Find the Best Beaches Near London by Train

Head to the beach from London

As summer approaches, it's time to escape the city and embrace the sun, sand, and sea. If you're travelling from London, St. Pancras International is a convenient starting point for exciting seaside day trips. Forget about the hassle of driving and parking; simply hop on a direct train from St. Pancras and set off on an unforgettable coastal adventure. Join us as we explore the top 5 best seaside destinations that you can easily reach by train this summer.

BRIGHTON

With so many things to see and do in Brighton, it can be tricky to know where to start! Brighton is a colourful, cosmopolitan, cultural and vibrant city with plenty of great places to shop, eat and see.

The Brighton Lanes is a seaside shopper's paradise filled with independent shops and unique boutiques, it's definitely a must-see for those visiting the city. Other highlights include The Royal Pavilion, Sea Life Centre and of course the famous Brighton Palace Pier.

Getting to Brighton from St. Pancras is as easy as hopping on a Thameslink train and taking the 1 hour 17 minutes journey. 

Photo by Ben Guerin on Unsplash

WHITSTABLE

Whitstable is another coastal gem easily accessible via Southeastern's high speed services from St. Pancras. Famous for its oysters but there is much more to discover and enjoy in this pretty Kent seaside town. Whitstable is also famous for its thriving arts community and is one of Kent's most picturesque towns with something to inspire and delight all tastes. Pretty Harbour Street has a real energy and buzz about it, enjoy a stroll and browse the independent shops and boutiques, take time to grab a coffee in one of the many cafes and restaurants and soak up the atmosphere.

This English seaside town has a beautiful coastline with a very traditional feel with candy coloured beach huts, weatherboard cottages and fishing boats. The beaches are pebbly, but the sea is calm and perfect for paddle boarding or sailing.

High speed trains from St Pancras International to Whitstable takes around 1 hour 15 minutes. The station is less than 10 minutes to the beach.

BROADSTAIRS

Take the high speed train to Broadstairs to enjoy the charm of a seaside spot that was a favourite of Charles Dickens. Broadstairs is a charming, quintessential Kent seaside town with a relaxed, family-friendly feel. You can enjoy not just one, but seven stunning beaches and bays – one for each day of the week if you wanted to stay – two have Blue Flags and two have Seaside Awards.

Crescent-shaped Viking Bay is the town’s main bay, with a pretty harbour. Joss Bay is known as a surfer’s paradise, whilst the chalk stacks at Botany Bay and the arch at Kingsgate Bay are always in demand with keen photographers. They’re worth the walk if you’re feeling energetic.

High speed trains to Broadstairs from St. Pancras International take 1 hour 21 minutes.

 

FAVERSHAM

Located on a winding creek in the heart of the Garden of England, this picturesque market town is recorded in the Domesday Book and has over 300 listed buildings recording Faversham’s past. It's home to Shepherd Neame, Britain’s oldest brewer which has been brewing on the site for centuries. Producing in excess of 60 million pints annually, Shepherd Neame is an independent family business known for its traditional Kentish ales. Much of the south of Faversham is in the North Downs Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty, while to the north are nature reserves and Sites of Special Scientific Interest. Faversham is a great destination for walking and seeing some of the county's stunning scenery.

Great for a day trip from London, you can reach Faversham from St. Pancras International in just 1 hour 5 minutes on Southeastern's high speed service.

MARGATE

This charming but contemporary seaside resort is in the middle of an exciting renaissance thanks to its mix of relaxation and art. It’s the perfect weekend getaway for overworked Londoners, with gorgeous sandy beaches, the iconic Dreamland, a cool café culture, and a thriving arts scene. The vast sandy beach is less than five minutes’ walk from the train station and the first thing you see as you turn left towards the town.

Margate is packed with interesting vintage shops and vibrant art galleries including, Turner Contemporary. One of the UK’s leading art galleries, it is situated on the seafront on the same site where JMW Turner stayed when visiting the town. The gallery presents a rolling programme of temporary exhibitions and world class art.

There are frequent high speed trains to Margate from London, which take around 1 hour 30 minutes.