We’re firm believers that everything you need can be found in London, but we’ll begrudgingly concede that picturesque seaside towns are the exception.
Luckily, with the coasts of Kent, Essex, and Sussex reachable from the capital in under two hours or Cornwall if you’re willing to make a trip that far, a weekend escape to coastal dreamlands awaits you at any of these gorgeous seaside spots. And there’s clearly no better time to plan such a trip than now, when London is currently enter its sunny golden period. We’ve almost made it to summer, baby!
Here’s a rundown of the best seaside towns near London:
Table Of Contents
Kent seaside towns close to London
1. Deal
This adorable coastal town in Kent is just under an hour and a half’s train journey from London and is so quaint, you’ll think you’ve taken a step back into the golden ages. A nice little escape from the hustle and bustle of the big smoke, and it has enough independent coffee shops and stores to make you feel right at home.
Oh and they even have a Michelin-recommended restaurant, Frog and Scot, which serves up French bistro classics – meaning that on a clear day, you can scoff French food and then catch a glimpse of the French coast.
🚂 Trains to Deal run from London Bridge or London Victoria and take around 90-120 minutes.
2. Margate
Say what you want about Margate but if you’re looking for some fresh sea air, nostalgic fairground fun and a large haddock and chips for less than a fiver, then you’ve found your place.
Margate’s Old Town is pretty recognisable, but the place is also home to a couple of charming theatres, a Winter Garden, Dreamland, and an annual carnival and Pride every August. Read our handy guide on the best things to do in Margate here.
🚂 Trains to Margate run from Victoria, Charing Cross and King’s Cross St. Pancras and take around 105 minutes.
3. Broadstairs
So of course there’s the usual seaside fare available in this town, but who can be bothered to sunbathe when there are cute ice cream parlours such as Morelli’s? Founded in 1932, this fancy ice cream parlour boasts pink leather seating and an oh-so-retro interior.
We’re talking alcoholic flavours such as mojito and lime and delicious concoctions like caramel pecan & French vanilla. Even before Morelli’s appeared, Broadstairs was tempting the likes of Charles Dickens for a sojourn, and the town celebrates this connection with a Dickens festival every June.
🚂 Trains to Broadstairs run from Victoria and King’s Cross St. Pancras and take around 105 minutes.
4. Ramsgate
Should you find Broadstairs to be packed on a glorious summer’s day, salvation can be found a short hop down the coast. Ramsgate was one of the seaside towns du jour during the heyday of Victorian bathing holidays, and whilst it’s not quite as high on the bucket list nowadays, there’s more than enough charm to win you over.
Cold but clear waters invite a swim, and you can split your time on land between the nostalgic amusement arcades, and exploring the fascinating Ramsgate Tunnels, which housed the town’s residents during The Blitz.
🚂 Trains to Ramsgate run from Victoria, Charing Cross and King’s Cross St. Pancras and take around 105-110 minutes.
5. Whitstable
Whitstable is synonymous with one thing above all others: oysters. The town’s famed rock oysters can be sampled year-round from any number of restaurants around town, but The Lobster Shack has a reputation for some of the best.
Those with an aversion to seafood can still enjoy the town’s charms; settle in for a beachside pint at The Old Neptune pub, take an easy meander around Whitstable harbour, or dive into an eclectic range of independent shops hiding in the town’s backstreets.
🚂 Trains to Whitstable run from Victoria and Charing Cross and take around 80 minutes.
6. Dungeness
Another Kent coastal gem here – this time right on the east Kent headland. It’s all about the shingle beach here, which stretches for miles and is a great spot to go walking on and admire the sunset.
Other things to do here include visiting the Grade II-listed Dungeness Lighthouse, tucking in to some award-winning fish and chips and having a pint or two in the area’s two pubs. Sounds good to us!
🚂 There are no direct trains to Dungeness. You’ll have to catch the train to Folkestone and then get the Number 16 bus from there to Hythe. You can then hop aboard the Romney, Hythe and Dymchurch Railway which takes you to Dungeness.
Sussex seaside towns near to London
7. Hastings
Often dubbed the ‘new Brighton’, but a lovely town within its own right, Hastings is home to galleries, independent shops, fresh produce and plenty of references to 1066.
If you’re a history buff, there’s lots to see in the forms of museums and galleries, along with the moody ruins of Hastings Castle. Equally, if a relaxed day on the seaside is what you’re pining for, then this is the place for you.
🚂 Trains to Hastings run from Victoria, Charing Cross and King’s Cross St. Pancras and take around 90-120 minutes.
8. Eastbourne
Eastbourne is endlessly charming with its rockpools, seafront walks, rivers, and its handy proximity to the South Downs National Park. There’s quite a large number of things to get up to in Eastbourne – the more adventurous amongst you can strike out on a walk to picturesque nearby Beachy Head – and as it’s only an hour and a half train journey from London, you really have no excuse.
🚂 Trains to Eastbourne run from Victoria and take around 90 minutes.
9. Rye
We’re cheating a little bit with this one, as Rye actually lies about two miles upriver from the English Channel. Still, since you can drive to the seaside in about ten minutes, we’re going to sneak this outstandingly cute town onto our list.
The much-photographed Mermaid Street seems to have stumbled out of a fairytale, as has its local pub The Mermaid Inn. Nearby Camber Sands is rightfully one of the UK’s best beaches, but we won’t blame you if the endless charms of Rye keep you from seeing it.
🚂 There are no direct trains to Rye so you’ll need to take a train to Ashford International and change platforms there.
10. Brighton
Couldn’t really leave this one out, could we? A favourite weekend getaway for Londoners, Brighton lies just an hour away by train and offers a wealth of delights, starting with the historic Brighton Palace Pier for cheap thrills and fairground rides. A visit to The Lanes for shopping and a tipple at famed gin bar The Gin Tub (130 gins and counting!) is a must, and you should also catch a peek at the exotic Brighton Pavilion before you hope on the train home.
Alternatively, if you plan on staying the night, catching a gig or music night at The Green Door Store is a must – it’s handily placed beneath the train station, for you to stumble bleary-eyed onto a morning train! Check out our handy guide on the best things to do in Brighton here.
🚂 Trains to Brighton run from London Bridge and Victoria and take around an hour.
11. Bexhill-on-Sea
Bexhill-on-Sea has a fascinating history, particularly with regards to music. Bob Marley’s first ever UK gig was at the town’s iconic modernist De La Warr Pavilion, and the likes of Elvis Costello and Patti Smith have also played here. The pavilion remains one of the town’s major attractions, a space for art and expression which offers free exhibitions all year round.
🚂 Trains to Bexhill-on-Sea run from Victoria and take around 105-120 minutes.
12. Worthing
Just 80 minutes by train from central London, Worthing makes for a great day trip, and on top of all the usual seaside fair – sandy beach, fish and chips et al – there are also some great vintage shops and cute cafes here. Head to the Grade II-listed cinema to get an insight into the town’s history.
🚂 Trains to Worthing run from Victoria and London Bridge and take around 80 minutes.
Essex seaside towns near to London
13. Clacton-on-Sea
In the 1950s and 60s, Clacton was another seaside town enjoying a boom in visitors. Whilst time hasn’t been quite so kind to the town in recent years, huge sandy beaches on Clacton seafront and at nearby Jaywick (pictured) still pull in the visitors.
As with any seaside town worth its salt, Clacton Pier offers amusement arcades aplenty, and a pair of historic theatres – Princes Theatre and West Cliff Theatre – provide a steady diet of music, comedy, and theatre.
🚂 Trains to Clacton-on-Sea run from Liverpool Street and take around 85 minutes.
14. Southend
It’s a case of go big or go home in Southend, one of the nearest seaside towns to London. The town itself is home to the longest pleasure pier in the world (a whopping 2.16km in total), which features its own passenger railway. The Sea Life Adventure aquarium and Adventure Island theme park on the seafront should also provide family-friendly fun if you’re planning a day trip with little ‘uns.
🚂 Trains to Southend run from Fenchurch Street and Liverpool Street and take just under an hour.
15. Leigh-on-Sea
Leigh-on-Sea is technically a district of Southend, but it’s got more than enough going on to warrant a separate day trip. Cobbled streets and small independent shops make a lazy meander the best way to see the town (preferably with an ice cream in hand), and if you’re visiting in June, be sure to check out the Leigh Folk Festival.
It’s the UK’s biggest free folk festival, and brings a parade of musicians, storytellers, and poets to the town each summer.
🚂 Trains to Leigh-on-Sea run from Fenchurch Street and take around 70 minutes.
16. Walton-on-the-Naze
There’s something about Essex and massive piers, because Walton-on-the-Naze is second only to Southend in the ‘longest pier in England’ sweepstakes. It’s far from the town’s only attraction, though, as one could also climb the Tower at the Naze for sweeping views across the Essex countryside and rolling waves.
As you may have guessed, the Naze is quite important around here – for those wondering, it’s the peninsula that hugs the coastline north of the town, and is well worth exploring. There are some excellent walks here.
🚂 There are no direct trains to Walton-on-the-Naze so you’ll need to take a train to Thorpe-le-Soken and change platforms there.
17. Mersea Island
Ok, we’re definitely cheating now by listing an entire island, but Mersea is an excellent spot for a day trip, and not just for the colourful beach huts that line the shore. An excellent day trip to the seaside from London, the beaches at this coastal town are excellent, and the island boasts its own vineyard, nature reserve, and oyster fishery. The only peril here is being cut off from the mainland when the tide comes in, so do plan your visit with a little care!
🚂 There are no direct trains to Mersea. You’ll either have to hop on the train to Colchester and change to a bus there or drive.
18. Manningtree
Rounding off this list of the best seaside towns near London is Manningtree, a charming little spot by the River Stour which is part of the Suffolk Coast and Heaths Area of Natural Beauty. Believed to be the smallest town in England, it’s a cute place which is steeped in history.
Beautiful Georgian streets now play host to independent coffee shops and lovely eateries, and the nearby Wrabness Nature Reserve is a great area to spot birdlife and clear away the cobwebs!
🚂 Trains to Manningtree run from Liverpool Street and take around 60 minutes.
Cornwall seaside towns near-ish to London
19. St Ives
Now, yes okay, this is a bit of cheating as Cornwall is not that near London but hear us out. If you’re willing to make the trip, it is a picturesque seaside haven. Located on the north coast of Cornwall, St Ives is a charming seaside town known for its stunning beaches and vibrant art scene. It’s got the colourful fishing boats, sandy beaches, quaint cobblestones – all that makes a perfect postcard photo. Home to beautiful beaches like Porthminster Beach, Porthmeor Beach, and Carbis Bay – expect crystal blue waters and golden sands. While you’re there, nip to the prestigious Tate St Ives gallery and enjoy some art by the sea!
🚂 Trains to St Ives run from London Paddington and take around 5.5 hours.
20. Falmouth
Situated on the south coast of Cornwall, Falmouth is another stunning vibrant seaside town seeped with maritime history. With a beautiful harbour and a town rich with history – it’s the perfect spot for exploration and relaxation. You can visit the National Maritime Museum Cornwall and the historic Pendennis Castle, built by Henry VIII with stunning views over Fal Estuary. Not to forget Gyllyngvase Beach, one of Falmouth’s most popular beaches, known for its clean waters and Blue Flag status.
🚂 Trains to Falmouth run from London Paddington and take around 4.5 hours.
So there you have it – a rundown of the best seaside towns near London for you to get out and about and breathe in all that sweet sea air. Why not escape the big city smoke and *ahem* sea for yourself? Sorry…