernist De La Warr Pavilion. Re-opened in 2005, the building acts as a major arts and culture venue. During the day you can visit free exhibitions, or take a £5.00 architecture tour.
There are plenty of pre-1930s buildings around Bexhill old town, it’s full of old Georgian buildings, and you can also visit the ruins of an old 13th-century manor house.
If you fancy exploring a little further afield, take one of the cultural trails, to see more of the East Sussex coast. Hop on a local Line 98 bus (around 45 minutes) or split a cab (20 minutes) to Herstmonceux Castle. This beautiful 15th Century castle is surrounded by 300 acres of woodlands. Entrance to the grounds and gardens costs £8.00.
Food and drink
Restaurants in Bexhill tend to be of the traditional (Fish & chips) British seaside variety, but you can grab a savoury bite or a slice of cake at cafés like The Old Town Tea Room or lunch or dinner at The Sackville Bistro.
Getting there
Cost: £38.20 off-peak day return
Journey time: Approx. 1 hour 50 minutes from Victoria or St Pancras
5. Whitstable, Kent
You’re pretty spoilt for choice along the Kent coast, with Margate, Whitstable, Ramsgate and Broadstairs all close by if you’re thinking of getting away for longer than just a day – more on the last two later.
But if you’re short on time, Whitstable alone is a fine day out by the sea. Tankerton Beach at Whitstable is a pebble beach, so if it’s sand you’re after then Broadstairs only costs around £10.00 by train. It’s about 30 minutes away, so it’s possible to do both in a day. Broadstairs is more of a classic seaside, and Whitstable is its cooler, more artsy neighbour. Once you’re done paddling in the nippy Whitstable waters, head into sea-worthy locals like The Old Neptune (Or Neppy as it’s known around these parts). Here you can enjoy a locally-brewed pint from nearby Faversham, and watch the sunset.
You can also visit the pretty Whitstable Harbour, with its rows of pastel-coloured beach huts, arts and crafts market and small fishing boats. The Harbour is also home to a much larger boat, Greta, an historic sailing barge. Built in 1892 to transport cargo on the River Thames and the Thames Estuary, these days it’s mainly used for passenger trips. These can last about six hours, so it’s only worth it if you’re planning on spending a weekend by the sea.
Wander along to Harbour Street, the High Street and Oxford Street to explore independent shops, galleries and places to eat. You can get lost in rows of old books at Oxford Street Books, check out local artists at Fish Slab Gallery, peruse vintage treasures at Anchors Aweigh Vintage and get ice-cream from Sundae Sundae.
Food and drink
Seafood lovers should head to the seafront for Oysters (Oyster season is any month with an R in it) at places like The Forge beach shack. If you prefer a portion of fish and chips to fancy Oysters and Lobster on the seafront, there are plenty of traditional chippies to choose from like VC Jones on Harbour Street. For snacks and coffee, check out Blueprint Books & Coffee, locally sourced, healthy food from Gill’s Cafe and Delicatessen.
Getting there
Cost: £28.70 super off peak day return
Journey time: Approx. 1 hour 20 minutes from Victoria
6. Broadstairs, Kent
Broadstairs has that most elusive of coastal towns within easy reach of London: sandy beaches (seven of them!), and it’s filled with colourful beach huts and plenty of other British seaside favourites including crazy golf, and of course ice cream. We recommend Morelli’s Gelato, which has been serving up scoops since 1907.
For stunning sea views, head to the Viking Coastal trail which you can walk or cycle. It’s a 25 mile loop around the Isle of Thanet, but if you don’t fancy such a massive trek, it’s only 3.5 miles to Margate, with the pretty Botany Bay in the middle.
If you want to know a bit about local history, do the Broadstairs Town Trail self guided walk, which you can download or pick up a leaflet from the Visitor information kiosk. You can also find out why Charles Dickens loved the area so much at The Dickens House Museum, which was the inspiration for the character of Betsey Trotwood’s house in David Copperfield, entrance is only £3.50 too.
Another great feature of UK seaside towns in charity shops, so hit up the highstreet to peruse second hand books, clothes and records. The town also has great independent shops and galleries around Albion Street and Harbour Street.
Food and Drink
When in Broadstairs, eat fish and chips (if you eat fish!). There are plenty of spots to choose from, including Fish & Chips co, which you buy from a hatch and eat on the beach. Broadstairs has some great pubs from the more traditional The Charles Dickens to the slightly more alternative The Chapel Bar and Bookshop.
Getting there
Cost: £31.90 super off-peak day return
Journey time: Approx. 1 hour 40 minutes from St Pancras International or Victoria
7. Ramsgate, Kent
As you’ve gathered by now, the Kent coast is fantastic for seaside day trips, and we’ve got plenty of tips if you want to make a weekend of it. But, like the nearby coastal towns, Ramsgate offers a grand day out in its own right.
It might seem counterintuitive to suggest exploring below ground in a town with a sandy beach and a lovely harbour. But one of the most interesting and unusual things to see is Ramsgate Tunnels, the UK’s largest civilian wartime network of tunnels, it’s open all year round and tours range from £12.00–£22.00 (the higher price is for the deepest tunnel tour, but you can also take an overground/underground tour). You’ll need to set aside a couple of hours and wear comfy, sensible shoes too.
The town also has some interesting architecture, with 19th Century Gothic Revival buildings by Ramsgate resident, the excellently-named Augustus Pugin. Seaside towns are also known for games arcades and Ramgate is no exception. Although if 8-bit is more your thing head to Ramsgate Micro Museum for a personal collection of old computers and consoles and to play retro video games,
As with other coastal towns like Bexhill-on-Sea, Ramsgate is also a haven for vintage shopping, particularly the arches by the waterfront and Paraphernalia, with two floors of antiques.
Food and drink
For harbour views, seafood and sundowners – head to the Royal Harbour Brasserie on Ramsgate East Pier. It has a huge outdoor terrace and overlooks the harbour and lighthouse, perfect for a sunset dinner, although it’s a good idea to book ahead. If you want seafood but don’t fancy fish and chips, check out Kyoto Sushi. There are a couple of decent Italian restaurants in the area too, including Il Tricolore and La Magnolia.
Getting there
Cost: £31.80 super off-peak day return
Journey time: Approx. 1 hour 30 minutes from St Pancras International
8. Camber Sands and Rye, Sussex
Camber Sands has something quite rare in Sussex, a sandy beach. In fact, it’s home to the only sand dunes in the county. It’s a good trip to combine with Rye, which is around a 20 minute bus journey. As well as the beach at Camber Sands, you can also visit the ruins at Camber Castle, built during the reign of Henry VIII. It’s also a great place to visit if you’re interested in watersports – Camber Sands is one of the best places in the UK to go kitesurfing. But if you prefer dry land, there are plenty of walks or cycling trails and you can hire electric or pedal bikes from Ebike Hire for £30.00 for three and half hours.
If you’ve had an active morning around the dunes and coastal trails at Camber Sands, Rye is a great place to while a few hours before catching the train home. It’s a very picturesque, medieval town filled with cobbled streets, old pubs and antique shops.
Food and Drink
There are more options for food and drink in Rye than in Camber Sands, especially for dinner, including quaint old pubs like The George Inn and The Mermaid Inn. For more modern dining, there’s restaurants including The Union Rye that serves a seasonal menu using British produce and the Landgate Bistro, which is a modern British restaurant.
Getting there
Cost: £34.70 super off-peak day return to Rye, then 102 bus to Camp, Lydd
Journey time: Approx. 1 hour 12 minutes from St Pancras International (change at Ashford International) / 20 minutes bus Rye-Camber Sands
9. Deal, Kent
We’ve covered the famous spots along the Kent coast, and while it may not have the same hipster appeal of Margate, Ramsgate or Whitstable – there’s plenty of reasons to visit Deal.
What’s the deal in Deal? Well, despite the name, it is not the gambling capital of the south coast. The town is charming, filled with pastel-hued houses, independent galleries, and great places to eat.
Deal Castle is as good a place to start as any. Henry VIII left his mark in a few places in Kent, largely for military defence reasons. Deal Castle is one of several forts constructed along the Kent coast to guard against invasion. You can also visit nearby Walmer Castle and wander in its lovely grounds.
If you’re interested in maritime history, head to Timeball Tower, and hang about there at 1pm to see the time ball drop, a signal that ships used to use to set their clocks. And if that’s not enough nautical knowledge for you, you can do more naval gazing at Deal Maritime and Local History Museum. Deal also has a thriving art scene, with several independent and contemporary art galleries including Don’t Walk, Linden Hall Studio, and Sea Lark Studio where you can check out works by local artists.
Food and drink
Like Margate and Ramsgate, Deal is a fairly foodie seaside town. For seafood (and the occasional steak) with view, head to Deal Pier Kitchen. Other options include French Bistro Frog & Scot, and Victuals & Co. But if it’s a classic portion of fish and chips you’re after – head to The Blue Mermaid Fish Bar, The Fryer Tuck, or Middle Street Fish Bar.
Getting there
Cost: £56.60 anytime day return from St Pancras International
Journey time: Approx 1hr 30 minutes
While we do our best to ensure it’s correct, information is subject to change. Post first published in August, 2019. Last updated in May, 2023.
