10 Best Child-friendly Beaches

1. FOR PIERS AND DONKEYS
Blackpool, Lancashire

There have been donkey rides on Blackpool Beach for over a hundred years, and they’re still hoofing it here six days a week from Easter to November (Friday is the donkeys’ day off). There’s bucketloads of fun to be had on the resort’s seven-mile stretch of golden sand, from funfair rides and amusements to pleasure piers and aerobatic displays. Older children will enjoy the prom’s ‘Comedy Carpet’, which features 850 jokes by British comics. Or, if it’s pouring with rain, Blackpool Tower and the Pleasure Beach are close at hand (visitblackpool.com; visitengland.com/morecoastal).

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2. FOR SAFE SWIMMING
Portstewart Strand, County Londonderry

According to site manager Toby Edwards, Portstewart is the safest beach he’s ever worked on, owing to the fact that there are very few near-shore currents, making it perfect for children. The strand is also well lifeguarded during the season, and National Trust staff clean the two-mile expanse every day by hand. The views here are wide-reaching – from the cliffs of the Causeway Coast to Donegal – and telescopes are available from the Visitor Centre for youngsters who want to look out for dolphins and minke whales. Look out for guided walks and seasonal events (for details, see nationaltrust.org.uk).

3. FOR SANDCASTLE BUILDING
Blackpool Sands, Dartmouth, Devon

Backed by pine trees, Blackpool Sands in Devon has a decidedly Provençal vibe about it on a hot sunny day, and is ideally set up for children, with designated sand pits where they can get stuck in, digging and sandcastle-building. In high summer, this Blue Flag beach is lifeguarded and cleaned daily, and there’s a bathing raft for teenagers to swim to. Boredom isn’t really an option here, with snorkels, kayaks and boogie boards also available for hire. The Venus Café, specialising in organics, is located on the shingle shore and is open morning till night in the season – try the local steak, lobster and crab (blackpoolsands.co.uk; visitsouthdevon.com).

4. FOR FOSSILS AND OLD JACK
Runswick Bay, Near Staithes, North Yorkshire

The pretty fishing village of Staithes is likely to see a spike in young visitor numbers in the wake of the CBeebies series Old Jack’s Boat, which is filmed here. The town itself has a small beach, while sandy Runswick Bay, about two miles distant, comes recommended by the MCS Good Beach Guide. As well as being popular with holidaymakers, Runswick Bay is a top spot for fossil hunting. Keep an eye out for newly emerging fossils in the cliffs and in the rocks on the foreshore (yorkshire.com/coast; goodbeachguide.co.uk).

5. FOR KIDS’ SURFING
Sennen Cove, Cornwall

You’d be hard pressed to find a more beautiful beach than Sennen Cove – an arc of bright white sand, framed by tussocky hills with views toward Land’s End. It is also a hugely popular surfing beach, and a great place to get kids up and boarding. The Smart Surf School, run by former pro surfers, welcomes beginners from age seven on its courses (private tuition, however, is offered to children as young as four). The Chapel Idné Surf Shop has all the kit you’ll need, and the Surf Beach Restaurant is the place to go for a warming post-surf hot chocolate (visitcornwall.com; thebeachrestaurant.com).

Want more surfing experinces? Read next Surf and Stay: Great Surf Holidays for All Abilities

6. FOR BOAT TRIPS
North Berwick, East Lothian

One of Scotland’s best-loved resorts, North Berwick is supremely family-friendly, with sandy beaches and a tide-filled paddling pool on the East Sands. But the real draw here is the wildlife offshore: Bass Rock boasts the largest single island colony of gannets in the world, while Craigleith is frequented by puffins. Young explorers should head to the Scottish Seabird Centre on the harbour, which operates boat trips around these islands on either a catamaran (suitable for all ages) or a RIB (age eight upwards). Landlubbers can check out the seabird action live via the cameras at the Discovery Centre (seabird.org; visitscotland.com).

7. FOR RIDES AND ICE CREAM
Viking Bay, Broadstairs, Kent

Broadstairs’ main beach is the go-to place for families wanting the timeless British seaside experience. There are brightly coloured beach huts, a boardwalk and old-fashioned children’s rides right on the sand. Take the cliff lift up to the prom where you’ll find ice-cream parlour Morelli’s, with its candy-coloured 1950s interior intact. Visit in June to see the townsfolk in their Victorian finery in honour of the annual Dickens Festival (the author was a regular visitor to the town). Events include a costumed swim (broadstairsdickensfestival.co.uk; visitkent.co.uk).

8. FOR WHITE SAND AND ROCKPOOLS
Whitesands Beach, Near St Davids, Pembrokeshire

This Blue Flag, MCS-recommended beach reputedly has one of the best surfing breaks in the country – but there’s plenty of room for little pirates and mermaids wanting to play here, too. As Ross Beese of local watersports provider TYF Adventure, says, ‘Whitesands is ideally set up for families. Friendly, approachable lifeguards, soft white sand, incredible scenery, pristine waters and all the facilities you need.’ Those facilities include a beach café and easy access from the car park. Activities are zoned when the beach is busy and there’s good rockpooling to be had at the northern end, towards St Davids Head (visitpembrokeshire.com; tyf.com).

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9. FOR OUTDOOR EVENTS
Studland Beach, Near Swanage, Dorset

Families visiting Studland Beach can join in on all sorts of activities throughout the year. Go on a family kayak tour around Old Harry’s Rocks, or try beach school (foreadventure.co.uk)

10. FOR SECRET CAVES

Tynemouth & Cullercoats, North Tyneside

Just a short Metro ride from Newcastle city centre, Tynemouth makes for a fun and varied day trip with little ones. The northernmost beach, at Cullercoats, has a series of caves in its striated cliffs, which are fabulous for make-believe pirate games when the tide is out. There’s also a Blue Reef Aquarium on the seafront, complete with seals, sharks and otters, should the weather take a turn for the worse. Tynemouth Longsands is a mile-long stretch of sand, beloved by everyone from surfers to paddlers. Exhausted adults can recuperate at Crusoe’s Café on the seashore (robinsoncrusoes.co.uk; visitnorthtyneside.com).

For piers and donkeys