Closest beaches to ED?

[sillywoman]

Which are the easiest beaches to get to for a day out? I'm thinking golden sands rather than tidal mudflats . . .

[candj]

Camber Sands near to Rye/Hastings in East Sussex. It actually has huge sand dunes. The hotel across the street has a nice restaurant, as well, for lunch or dinner.

[Peckhamgatecrasher]

Broadstairs, Kent is good.

[SeanMacGabhann]

Spent a couple of days in Camber Sands recently - had a great time. But nearest beaches to ED?? I don't think so . takes about 2 hours to get there

Southend and Brighton are nearest in terms of journey time - both about an hour from main stations. Sufficiently different to offer choice as well

[ruffers]

Whitstable?

[Ann]

Brighton probably the easiest if going by train, direct from Victoria and London Bridge. But Brighton is a pebble beach, not sure about Southend although I have been there years ago. Might be a bit nippy time of year though.

[Ko]

broadstairs. leave by 9am at the weekend and it takes an hour and a half (get the A2 thru peckham/new cross/blackheath rather than south circular). lovely sandy beaches.

by train you can go from peckham rye - change at bromley south for the broadstairs connection.

lots of cafes, restaurants, shops, ice cream places etc.

[intexasatthe moment]

Herne Bay ?

[silverfox]

Forgive me but ... why do people respond to stupid threads like this?

In the age of the internet sillywoman could have found answers within a couple of minutes. Instead well-meaning people are directing her to well-known stony beaches?

It's a bit like the 'weekend in Paris', 'Weekend in Barcelona' advice threads - ie an excuse for people to show off by saying 'I've been there'

Wise up!

[SteveT]

Forgive me but ... why do people respond to stupid threads like this?

Because like you Foxy we haven't got a life, okay!

[silverfox]

Fair enough

Ps you still owe me for your aborted thread

[HAL9000]

There's a nice little beach at Ruislip Lido in North West Greater London.

Attractions include:

rowing boats

motor boats

paddle boats

children's playground

a beach

swimming (not recommended)

miniature railway

water skiing

dinghy sailing

[lozzyloz]

On the beach - Southbank

[vinceayre]

Minnis Bay near St Leonards in Kent

[indiepanda]

SeanMacGabhann Wrote:

-------------------------------------------------------

> Southend and Brighton are nearest in terms of

> journey time - both about an hour from main

> stations. Sufficiently different to offer choice

> as well

Southend itself doesn't have much of a beach - narrow strip but not much more and not that sandy. There's a small sandy area down at Leigh-on-sea - and a couple of nice pubs too - well, nicer than anything you'll find in Southend by the sea front anyway. Think it's a bit more sandy down at Shoeburyness than Southend, though there isn't anything else much there in terms of facilities.

Not sure how good the water quality is these days - when I was a teenager they built a sewage pipe taking the sewage out into the estuary and the water quality often didn't meet EU minimum standards, put me right off swimming there when I reas the detail (we studied it for a geography project at school). But then, it is a long while since I was a teenager, they may have cleaned up their act since then.

[HonaloochieB]

There are at least two in Carshalton.

[chicknic]

Where's St Leonards? I grew up in Minnis Bay (near Birchington). Never heard of St Leonards, if you're referring to the same place. Minnis Bay is lovely though, my mum and her friends have a beach hut there :-)

vinceayre Wrote:

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> Minnis Bay near St Leonards in Kent

[DaveR]

Botany Bay between Margate and Broadstairs

[HonaloochieB]

Under the pavement, the beach.

[sillywoman]

Thanks Guys, some brilliant suggestions. We went to Whitstable (cos never been), then Herne Bay (pebbly) and on to Reculver Roman Fort. I wanted to go to Botany Bay, but was a beach too far for us. Will have to save for another day along with some of the other recommendations.

[vinceayre]

Oops its actually St Nicholas at Wade I meant.

Fantastic knickerbockerglorys at the ice cream parlour, well they were in the seventies anyway.

Vince

[viclee]

Spain

[chicknic]

Indeed it is, I went to St Nic's primary school. And yes the ice cream parlour in Birchington is great, and it's still there!

vinceayre Wrote:

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> Oops its actually St Nicholas at Wade I meant.

>

> Fantastic knickerbockerglorys at the ice cream

> parlour, well they were in the seventies anyway.

>

> Vince

[womanofdulwich]

oh but the ice cream parlour in Birchington has been made over, no LLoyd loom chairs, no kitsch.

[Nicholas]

Whistable and Broadstairs are my favourites. In a car head towards A2/M2 its quite well signed. Whistable about 75min from ED,

traffic permiting, nice fish restaurant there. Broadstairs about 20min further,nice beach and fab ice cream parlur on the front. On the way back you can stop off at Bluwater for a little shopping. Do you have a Sat Nav?

Good luck.