Parents News Forum
England’s most family-friendly beach areas to explore this summer
Quote from Penny McCarthy on June 21, 2025, 9:28 am
Beach Location Average max sea temperature (°C) Parking costs for 8 hours Are there watersports facilities? Water quality classification Are there RNLI lifeguards Family- friendly score /10
Sennen Cove Cornwall 14.6 £6.00 No Excellent Yes 9.97 Bude Cornwall 14.2 £10.50 Yes Excellent Yes 9.88 Exmouth Devon 14.1 £10.00 Yes Excellent Yes 9.78 Broadstairs Kent 14.2 £6.50 No Excellent Yes 9.73 Shanklin Beach Isle of Wight 14.1 £12.50 Yes Excellent Yes 9.73 Bournemouth Beach Dorset 14.1 £20.20 Yes Excellent Yes 9.54 Cromer Norfolk 13.3 £16.80 Yes Excellent Yes 9.24 Littlehampton West Sussex 14.3 £13.90 Yes Good Yes 8.77 Brighton Beach East Sussex 14.3 £14.95 Yes Good Yes 8.73 Lyme Regis Dorset 14.1 £15.20 Yes Good Yes 8.49
Sennen Cove is England’s best place for a family beach trip, earning a near perfect score of 9.97. With average sea temperatures of 14.6°C, it’s a great spot for a refreshing family dip, while the wide and sandy beach offers plenty of space for children to play and parents to relax, even during the busy summer months. The mile-long beach is also monitored by RNLI lifeguards throughout the summer, providing families extra peace of mind.
In second place is another Cornish beach, Bude, with an impressive rating of 9.88. Bude has an average sea temperature of 14.2°C and offers watersports facilities. The water has also been classified as ‘excellent’, meaning it is safe to swim in. Bude’s beaches have won the Blue Flag, an internationally recognised award that celebrates great beaches.
Exmouth in Devon rounds off the top three, with a score of 9.78. The beach, which is renowned for its expansive two-mile stretch of golden sands and rock pools, is great for families, with seats and takeaway food outlets dotted along the coastline. It is a ten-minute walk from mainstream train stations and is lifeguarded from May to September. The beach has been marked as having ‘excellent’ water quality, and has a powered craft exclusion zone between Orcombe Point and Maer Rocks, which is marked by yellow buoys.
Natalie Wolfenden, Author and outdoor enthusiast at Millets comments: “England is brimming with gorgeous beaches, from the pebbled Brighton Beach to the sandy shore of Sennen Cove. While a family beach trip is a great way to get children off screens and keep the whole family entertained, preparation is key.
“Make sure you pack all the essentials tailored to your family's needs. If you have younger children or those less confident in the water, packing some armbands can provide some peace of mind, but always keep a close eye when they are near or in the water. Suncream is essential for all the family, while caps and sunglasses offer an extra layer of protection from the sun’s rays. Consider taking a windbreak or beach shelter as a protective barrier against wind for a more comfortable beach experience.”
| Beach | Location | Average max sea temperature (°C) | Parking costs for 8 hours | Are there watersports facilities? | Water quality classification | Are there RNLI lifeguards | Family-
friendly score /10 |
| Sennen Cove | Cornwall | 14.6 | £6.00 | No | Excellent | Yes | 9.97 |
| Bude | Cornwall | 14.2 | £10.50 | Yes | Excellent | Yes | 9.88 |
| Exmouth | Devon | 14.1 | £10.00 | Yes | Excellent | Yes | 9.78 |
| Broadstairs | Kent | 14.2 | £6.50 | No | Excellent | Yes | 9.73 |
| Shanklin Beach | Isle of Wight | 14.1 | £12.50 | Yes | Excellent | Yes | 9.73 |
| Bournemouth Beach | Dorset | 14.1 | £20.20 | Yes | Excellent | Yes | 9.54 |
| Cromer | Norfolk | 13.3 | £16.80 | Yes | Excellent | Yes | 9.24 |
| Littlehampton | West Sussex | 14.3 | £13.90 | Yes | Good | Yes | 8.77 |
| Brighton Beach | East Sussex | 14.3 | £14.95 | Yes | Good | Yes | 8.73 |
| Lyme Regis | Dorset | 14.1 | £15.20 | Yes | Good | Yes | 8.49 |
Sennen Cove is England’s best place for a family beach trip, earning a near perfect score of 9.97. With average sea temperatures of 14.6°C, it’s a great spot for a refreshing family dip, while the wide and sandy beach offers plenty of space for children to play and parents to relax, even during the busy summer months. The mile-long beach is also monitored by RNLI lifeguards throughout the summer, providing families extra peace of mind.
In second place is another Cornish beach, Bude, with an impressive rating of 9.88. Bude has an average sea temperature of 14.2°C and offers watersports facilities. The water has also been classified as ‘excellent’, meaning it is safe to swim in. Bude’s beaches have won the Blue Flag, an internationally recognised award that celebrates great beaches.
Exmouth in Devon rounds off the top three, with a score of 9.78. The beach, which is renowned for its expansive two-mile stretch of golden sands and rock pools, is great for families, with seats and takeaway food outlets dotted along the coastline. It is a ten-minute walk from mainstream train stations and is lifeguarded from May to September. The beach has been marked as having ‘excellent’ water quality, and has a powered craft exclusion zone between Orcombe Point and Maer Rocks, which is marked by yellow buoys.
Natalie Wolfenden, Author and outdoor enthusiast at Millets comments: “England is brimming with gorgeous beaches, from the pebbled Brighton Beach to the sandy shore of Sennen Cove. While a family beach trip is a great way to get children off screens and keep the whole family entertained, preparation is key.
“Make sure you pack all the essentials tailored to your family's needs. If you have younger children or those less confident in the water, packing some armbands can provide some peace of mind, but always keep a close eye when they are near or in the water. Suncream is essential for all the family, while caps and sunglasses offer an extra layer of protection from the sun’s rays. Consider taking a windbreak or beach shelter as a protective barrier against wind for a more comfortable beach experience.”