Brilliant British beaches by train

Squeeze those last drops of summer and hop on the rails for a day (or more) to one of the many beautiful beaches around the UK. We’ve rounded up some faves as inspiration. Grab your ticket through Seatfrog – and don’t forget to treat yourself to a lovely upgrade.   

Bamburgh

Nearest station: Berwick-Upon-Tweed

This absolute cracker of a beach has deservedly been voted the best seaside destination in the UK four years in a row. You might expect this to mean it gets terrifyingly overrun, but no – the vast swathes of sand have space for everyone, and you never feel crowded. The beach is absolutely pristine, and the added drama of Bamburgh castle towering over it just makes it ever more spectacular.

If you tire of messing about in the dunes, you can head up to visit the castle. In fact, you may recognise it from various big-budget movies, including Indiana Jones and the Dial of Destiny. There’s also a lovely RNLI museum dedicated to Grace Darling, and – of course – incredible spots to enjoy seafood, like The Potted Lobster. A reet canny day out.

Credit: @leonelliott83

Barry Island

Nearest station: Barry Island

Yes, that Barry Island. Made famous by Gavin & Stacey, this Welsh town is a fantastic family seaside spot, with five (count ‘em) beaches to choose from.

You can go proper old-school and build sandcastles, play crazy golf, ride the fairground rides, and visit the amusement arcade at Whitmore Bay, or get a bit more quiet and secluded at Jackson’s Bay. Nearby, Cold Knap Beach, Porthkerry County Park, and Romilly Park all have lovely parks and promenades right on the sea.

Naturally, you can also tour all the filming spots from Gavin & Stacey – even riding on Dave’s Coach. Or you can pose with a life-size mural of the cast at Marco’s Café. Tidy.

Credit: @Kagsmb

St Andrews

Nearest station: Leuchars

If you’re a golfer, you’ll know St Andrews for its world-famous golf courses. It’s also home to the university where Prince William met Kate Middleton, beautiful medieval buildings, historic ruins, and an absolutely incredible beach.

With a huge two miles of uninterrupted sand, backed by dunes and the golf course, West Sands is just a 15 minute stroll from the town centre. If it looks familiar, it’s because it’s where the famous beach running scene from Chariots of Fire was filmed. This beach is brilliant for people with accessibility needs, too – a wonderful foundation lend free beach wheelchairs, so everyone can enjoy the sand.

Of course, you can’t have a beach day without ice cream. Don’t leave without a scoop or three from Jannettas Gelateria – run by five generations of the same Italian family for more than 100 years.

Credit: @ei.dreamer

Weymouth

Nearest station: Weymouth

A blue-flag sandy beach in Dorset, Weymouth has been welcoming families for wholesome seaside holidays for generations. It’s a gently sloping, sheltered bay, meaning super-safe swimming and water sports for everyone. There’s a kids fairground, donkey rides, pedalos, and even Punch & Judy shows. Set up a windbreak, grab a deckchair, and settle in for a sandy-salty-sunny day of family fun.

During the summer, there’s a Sand Sculpture Festival, with properly impressive creations on display. If you can bear to leave the fun of the beach, Weymouth is also a picturesque harbour town with lots of historic spots to explore. To round off a proper British beach day, get fish and chips from Marlboro – a traditional spot with the best batter in town.

Credit: @jennifleurlou

Camber Sands

Nearest station: Rye

Behind some great big sand dunes – the only dunes in East Sussex, in fact – is a sandy beach stretching for a humungous five miles. It’s such a huge expanse of sand, in fact, its stood in for the Sahara Desert in the Carry On film Follow that Camel. So no worries about tussling for space here. The position of the beach and the shallow water lends itself perfectly to various watersports, so if you’ve been thinking of giving windsurfing or kitesurfing a go, this is your spot. Oh, and pack a windbreaker for lying on the beach – just in case.

There’s not a lot in Camber itself – the beach is the big draw – but the boutique Gallivant hotel across from the dunes is perfect for a cold gin and tonic and a romantic post-beach dinner. Or head into quaint Rye to meander the pretty cobbled streets, and grab an incomparable hot chocolate from the original Knoops.

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