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There’s nothing like summer weather to make you yearn for the feeling of sand between your toes and a coastal breeze in your hair. There are few feelings better than cooling down with a salty dip, followed by an ice cream watching the waves.
Which is why, each year, Time Out creates a ranking of the British seaside towns we’re most looking forward to visiting over the summer months. Old school resort towns and buzzy villages up and down the country are included in the list, which in 2026 featured a total of 16 seaside spots.
Unsurprisingly, many of the 2026 entries are also easily accessible from the capital. In fact, almost half are less than 90 minutes from the Big Smoke. If that’s not reason enough to grab your shades and pack a swimming cozzie, we don’t know what is.
While top spot on this year’s best seaside towns list went to Saundersfoot in Pembrokeshire, the silver medal was awarded to Hastings and St Leonards. Located in East Sussex, the sister towns are just an hour and a half on the train from London, making them perfect for a day trip or weekend getaway.
Just 20 minutes apart on foot, Hastings and St Leonards-on-Sea have everything you could want from a quick coastal refresh, renowned art galleries, stellar antique emporiums and a burgeoning restaurant scene included.
Ella Doyle, Time Out’s Europe editor, said that St Leonards is a particularly delightful spot for foodies. She wrote: ‘There’s a reason so many Londoners moved to St Leonards-On-Sea during lockdown – it’s a cracking day out from the Big Smoke for beachside drinks and a tonne of great food spots.
‘Head to food market Heist (basically a much nicer version of Boxpark) for orange wine and street food, then sink pints at Goat Ledge, a vibey, colourful shack right on the beach. If you fancy splashing out a little, book dinner at the fabulously old-school St Clement’s for white tablecloths and delicious seafood.’
How to get to Hastings and St Leonards from London
Luckily, the seaside sister towns are easily accessible from the capital. The drive takes around two hours from central London via the A21.
If the train is more your speed, you can hop on from Charring Cross, London Bridge or St Pancras and be staring at the sea in under two hours.
The best seaside towns near London
Here’s a map of the best seaside spots to visit near the city this summer.
Did you see that this Sussex coast is the best beach near London this summer?
Plus: the 17 best places in London to stay cool in the heatwave.
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