25 January 2025
5 minutes
From brightly lit piers to peaceful seafront promenades and sandy shores, these seaside escapes near London are worth hopping on a train for.
25 January 2025
5 minutes
Searching for the best seaside towns near London? Within just a couple of hours of the capital you'll find everything you could hope for from a coastal break, whether you love places buzzing with restaurants, arcades and fairground rides in cities like Brighton, or quieter coastal breaks complete with walks and wildlife in Walton on the Naze. From antiques in Hastings to contemporary art in Margate, here are some of the best seaside towns near London by train.
It's just a 60-minute hop by train from Central London to Brighton, which makes this colourful, ultra LBGTQ+-friendly home to the best and closest beach to London. But that speedy journey isn't the only reason to love it: the city is your classic seaside resort, and has an incredible nightlife scene, ranging from small independent wine bars and local pubs to themed club nights and drag shows. Some visit for the shopping (there are dozens of antique jewellery shops in the famous cobbled Lanes), others for the rides and arcades on the pier and many for the music scene and shows, with comedians, big bands and theatre shows passing through. Don't miss the opulent exterior of the Royal Pavilion, a museum that was once the summer residence when Brighton was King George IV's coastal escape. And for your own coastal escape, why not try the colourful Mercure Brighton Seafront Hotel?
These small towns in East Sussex are located right next to each other – so close that they happily blend into one, with Hastings Pier right in the middle. Hastings has the history – including a famous fishing fleet, Norman hilltop castle and cobbled lanes of the Old Town, where you'll find bookshops, cafés and cosy pubs including local favourite, the Crown. The seafront is home to not one but two mini-golf courses, a small funfair, parks and arcades galore – keeping kids entertained for hours. Stroll along the beachfront to St Leonards where you'll find antique and charity shops, and some of the area's best cafés and restaurants, including Sleeper (famous for its bagels) and excellent restaurant the Royal, right by the station. Looking to swim? This is a pebbly beach and there are some rocks in the water – head to the area near outdoor café Goat Ledge, or swim at high tide closer to the pier.
Fun fact: Hastings goes big on themed events, from Jack on the Green over the May Bank Holiday to Pirate Weekend in July, when thousands of locals dress up as pirates and join parades and drink in the pubs.
People flock to the beach town of Walton on the Naze in Essex not just for the colourful beach huts that are lined up in rows on the gently-sloping hillside, but for the wildlife. Around 250 seals call the shoreline here home – a huge leap from the five that once lived here in the 1980s. You can head out on boat trips to see them, stroll along Naze beach to spot birds, or you may prefer to head to the town's pier, the second-longest in Britain. Leave time for the 26-metre high Naze Tower, which hosts rotating art exhibitions.
Another East Sussex favourite is Eastbourne, with its long shingle beach and clifftop hikes along the South Downs. It's home to some of the best contemporary art in the country, which you'll find in the free-to-enter Towner Eastbourne (don't miss the excellent restaurant, Light, inside). Nearby, Volt has exhibitions from underrepresented and emerging local artists. Spending the day here? Pick up your croissants and coffee at local bakery, To The Rise, grab your ice cream at Gelato Famoso and finish your day with a curry at Malayalam Mother's. Although the town beach, backed by grand houses and homes from when Eastbourne was a Victorian coastal retreat, is lovely, you may prefer the 9.7-kilometre coastal ramble along Beachy Head, admiring the clifftop views and swimming on the shores at Birling Gap. To make a longer weekend of it, book into the ibis Brighton City Centre Station, which is just a 35-minute train ride along the coast.
When it comes to the best seaside towns near London, Margate tops many lists for its several long curves of golden sand. The town centre beach is a firm favourite for families, with a short walk from the station, shallow water, endless sandcastle building and a section with swings and rides. This is a seaside town for little and big kids, though – Dreamland will cater to both with its dazzling rides and concerts, with big names including Olly Murs and UB40 performing here. And for those looking for something a little more cultural than swimming and sunbathing on these sandy shores, the Turner Contemporary art gallery on the seafront is a must. Visiting over winter? Locals love swimming in the tidal pool, before the town's best coffee and brunch at Fort's Cafe.
This pretty Kent town is home to a pebble beach so vast it’s hard to picture it being filled. It’s an idyllic, laid-back place that feels more like a coastal village than a town – you’d be visiting here more for its peaceful seafront, dotted with some of the best fish and chip shops in the country, as opposed to bright arcades and games. Kids will be perfectly happy here, paddling in the water, scoffing ice creams and seeing off seagulls. The town is also home to great restaurants, including the Deal Pier Kitchen, with a memorable location at the end of the pier.
Cromer is not the closest seaside town to London, but it is one of the loveliest, and regarded as a coastal haven and beachcomber’s paradise by people across the country. This fond favourite is well worth the drive or train ride from London – and you’re best off allocating 48 hours instead of just a day. People make the journey for the town’s long sand and shingle beach and amusement-free pier, plus the pretty garden-lined promenade, grand Victorian and Edwardian homes and crabbing opportunities – a fun activity for kids after a day building sandcastles on the beach. The Mercure Norwich Hotel is a great base in Norwich, with a handy location for reaching the region’s beaches.
This quintessentially pretty seaside town near London may be just a few miles along the coast from Margate, but it’s worlds apart in look and feel. It’s compact, with little micropubs and some of the UK’s best restaurants lining the narrow streets (try Wyatt & Jones for excellent steak and sides). On Viking Bay, a small curve of sand, fishing boats bob on the water, while further along you’ll find surfable waves at the much larger stretch of sand at Joss Bay. A little closer, Stone Bay is a gorgeous sweep that’s walkable from the main town, while being a little quieter. The town is so picturesque that Charles Dickens used to come here over the summer to write – you may like to plan your visit over the Dickens Festival in June, or pop into the Dickens Museum at another point. Don’t miss Morellis, a photoworthy ice cream parlour close to the main beach.
Whether you're planning a quick beach getaway or a long weekend trip, our pick of the best seaside towns near London offer plenty of charm, culture and excitement. But don't worry if you haven't got that much time to spare – check out our curated recommendations of day trips from London.