12 Escape The City
17TH APRIL 2025
WELCOME TO LONDON AN ADVERTISEMENT FEATURE DISTRIBUTED WITH By the beach
Escape the city and enjoy the seaside this bank holiday weekend, without a flight in sight Words: Deborah Cicurel
If a beach break is on your mind but you don’t have any flights booked, don’t despair. London may not be known for its shores, but a short drive or train journey away, you can throw off your shoes, dig your feet into the sand and feel the bracing sea on your ankles. Here’s our pick of the best seaside spots that are easy to reach from the capital.
Birling Gap, East Sussex For epic views, head to Birling Gap. Here, you’ll spot the striking Seven Sisters chalk cliffs, which have featured in blockbuster films like Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire and Chitty Chitty Bang Bang. Bring your dog, wear your comfiest shoes and stroll for hours on the pebble beach. Keep your eyes peeled for wildlife, too — earlier this year, a lucky passerby spotted a humpback whale splashing in the water. Trains from London Victoria to Eastbourne take approximately 90 minutes.
BIRLING GAP/PEXELS
Whitstable, Kent If you simply want to lay down your towel and lose yourself in a good book, there’s plenty of room to do so on Whitstable’s shingle beach. Nearly a mile long, the beach has picture-perfect photo opportunities aplenty, most notably its pastel huts and glorious sunsets. But for those itching for more adventure, visitors love getting stuck into watersports like windsurfing and sailing, which helps to work up an appetite for the famous seafood spots, including Te Whitstable Oyster Company. Just hop on the train at London Victoria and you’ll reach Whitstable in around 90 minutes.
A luxurious riverside retreat Fancy a riverside mansion for the weekend?
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Aldeburgh, Suffolk Head to Aldeburgh’s sand and shingle beach for a dollop of traditional seaside fun. Evoke the staycations of yore by slurping ice cream from Aldeburgh’s oldest ice cream establishment, the pleasingly pink-hued Ives Ice Cream Parlour. If you’re still hungry, wolf down award-winning fish and chips from local family-run restaurant Te Aldeburgh Fish & Chip Shop. Take the train from Liverpool Street to get there in under three hours.
West Wittering, West Sussex West Wittering has all the hallmarks of an idyllic beach escape. Gorgeous views, crystal- clear waters and long stretches of fine golden sands. Watersports enthusiasts can enjoy kitesurfing or paddleboarding, among many other activities. If sporty fun isn’t for you, enjoy browsing in one of the boutiques or people-watching at one of the restaurants. You might even spot famous local residents such as Kate Winslet. Te train from London takes under an hour and a half, but if you’re driving, make sure to reserve the car park.
Walton-on-the-Naze, Essex Walton-on-the-Naze is a beautiful spot. Te destination was recently named the best place to find ancient fossils in the UK, and kids and adults alike will love hunting for prehistoric treasure. Its pier, one of the longest in Britain, offers classic family-friendly fun in the form of rides, tenpin bowling and an arcade. Travel from Liverpool Street and get there in under two hours.
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Riversdale Lodge is a luxurious riverside venue on the Tames at Bourne End in Buckinghamshire, just 40 minutes west of London. Originally built in 1890, this
charismatic house has been beau- tifully renovated to incorporate every luxury: the perfect creative space for off-site meetings, work- shops, wellness, private dinners and team building: it also makes a fabu- lous location for a family weekend. Te concierge service offers a huge range of activities, from yoga in the 20-person studio to paddleboard adventures on the river, accessed from the private jetty. Te glazed walls of the house open to the spacious lime- stone terrace, centred on a calming reflection pool, with plenty of furni- ture for a lazy afternoon or al fresco
meal around the fire table. Te team offer a range of catering options, from relaxed lunches to decadent supper club experiences. Te house sleeps 20 people exquisite private luxury.
in T: 07831 167335
riversdalelodge.com
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