Beaches in the UK

Family-friendly beaches and seaside spots for sand, paddling and coastal exploring.

The coast here means more than sand. Black Rock Sands in North Wales is one you can drive onto and park up on, with rock pools to poke about in, clear sea and mountains standing behind it. Dungeness Lighthouse pairs wide views over the Kent coast with a beach to explore below it. Lower Leas Coastal Park costs nothing and puts the beach at the end of the visit. Talacre Beach, West Kirby Marine Lake and Vale Park are listed here as well. Not every entry is a stretch of open shore. Harbour Park sits directly on Littlehampton beach, with rollercoasters and family rides, water rides and bumper boats, adventure golf, arcades, soft play and a pirate escape room. There is convenient parking and food on site, which matters on a long day. Inland towns build their own versions each summer. Oldham Summer Beach lays out 100 square metres of decking, then fills it with kiddies and mega inflatables, fairground rides, tribute acts and a powder-paint colour blast, with unlimited bounce wristbands to buy. Merseyway runs a free version, handing out deckchairs and buckets and spades alongside small rides, food and drinks, and adds themed events on Fridays.