Beaches in Sussex: Where to Go, When to Visit & What to Expect

Discover the best beaches across Sussex, from sand dunes at Camber Sands in the East to traditional seaside resorts like Bognor Regis in the West. Whether you’re looking for family-friendly beaches, safe swimming areas, or quieter coastal escapes, this guide helps you plan your visit with practical tips, seasonal advice, and local insights.

Sussex has 140 miles of coastline to explore and a UNESCO Biosphere, so if you are looking for escaping in nature there is no better place to discover an abundance of marine life and coastal habitats. We ask that visitors to our stunning coast respect and protect the area and observe local signage and guidance in national parks or nature reserves.

During the summer months, the sandy beaches at West Wittering and Camber Sands although beautiful are often crowded, so ensure you book in advance or read our guides to finding lesser-known beaches to escape the crowds.

A visit to the beach during Autumn is great for making the most of the stunning Sussex coastal paths and some beaches have dog-friendly access during the quieter months.

Best Sandy beaches

West Wittering, Camber Sands and West Beach in Littlehampton are all renowned for their Sand dunes and wide expanse of sandy beach.

A lone traveller walks to the beach at East Head sand dunes in Sussex

Best for Families

Bognor Regis, Eastbourne and Hastings offer safe family-friendly beaches with activities and kids wristbands

Best for Swimming

Shoreham by Sea, Seaford and Bexhill on Sea offer the perfect backdrops for sea swimming.

A group walking in front of multi colour beach huts in Sussex

Best for Watersports

Centres including Littlehampton, Camber Sands and Bracklesham Bay offer Watersports hire and lessons.

Choose the perfect beach for you

From 140 miles of coastline and seaside towns to choose from, here is a guide to finding the right beach for your seaside escape in Sussex.

Littlehampton Splash Park at West Green in Sussex

Family friendly beaches in Sussex

Sussex is the perfect family seaside destination. There are 5 Blue Flag beaches in Sussex, awarded in 2025 for bathing quality and safety.

For a traditional seaside day out and plenty of entertainment for the kids, award-winning Littlehampton is the perfect beach for all the family. The newly developed West Green has a splash park as well as picnic areas. Nearby Bognor Regis has a long promenade and pier. A free child wristband service is on offer between Easter to September and is run by a beach patrol who also offer first aid and safety information.

Hastings is a great location for a family day out at the beach, with plenty of spots to set up for the day and activities including the popular Crazy Golf. At Pelham beach, each area is zoned with a different character and landmark making it easy for children to find their bearings. Further along the coast, Bexhill on Sea is a traditional but quieter seaside town, with 2 miles of gentle sloping beach with lifeguards on patrol in the Summer.

Eastbourne is a popular family friendly seaside resort, with 3 miles of shingle beach, deckchairs for hire and beach huts for annual rent. The main family friendly Eastbourne Seafront beach between Wish Tower and the Pier has lifeguards on duty, first aid and a kids wristband scheme.

Quiet and Hidden beaches

Tide Mills is a hidden coastal village near Newhaven, with a wide stretch of shingle beach in a local nature reserve. There is limited parking and cyclists can use National cycle route 2 which follows the coast along to Seaford beach, which is also quiet and connects to the famous landscapes of Seven Sisters.

Shoreham by sea is situated along the coast from it's busier neighbour, Brighton and Hove. There's a peaceful shingle beach which is also popular for watersports and is part of a designated Local Nature Reserve. Nearby Worthing and Lancing beaches are family-friendly and less busy than other well known seaside spots.

Bracklesham Bay is the quieter neighbour to popular Selsey and West Witterings near Chichester. It's a popular spot for Surfers and sea swimmers, with stunning views to the Isle of Wight. There is a beach Sauna here as well as The Beach Cafe and Surf school. There is a small public car park, but bus route 52 runs from Chichester.

A shingle beach with red bench

Accessible Beach Hut Littlehampton - a yellow beach hut with double opening doors and a decking area accessed via a ramp.

Accessible Beaches

The beach at Littlehampton has many accessible areas, including Changing Places facilities, accessible beach huts to hire and beach wheelchairs are available in the summer months. Visitors can plan ahead by using the East Beach AccessAble Guide.

Worthing and Hastings beaches also have beach wheelchairs available to hire during the Summer months and the seafront at Eastbourne has a promenade with accessible toilet facilities.

A full list of accessible beaches in Sussex is available on our Accessible Sussex page.

Bognor Regis & Littlehampton

Yachts moored on the river at Littlehampton harbour, with riverside apartments on the opposite side

Hastings & surrounding

Shingle beach and fishing boat in Hastings Old Town, with cliffside lift in the background

Brighton & Hove

Brighton pier at low tide with the sun rising in the background

Worthing & surrounding

Group of people enjoying a BBQ on the beach at Worthing, with a view of Worthing Pier

Beach Safety

Always check the tide times and weather before you travel to check conditions
Observe any warning flags on the beach to check whether it is safe to swim before you enter the water
Choose a beach with Lifeguards on duty - you can search using the RNLI website
Join an organised group or lesson when taking part in Watersports

Read more in our Safety in the Water guide

Visiting Sussex beaches responsibly

Nothing beats a day at the Sussex seaside, but in the summer months and during hot weather the beaches can become overcrowded. Avoid the most popular areas such as West Wittering or Camber Sands where space is limited and parking tickets must be booked in advance.

Some beaches have limited parking, so it is best to travel by public transport where possible, with most main seaside towns on the Southern Rail network. Many beaches in Sussex are also linked by Cycle Route Network 2 or the King Charles III England's Coast Path, so you can walk or cycle where possible.