‘Dramatic and iconic’: Why this Sussex coast is the best beach near London this summer

With scorching summer temperatures forecast for the next week, we’re sure you’re craving a nice cold dip. One of London’s many lovely lidos could do the trick, but nothing quite beats heading to the beach to cool off in the sea. And while London itself may not be on the coast, you don’t have to travel very far to find it. 

Every year Time Out builds a list of the best beaches in the UK to spend your summer at. Of the 40 bays that made the cut this year, five are a short train journey from the capital. The highest ranking of those in the top 40 – placing second overall – is Cuckmere Haven in Sussex. 

You might already know Cuckmere Haven if you’ve ever taken on the Seven Sisters hike, or watched films such as Atonement, A Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy and Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire. Time Out travel writer Liv Kelly remarked that ‘few [coasts] have such dramatic and iconic backdrops as Cuckmere Haven’. 

To one side of the pebble beach are the towering chalk white cliffs, to the other is Seaford Head Nature Reserve. And while many walkers stop by the beach along their coastal trek, it remains relatively untouched. You could base yourself at the beach for a full day of bathing, or simply take a break there in the middle of walking the magnificent Seven Sisters trail (one of our favourite hikes near London). Liv also recommends making a pit stop at the Cuckmere Inn, which you’ll find next to Exceat Bridge, a short climb from the shore. 

If you’re visiting Cuckmere Haven, be prepared to walk a fair bit. The quickest way to get there from London is to catch the train from Clapham Junction to Seaford (changing at Lewes). You’ll get there in a little under two hours, then it’s a 5km walk to the beach itself. Driving takes around two hours and 20 minutes. 

📍 See our top five favourite beaches near London.

🏖️ Explore all 40 of the best beaches in the UK here.

ICYMI: A full-size replica 500-year-old ship will dock in London this summer. 

Plus: Two of Britain’s best gastropubs are in London. 

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