Planning a beach day out with the family? You don’t need to go far to find a brilliant stretch of sand. From dramatic Cornish coves to golden Northumberland bays, the UK has some of the most beautiful beaches in the world – and plenty of them are perfect for families.
Britain’s coastline offers spectacular views, rock pools to explore, fine sand for sandcastle building, fossil hunting, great surf for water sports fans, classic seaside entertainment, and hidden havens tucked away from the crowds.
Grab the buckets and spades, and let’s take a look at 20 of the best beaches in the UK for a family getaway.
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Porthcurno, Cornwall
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With dramatic rock formations on both sides, white sand, a turquoise sea and exotic plant life, this narrow strip of coastline is one of the most striking beaches in the country – and a real winner for holiday photos. Set beneath the clifftop Minack Theatre, this is arguably Cornwall’s most beautiful bay.
Easily accessible, it’s very popular with families. It’s best at low tide, when you can walk to other beaches in the bay (one of which is a nudist beach, so worth knowing before you wander) and sit on sandbars beneath the ancient cliff fort of Treryn Dinas.
Swanlake Bay, South Pembrokeshire
The only way to reach this hidden gem is on foot, along the Pembrokeshire Coast National Park footpath. It takes a bit of effort to get here, but it’s worth the walk.
Most of the beach is shingle, but at low tide a long stretch of sand appears. The beach is split into two sections: an eastern side lined with golden sand in the shade of high cliffs, and a western side covered in rock pools. Keep an eye out for birdlife too, including curlew, whimbrel, redshank and godwit.
Blackpool Sands, Devon
This award-winning Blue Flag beach is one of Devon’s most popular spots, set in an unspoilt, sheltered bay surrounded by evergreens and pines. It’s a shingle beach just three miles west of Dartmouth, on the South Devon heritage coast within an Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty.
With safe swimming for children, sandpits, a bathing raft, kayaks and paddleboards for hire, food outlets and a beach shop, it has something for everyone in the family.
West Wittering, Sussex
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There are no amusement arcades here – just a wide, sloping beach with shallow tidal pools and clean, calm water. Colourful bathing huts line the unspoilt sandy beach, with lovely views across Chichester Harbour and the South Downs beyond.
West Wittering has been a favourite family day-trip spot for generations, and its excellent water quality and facilities have made it one of the country’s premier Blue Flag beaches. It’s popular with wind and kite surfers, and the whole area is well known for its wildlife and unique beauty.
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Peel, Isle of Man
The west coast beach of Peel is one of the finest on the island, and a real family favourite. A good stretch of golden sand, protected by a large breakwater, sits alongside Peel Castle and the historic fishing port – a spot brimming with history.
Sometimes called “Sunset City”, Peel is a great place to watch the sun go down behind the castle ruins. On a clear day you can often pick out the Mountains of Mourne across the water in Ireland. If you’re feeling brave, Peel Bay is also home to the annual Peel Dip – a New Year’s sea swim held in support of local charities.
Holkham Beach, Norfolk
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One of the most unspoilt and beautiful stretches of sand in the country, Holkham has picked up beach-of-the-year honours in the past – and it’s easy to see why. Behind the shoreline lies a semi-circular basin which, at very high tides, fills to form a spectacular shallow lagoon.
With pine woodlands, long sand dunes and rock pools galore, this beach is brilliant for kite flying, sandcastle building and wildlife spotting.
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The beach is such a fun place to explore! If you’re planning a trip to the coast, why not print off our free Beach Scavenger Hunt for kids to bring along?
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Silecroft, Cumbria
Set on the edge of the Lake District National Park, this gently shelving shingle beach stretches for miles in both directions. With five miles of sand and shingle, there’s plenty of room to explore, plus water sports, fishing, canoeing and water-skiing.
On a clear day, it’s said you can see Scotland, Wales, the Isle of Man and 14 English counties from the summit of nearby Black Coombe. The beach is popular with locals and day-trippers, and sea anglers are often spotted along the shoreline.
Alongside the beach is an area designated a Site of Special Scientific Interest, thanks to natterjack toads spawning here in spring. Look out too for local and migratory birds, including swallows, oystercatchers and gannets.
Bamburgh Castle Beach, Northumberland
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This award-winning beach on the Northumberland coast has a vast expanse of golden sand, ideal for families, with Bamburgh’s imposing castle visible for miles around.
It’s a wonderful spot for long, wind-swept walks at any time of year. The water rarely gets very warm, even in summer, but in the milder months children love playing in the waves, and the sand is perfect for sandcastles and beach games.
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Barafundle Beach, Pembrokeshire
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Barafundle has been ranked among the best beaches in the world, and its Blue Flag status reflects some of the finest water quality in the UK. The only drawback is the lack of road access and the uneven approach terrain, which makes it unsuitable for wheelchairs and pushchairs.
Scattered with sand dunes, rock pools and hidden caves, Barafundle is a beautiful spot for a family picnic and a paddle once you’ve found your patch of sand.
Seacliff, East Lothian
Not far from North Berwick lies the hidden gem of Seacliff Beach, ideal if you want to avoid the crowds. Perfect for a day trip from Edinburgh, it’s a low-key, laid-back spot for building sandcastles, exploring rock pools or playing a spot of beach tennis.
This private beach is largely unspoilt and attracts surfers, dog walkers and picnickers all year round, with car access controlled by a coin-operated barrier. Look out for the tiny sandstone harbour – thought to be the smallest in the UK – and enjoy the views of Bass Rock and the ruins of Tantallon Castle.
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Portstewart Strand, Northern Ireland
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A favourite with locals and visitors alike, Portstewart Strand is cared for by the National Trust and known for its clean sand, magnificent views and unique wildlife.
The two-mile beach and extensive white dunes are home to rare birds, insects, butterflies and orchids, with herb-rich grassland behind the beach. Family facilities include a children’s play area, a nature trail and a designated water sports zone.
Rhossili Bay, Swansea
Once named the best beach in Europe, breathtaking Rhossili Bay is a three-mile stretch of sand overlooked by the Old Rectory, a popular National Trust holiday cottage. At low tide you can spot the remains of the Helvetia, a ship wrecked here in 1887.
The beach is a walker’s dream, with routes in all directions including the Welsh coastal path. It’s dog-friendly all year round and beautiful whatever the weather.
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West Sands, St Andrews, Scotland
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This popular beach in the university town of St Andrews offers clean bathing water and an expanse of sand. Famous for the opening scenes of the film Chariots of Fire, West Sands stretches for almost two miles, backed by dunes and the world-renowned golf course. With a reliable sea breeze, it’s a great spot for little ones flying a kite for the first time.
It’s a short walk from the town centre, with plenty of parking, shops and restaurants nearby, plus wet-weather alternatives if the Scottish weather doesn’t play ball.
Compton Bay, Isle of Wight
One of the Isle of Wight’s best-kept secrets, Compton Bay offers a two-mile stretch of contrasting golden and dark sand, rolling seas, and colourful sandstone cliffs, with the white chalk cliffs at Freshwater visible in the distance.
This is a bring-your-own-everything beach – windbreaks, boards, food and drink – though there’s usually an ice-cream van selling drinks, snacks and a few beach toys. Walk south to Brook Bay at low tide and you may spot ancient dinosaur tracks or fossils in the crumbling cliffs. Access from the clifftop car parks (National Trust) is via steep wooden steps.
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Porthmeor, St Ives, Cornwall
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An idyllic seaside town with lovely small beaches, Porthmeor is ideal for kids ready to brave the waves. St Ives itself, often called the “jewel of the South West”, is a bustling town with plenty to keep everyone happy.
The harbour area is great for a buggy stroll, with sights and sounds to keep little ones entertained. The sandy shoreline of Porthmeor is a haven for surfers and a firm favourite with families, sitting in the shadow of the Tate St Ives building, just a stone’s throw from the town’s pubs, cafes and galleries.
Charmouth, Dorset
Charmouth Beach is great for families – plenty of sand at low tide, safe swimming, picnic areas, cafes and beach shops. The beach is split in two by the mouth of the River Char, which is often dammed by the beach itself to form a lagoon perfect for boating or watching the ducks and swans.
The Jurassic Coast stretches for 95 miles from East Devon through Dorset, and Charmouth Beach is one of the best spots along it for fossil hunting. There are car parks close to the beach, and beach huts are available to hire.
Watergate Bay, Newquay, Cornwall
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Watergate Bay is a large beach about three miles from Newquay on the North Cornwall coast, recognised for some of the highest bathing water quality standards in the UK.
Two miles of golden sand, backed by cliffs and caves, catch Atlantic swells that draw surfers, while peregrine falcons, gulls and fulmars wheel overhead. Spot strawberry anemones and crabs in the rock pools, walk the clifftop path, or book a surfing or kiting lesson. The beach hosts various events throughout the year, plenty of rock pools for children, and designated safe swimming areas patrolled by RNLI lifeguards during summer months.
Weymouth, Dorset
A grand sandcastle complete with a moat is a real achievement for any child – and Weymouth Beach is said to have some of the best sand in Britain for building one.
There’s plenty of entertainment too, from traditional Punch & Judy shows and donkey rides to livelier events like beach volleyball and live music. Enjoy a stroll along the promenade or the sands, or simply relax in the sunshine on a summer’s day.
Pentle Bay, Tresco, Isles of Scilly
Pentle Bay is possibly the finest beach on Tresco, on the southeast coast between Lizard Point and Skirt Island.
After crossing Tresco’s lush interior and walking through sandy grass, you’re rewarded with bleached white sand and an emerald-and-turquoise ocean dotted with islands – it takes a dip in the sea to remind you that you’re still in Britain. There are no facilities or lifeguard cover at Pentle Bay, and a seasonal dog ban applies over the summer months.
Saunton Sands, Devon
Saunton Sands is a long, straight, sandy beach backed by the impressive Braunton Burrows, a UNESCO Biosphere Reserve and one of the largest sand dune systems in Britain, home to rare plants and butterflies.
It’s popular with surfers and families thanks to its long stretch of water, better suited to beginners and intermediates than nearby Croyde Bay. There are food outlets, toilets and beach shops with easy disabled access, and dogs are allowed on the beach all year round.
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Frequently Asked Questions
What are the best UK beaches for families with young children?
Beaches with gently shelving sand, shallow tidal pools and lifeguard cover tend to work best for young children. West Wittering, Blackpool Sands and Weymouth are all popular family choices thanks to their calm water and good facilities.
Are UK beaches safe for swimming?
Many UK beaches hold Blue Flag status, which recognises high water quality and safety standards, and some have RNLI lifeguard cover during the summer season. Always check local signage and flags on the day, as conditions can change with the tide and weather.
Do I need to book in advance to visit a UK beach?
Most UK beaches are free and open to the public without booking. Car parks at popular spots can fill up quickly in good weather, so it’s worth arriving early, especially during school holidays.
What should I bring for a family beach day in the UK?
Pack sun protection, warm layers (British weather can turn quickly), plenty of water and snacks, a windbreak, and buckets and spades. A few beaches have limited facilities, so it’s worth checking what’s available before you set off.
Are dogs allowed on UK beaches?
It varies by beach and by season. Some beaches, like Rhossili Bay and Saunton Sands, welcome dogs all year round, while others introduce seasonal restrictions over the busy summer months. Always check local signs before you visit.
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Before You Go
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