Heading to the beach this summer? We love a day at the seaside and we know you do too, with train travel to some of our favourite beach destinations on the rise already this year.
But which one to go to? With so many beautiful beaches across the UK, it can be hard to choose. That's why our travel experts have been doing the hard work so you don't have to. We've handpicked each beach based on a number of factors we feel are important for a great day out at the beach. From Blue Flag and Seaside Awards, facilities and activities available nearby, and how easily you can travel there by train, all topped off with our expert knowledge.
So what are you waiting for, check out our list of the 100 best beaches in the UK to visit this summer.
Scoring criteria
- All about the beach
- What type of beach is it?
- Has it won any awards?
- Amenities
- Do lifeguards patrol there?
- Are there toilets nearby?
- Is there a cafe/pub/restaurant nearby?
- Things to do
- Can you do watersports there?
- Is there a pier or promenade?
- Are other activities available?
- How to get there
- Distance from the nearest train station
- Train travel discounts available
Our top 10 beaches in the UK...
1. Margate Main Sands Beach
Margate | Kent | England
Our top spot goes to Margate Main Sands. We think Margate is the kind of British seaside resort all the others are probably a bit jealous of.
As well as holding a Blue Flag Award for many years, this pristine sandy beach has plenty of space for all (even when the tide is in), its own tidal pool, and an array of cafes, restaurants, pubs, and seafood stands nearby for when you get hungry. And let's not forget Dreamland - the vintage theme park with amusements, rides, and events for all ages.
Walking time from the train station to the beach: Around 5 minutes.
2. Cleethorpes Beach
Cleethorpes | Lincolnshire | England
In second place, it's Cleethorpes beach. This vast sandy beach has won both Blue Flag and Seaside Awards, there's a traditional pier where you can enjoy fish and chips with a view and it's also the perfect spot for watersports if you fancy having a go at kite surfing or paddleboarding.
Walking time from the train station to the beach: Just across the road - you couldn't be closer!
3. Saltburn Beach
Saltburn-by-the-Sea | North Yorkshire | England
In third place, it's Saltburn Beach. We love the Victorian charm of Saltburn-by-the-Sea and we think you will too. This sand and shingle beach stretches for eight miles, with a pier and promenade with a range of coffee shops to grab and drink and snack when you're feeling peckish. It's a popular spot for surfers and swimmers too, and you can't visit without a trip on the Cliff Lift - a funicular railway that travels up and down the steep 120ft cliff overlooking the beach.
Walking time from the train station to the beach: Around 5 minutes.
4. Teignmouth Beach
Teignmouth | Devon | England
This long, sandy beach has us dreaming of balmy days by the seaside with family. Perfect for a spot of surfing or swimming, there's plenty of space on this beach for sunbathers and sandcastle builders alike. The Victorian Pier is home to a lovely cafe, and all the traditional amusements you could ask for - so get your 2ps ready! There's also crazy golf and a playpark nearby if you fancy doing something a little more active.
Walking time from the train station to the beach: Around 5 minutes.
5. Paignton Sands Beach
Paignton | Devon | England
If you're looking for a classic day out or weekend away at the seaside, Paignton Sands doesn't disappoint. From the mile of beautiful soft red sand to the pier full of amusement and arcade games, and not forgetting nearby crazy golf, food kiosks, and funfair in the summer, this beach has it all. Plus the shallow sea here is perfect for a paddle!
Walking time from the train station to the beach: Around 5 minutes.
6. Troon Beach
Troon | South Ayrshire | Scotland
The sandy bay of Troon Beach is one of the best in Scotland. Popular with holidaymakers and watersports enthusiasts alike, the esplanade has a buzz about it and is the perfect place to enjoy fish and chips or an ice-cream whilst taking in the breathtaking views of the Isle of Arran across the way, and the waves and wind bring windsurfers here from all over.
Walking time from the train station to the beach: Around 5 minutes across the town.
7. Blackpool Beach
Blackpool | Lancashire | England
Probably one of the most famous seaside resorts in the UK, Blackpool has been a favourite summer day out for Brits for years. It's sandy beaches boast not one, not two, not three piers full of activities and cafes, and we think this is the perfect spot for a bracing dip in the sea. And of course, you'll never run of things to do here, from the Pleasure Beach to the Blackpool Tower to the SEAlife centre, Blackpool has it all.
Walking time from the train station to the beach: Around 5 minutes.
8. Dawlish Warren Beach
Dawlish Warren | Devon | England
Tucked away on the south coast of Devon, Dawlish Warren Beach has boasted the Blue Flag award for 23 consecutive years. This vast sandy beach offer great surfing, sheltered sand dunes, cafes, amusements, rides, and go-karts to name just a few activities. If you fancy setting up camp, beach huts are available to hire daily or weekly too.
Walking time from the train station to the beach: Around 5 minutes.
9. Whitby beach
Whitby | Yorkshire | England
This famous northern seaside resort is always a favourite with our travel experts. Whitby's sandy beach stretches for miles and is great for a round of beach cricket or rounders, and there are plenty of rockpools to explore as well. You'll want to get a snap of the colourful beach huts lining the promenade, and if you fancy a go at surfing, Whitby Surf School offer lessons or paddleboard hire.
Walking time from the train station to the beach: Around 10 minutes.
10. Dovercourt Beach
Dovercourt | Essex | England
A stroll along the promenade at Dovercourt will leave you feeling relaxed and refreshed. This sand and shingle beach in the east of Essex is relatively quiet, which makes it perfect for those who prefer their beaches less crowded. There's a cafe nearby, and of course the iconic Dovercourt Range Lights - two cast-iron lighthouses that line up on the beach and off-shore.
Walking time from the train station to the beach: Around 10/15 minutes across the town.
Which other beaches made the top 100?
The other 90 are fantastic places to go too; you can be sure of good rail links, a very clean and attractive beach, and usually very good facilities too. Rather than describe them all here, here's the list - do click through to individual beach pages to see live train times at the nearest station, a map for walking routes, and all the kind of accessibility and facility info for that railway station you'll need.
Remember, you can book a cheap train ticket to the station from anywhere in Britain with Trainline - we're not tied to one specific train operator.
11 to 25
| 11. Barmouth Beach | Gwynedd | Wales |
| 12. Chalkwell Beach | Essex | England |
| 13. Torre Abbey Sands Beach | Devon | England |
| 14. Prestwick Beach | South Ayrshire | Scotland |
| 15. Filey Beach | North Yorkshire | England |
| 16. Weymouth Beach | Dorset | England |
| 17. Viking Beach | Kent | England |
| 18. Clacton Beach | Essex | England |
| 19. Walton-on-the-Naze Beach | Essex | England |
| 20. Lytham St Anne's Beach | Lancashire | England |
| 21. Broughty Ferry Beach | Dundee | Scotland |
| 22. Carbis Bay Beach | Cornwall | England |
| 23. Cromer Beach | Norfolk | England |
| 24. Gyllyngvase Beach | Cornwall | England |
| 25. Morecambe Beach | Lancashire | England |
26 to 40
| 26. Redcar Beach | North Yorkshire | England |
| 27. North Berwick Beach | East Lothian | Scotland |
| 28. Aberdeen Beach | Aberdeen City | Scotland |
| 29. St Ives Porthminster Beach | Cornwall | England |
| 30. Minnis Bay Beach | Kent | England |
| 31. North Bay Beach | North Yorkshire | England |
| 32. Tywyn Beach | Gwynedd | Wales |
| 33. Lowestoft South Beach | Norfolk | England |
| 34. Bognor Regis Beach | West Sussex | England |
| 35. Aberystwyth Beach | Ceredigion | Wales |
| 36. Sheringham Beach | Norfolk | England |
| 37. Preston Sands Beach | Devon | England |
| 38. Boscombe Beach | Bournemouth | England |
| 39. West Runton Beach | Norfolk | England |
| 40. Girvan Beach | West Scotland | Scotland |
41 to 55
| 41. Llandudno North Shore Beach | North Wales | Wales |
| 42. Seaton Carew Beach | North East | England |
| 43. Wallasey Beach | North West | England |
| 44. St Leonards Beach | East Sussex | England |
| 45. St Ives Porthmeor Beach | Cornwall | England |
| 46. Bridlington South Beach | Yorkshire | England |
| 47. Skegness Beach | Skegness | England |
| 48. St Mildred's Bay Beach | Kent | England |
| 49. Dawlish Town Beach | Devon | England |
| 50. Kinghorn Beach | Kinghorn | Scotland |
| 51. Worthing Beach | South East | England |
| 52. Herne Bay Beach | Kent | England |
| 53. Shoebury East Beach | Essex | England |
| 54. Burntisland Beach | Burntisland | Scotland |
| 55. Monifieth Beach | Monifieth | Scotland |
56 to 70
| 56. Prestatyn Beach | North Wales | Wales |
| 57. Tenby Castle Beach | South Wales | Wales |
| 58. Silver Sands Beach | Aberdour | Scotland |
| 59. Arbroath Beach | Arbroath | Scotland |
| 60. Nairn Beach | Highlands | Scotland |
| 61. Weston-super-Mare Beach | Weston-super-Mare | England |
| 62. Carnoustie Beach | Carnoustie | Scotland |
| 63. Ardrossan South Beach | Ardrossan | Scotland |
| 64. Littlehampton East Beach | South East | England |
| 65. Southend Beach | Southend | England |
| 66. Ramsgate Main Beach | Kent | England |
| 67. Tankerton Beach | Kent | England |
| 68. Brighton Beach | South East | England |
| 69. Barry Island Beach | South Wales | Wales |
| 70. Towan Beach | Cornwall | England |
71 to 85
| 71. Great Western Beach | Cornwall | England |
| 72. Colwyn Bay Beach | North Wales | Wales |
| 73. Exmouth Beach | Devon | England |
| 74. Tolcarne Beach | Cornwall | England |
| 75. Bell Wharf Beach | Essex | England |
| 76. Stonehaven Beach | North East | Scotland |
| 77. Sheerness Beach | Kent | England |
| 78. Seascale Beach | Cumbria | England |
| 79. Southport Beach | North West | England |
| 80. Brora Beach | Highlands | Scotland |
| 81. Thorpe Bay Beach | Essex | England |
| 82. Bridlington North Beach | East Riding of Yorkshire | England |
| 83. West Kirby Beach | Wirral Peninsula | England |
| 84. South Bay Beach | North Yorkshire | England |
| 85. Bexhill Beach | East Sussex | England |
86 to 100
| 86. Westcliff Beach | Essex | England |
| 87. Fistral Beach | Cornwall | England |
| 88. Ayr Beach | South Ayrshire | Scotland |
| 89. Hastings Beach | East Sussex | England |
| 90. Seaford Beach | East Sussex | England |
| 91. Rhyl Beach | Denbighshire | Wales |
| 92. Aberavon Beach | Neath Port Talbot | Wales |
| 93. Criccieth Beach | Gwynedd | Wales |
| 94. Montrose Beach | Angus | Scotland |
| 95. Frinton Beach | Essex | England |
| 96. Felixstowe Beach | Suffolk | England |
| 97. Bulverhythe Beach | East Sussex | England |
| 98. Barassie Beach | South Ayrshire | Scotland |
| 99. Livermead Sands Beach | Devon | England |
| 100. Thurso Beach | Highlands | Scotland |
Top tips for booking cheap train tickets to the beach
Travel Off-Peak
Find out more about Off-Peak train times.
Use a Railcard
Buy your digital Railcard online today.
Book in Advance
Learn more about Advance train tickets.
Split your tickets
Find out more about split train tickets.
Check for offers
View the latest train deals and discounts.
Discover inspirational travel guides
Want some more inspiration for your next day out at the beach? Check out our travel guides to beaches around the UK:
10 of the best beaches near London by train
Top 10 beaches you can reach in the UK by train
London to Camber Sands by train
Escape to the East Coast by high-speed rail
Find out more about train travel in the UK
So now you know where to head on your next trip to the beach, why not see what else the UK has to offer by train? Our detailed guides to travel around the UK, ticket types, and where to go this summer have all the info you need to plan your next getaway by train.