If you are looking for a quiet spot close to London, visit Littlehampton beach. This place has always fewer tourists than Brighton beach which is only a 1-hour drive away from Littlehampton. When most visitors from London head to Brighton, this hidden gem offers plenty of space to relax far away from the crowds.
The longest bench in the UK
Littlehampton is a mix of pebble and sand beach. The closer to the water, the more sand is to enjoy the picnic on the English coast. This family-friendly destination is worth visiting due to its award-winning architecture and beaches. Between Littlehampton Pier and Rustington there is over one mile of sand coast that is stretching beyond for many more miles.
Beach huts in Littlehampton
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How to get to Littlehampton beach from London ?
Kitesurfing at Littlehampton beach
🚝 Check train tickets on Trainline
There is direct train from London to Brighton, which is about 1 hour journey. From Brighton you will need to take another train to Littlehampton (45 minutes train ride) which stops by River Arun. Then, it is only 15 minutes walk to Littlehampton Pier.
🚗 Rent a car with Rentalcars
It takes 2 hours 20 minutes to drive from London to Littlehampton. You can park at East Green Car Park which is just by Littlehampton beach.
Littlehampton is a small town in England with direct trains from Brighton, Portsmouth or Chichester. It lies just off A27, which makes it easy to add to any travel itinerary when exploring southern England. It can be a great stop during road trip between Brighton and Portsmouth.
This coastal town is known for West Beach Nature Reserve, unique architecture, tranquil beaches and great transport links. It has also fascinating history. Tiny fishing village of Littlehampton was one of the bases during World War II and nowadays is one of the best summer resorts to visit in the UK.
East Beach Cafe
East Beach Cafe
This tranquil seafront town has beautiful contemporary architecture including East Beach Cafe. Unique shape of 40m long building with huge glass windows facing English coast offers amazing views for all visitors. Thomas Heatherwick’s design won many architectural prizes such as Coastal Cafe of the Year or the best Exterior Space. A few minutes walk from the cafe you will also find the longest bench in the UK with unusual organic shape and various colours.
The East Beach Cafe is made of raw steel and can be inspiration for many aspiring architects. Jane Wood and Sophie Murray are not only the residents of Littlehampton, but also own the cafe. They wanted create business in their beautiful home town that would attract visitors and make the town to stands out on the English coast.
Where to stay nearby
Littlehampton, West Sussex
🏡 The best accommodation: East Beach Guest House
West Sussex boast of sandy beaches and seafront hotels, which makes it a perfect place for summer vacation or weekend break. East Beach Guest House which is 5 minutes walk from Littlehampton beach is a popular holiday resort. Other recommendation outside of Littlehampton is luxurious hotel Bailiffscourt Hotel & Spa just 10 minutes drive away.
Beach huts in Littlehampton
Beach huts in Littlehampton
There are colorful rows of beach huts in Littlehampton just a few minutes walk from the water. From green and yellow to blue and yellow tiny wooden houses are perfect to store summer equipment or take beautiful pictures with. You can also rent them for a day or longer to enjoy summer breeze at Littlehampton beach.
Beach huts in Littlehampton
Inside the beach huts, you will find everything that you will need for your summer break. From chairs, beach toys and kettle to make a coffee, Littlehampton beach is a perfect place to relax. The facilities by the beach are excellent, your kids can go to skatepark, Harbour Park Amusements or swim in the water.
Kitesurfing in Littlehampton
Kitesurfing at Littlehampton beach
Littlehampton beach is perfect place to learn kitesurfing due to small traffic in water. The beach by English Channel is shallow, making it ideal for beginners. There are also many instructors in Littlehampton that will teach you how to fly the kite for the first time. Whether you book one day or two day course, jumping in the water and learning all the tricks will offer you a lot of fun.
Kitesurfing at Littlehampton beach
Kiteboarding is amazing water sport, however it is very important to always check weather forecast. It is not safe to kitesurf during storm. The minimum wind speed for kitesurfing should be at least 12 mph. Also, your weight and size of the board will determine the wind speed requirements, which might be a bit bigger.
When is the best time to visit Littlehampton?
Littlehampton, West Sussex
The best time to visit Littlehampton beach is in August or at the beginning of September. During those months water is warmer with the highest maximum temperature of 18.7°C. I you are looking for some sunshine, July is the warmest month with maximum average temperature of 23°C. Visiting, Littlehampton in summer can offer you good English weather in beautiful coastal destination.
If you are looking for more summer destinations in the UK, then check out articles below.
Also, don’t forget about travel gear!