Family-friendly beaches in East Sussex & Kent

Family-friendly beaches in East Sussex & Kent are plentiful. Think vast golden sands, lush sand dunes and wildlife and history to enjoy. From Camber Sands to Dymchurch, Winchelsea to Pett Level, check out Camber Holiday Cottages’ pick of the best family-friendly beaches in Kent & East Sussex to enjoy with your little ones.

Camber Sands

Why is Camber Sands one of the most family-friendly beaches in East Sussex? Firstly, there’s miles of unbroken golden sands and a thrilling sand dune system for little legs to tire themselves out on. At low tide there are plenty of shallow waters to splash in, and at high tide camp in one of the many dunes, they’re perfect for picnics and hide and seek. When the tide goes out it’ll leave plenty of rockpools to play and discover wildlife in. There’s many amenities within easy reach of Camber Sands, not to mention plenty of places to pick up a delicious ice cream. Book a stay right on the beach at the most favourited Airbnb The Blue House or Casa Blanca Beach House.

Family-friendly beaches in East Sussex & Kent: Dymchurch

Another local sandy beach with a wide, flat stretch of sand for great classic bucket and spade action is Dymchurch. Come summer, you might be able to take a trip down memory lane with a classic donkey ride on the beach. For a bit of fun, think candy floss, rides, and penny slot machines pop into the Dymchurch Amusement Park or grab some fish and chips from Beach48. The tide comes all the way in here so it’s best to check the tide times before you travel.

Hythe and Greatstone Beach

Further along the coast, Hythe Beach is pebbly, but has a two-mile promenade, handy for buggies, with places to grab an ice-cream along the way. You could also head inland to walk along the wonderful Royal Military Canal. Greatstone Beach is a good shout for burgeoning nature lovers. Keep an eye out for clouded yellow butterflies, oystercatchers and even seals in the distance.

Family-friendly fun in Folkestone

Sunny Sands in Folkestone is, as the name suggests, a super family-friendly beach in Kent & East Sussex. Erring on the smaller side, the beach is perfect for sandcastle building when the tide goes out, has a clean water rating for swimming and a place for shade in the sunny months under the tunnel archways. Stroll along the brilliantly restored Harbour Arm for a spot of crazy golf and a giant outdoor cinema at the Goods Yard. There’s plenty of street food sellers to tuck into along the Arm and places like the Lighthouse Tasting Room to sate your appetite in. A short hop away is the Lower Leas Coastal Park, home to the largest free play area in the South East and come summer there’s children’s workshops and concerts. In the park’s Fun Zone, there’s a bounty shipwreck, climbing walls, net tunnels, aerial slides and a toddler’s construction area with sand diggers. It’s a great place to take a picnic. 

Winchelsea and Pett Level

With a quality beach award Winchelsea Beach is a stretch of quiet, unspoilt coastline that’s one of the most family-friendly beaches in Kent & East Sussex. Made up mainly of shingle, there are flat areas at high tide, with lots of rock pools to dip into with nets along the lower areas. Keep an eye out for the many species of birds you’ll spot on the sands.

Grab lunch or a takeaway for a picnic at the family-friendly Winchelsea Beach Cafe, there’s ample seating indoor and out, and there’s a children’s menu with plenty of choice.

Between Rye and Hastings, by the towering cliffs of Fairlight Cove, Pett Level Beach is a quiet stretch dotted with wooden groynes to keep the shingle in place. Low tide at Cliff End reveals not only good sandcastle sand but also evidence of an ancient sunken forest that’s thought to be over 6, 000 years old. Check the tide times if you want to be in with a chance of spotting the fossilised remains of the petrified forest. For young minds interested in fossils and history, Pett Level is the perfect spot.

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