A heatwave has officially hit, causing temperature records across the Southeast to tumble. If you don’t fancy paddling in the shadow of a skyscraper, then a trip to the coast may be in order
Oh, we do love to be beside the seaside.
Particularly during a week like this week. Temperature records are tumbling all over the place as the El Niño fired weather front looks set to push the mercury through the previous June record towards the 40°C mark.
For those who aren’t content sitting next to a fan in a shady room, the scorching-hot weather provides the perfect excuse to head to a body of water for a dip.
One choice is London’s new waterside wellness destination, Sea Lanes Canary Wharf, which opened to the public at the end of last week. The six-lane natural water pool is the first of its kind in the capital, complete with saunas powered by 100% renewable energy, and a clubhouse. The 50-metre-long, 12-metre-wide pool has six lanes, perfect for getting some lengths in before work.
If you don’t fancy paddling in the shadow of a skyscraper, then a trip to the coast may be in order.
Happily, student accommodation provider Chapter has put together a list of the best beaches that can be reached from London, in a ranking that considers travel time from the Capital, beach rating, water quality, average summer temperatures and train ticket cost.
At the top of the pile is Whitstable’s Tankerton Beach, which Chapter named “the best-value beach day trip from London. It stands out for excellent water quality, cheap return trains (£24.50), and mild summer temperatures (around 17°C).”
Tankerton is a predominantly shingle beach backed by the famous Tankerton Slopes, a wide expanse of green lawns that gently rise above the shoreline, making it one of the most popular picnic spots in Whitstable.
The old-fashioned shingle beach has wooden groynes and pretty multi-coloured beach huts, backed by a promenade and gentle grassy slopes that are perfect for children to play on. It offers a quieter, more spacious alternative to Whitstable’s main beach, while still delivering excellent sea views.
The star feature is a remarkable natural phenomenon. At low tide, it’s possible to walk right out to sea on a natural causeway known as The Street. It’s one of the most photographed spots on the north Kent coast.
The calm seas make it well-liked for swimming and canoeing, and paddleboarders frequently visit to explore the bay’s shallow, serene waters.
The path behind the beach is a popular walking and cycling route that ultimately takes you all the way to Herne Bay and beyond, as I discovered during a particularly chilly ride earlier this year.
If you don’t make it down on the train, then visitors can enjoy free on-street parking at the top of Tankerton Slopes, and there are also nearby pay-and-display options. Dogs are banned from the beach itself between May and September, though they’re welcome on the promenade on a lead.
Ten best beaches close to London
(Beach, destination, time from London via the train, train ticket cost)
- Tankerton Beach: Whitstable · 1h 57m · £24.50
- Southend-on-Sea Beach: Southend-on-Sea · 1h 35m · £28.60
- Whitstable Beach: Whitstable · 1h 57m · £24.50
- Herne Bay Beach: Herne Bay · 2h 04m · £44.50
- Joss Bay: Broadstairs · 2h 16m · £36.40
- Ramsgate Main Sands Ramsgate · 1h 53m · £44.70
- Brighton Beach: Brighton · 1h 07m · £36.20
- Botany Bay: Broadstairs · 2h 16m · £36.40
- Hove Beach: Hove · 1h 19m · £74.10
- Camber Sands: Camber · 1h 57m · £37.50
