Photo: Arild Vågen, CC BY-SA 4.0Family beaches and seaside days out in Sussex
10 beaches and seaside days out in Sussex that suit families, each checked against official sources. Of these, 7 are free to enter, 1 has indoor space and 2 are marked as suiting toddlers.
Tides, parking and any seasonal dog or watersport rules vary from beach to beach, so check the council or owner's notice before you go.
Free to enter
Free entry. Parking, food and activities inside can cost extra, so check each listing.
Image: National TrustBirling Gap and the Seven Sisters
Birling Gap is where the South Downs meet the sea at the Seven Sisters chalk cliffs, one of the longest undeveloped stretches of the south coast. Walk the clifftop downland, or take the steps down to the shingle beach for rock pools and fossil hunting. The National Trust café, shop and visitor centre sit on the cliff top.
Image: Visit 1066 Country (Hastings Borough Council)Camber Sands
More than two miles of sandy beach near Rye. Winter is the time for long dog walks and kite flying, with the summer crowds long gone.
Image: National TrustCuckmere Haven and Cuckmere Valley
The National Trust land around the meandering Cuckmere River, from the downland at High and Over down to Cuckmere Haven with classic views of the Seven Sisters cliffs. Riverside and hilltop trails link farmland, saltmarsh and chalk grassland.
Photo: David Smith, CC BY-SA 2.0East Head
A sand and shingle spit at the mouth of Chichester Harbour, one of the last stretches of natural coastline in West Sussex. Shifting dunes give way to salt marsh, with a sandy beach for walking and playing and yachts anchored off the northern tip, where seals sometimes appear. It sits at the end of West Wittering beach.
Image: RSPBRSPB Pagham Harbour
A sheltered tidal inlet on the Selsey peninsula and an internationally important wetland, with saltmarsh, mudflats, lagoons, reedbeds and shingle beach. Trails lead from the visitor centre past the old Sidlesham tramway to hides over the harbour, with nesting terns in summer and Brent geese in winter.
Image: Seven Sisters Country ParkSeven Sisters Country Park
The classic view of the Seven Sisters chalk cliffs starts here, where the Cuckmere river meanders down to the sea. A level trail runs about 2km to the shingle beach at Cuckmere Haven, so it works for pushchairs and less confident walkers too.
Image: Adur & Worthing CouncilsWorthing Pier
A Grade II listed Art Deco pier, first opened in 1862 and named UK Pier of the Year in 2019. The Pavilion Theatre and Pavilion Atrium Bar stand at the landward end, with an amusement arcade midway and the South Pavilion out at the sea end.
Paid entry
Each card shows the price band; the listing has the details.
Image: West Wittering EstateWest Wittering Beach
A wide Blue Flag sandy beach at the mouth of Chichester Harbour, with the sand spit of East Head at one end and plenty of room to spread out. Out of season it is one of the best dog-walking beaches on the south coast.
Check the listing for prices
Prices vary by activity or are set by the venue, so we do not guess.
Image: Volk's Electric RailwayVolk's Electric Railway
The world's oldest working electric railway, running along Brighton beach since 1883. Ride the restored wooden cars from Aquarium station near the Palace Pier to Black Rock, with a stop at Halfway station.
Image: Harbour ParkHarbour Park
Harbour Park is a seaside family amusement park on Littlehampton's beach, with more than 15 attractions. Outdoor rides and arcades sit alongside indoor soft play, a pirate-themed escape room and Toddler Town, a set of role-play rooms with a supermarket, vet and building site. It covers both sunny and wet days on the coast.
Questions people ask
Which beaches and seaside days out in Sussex are free to enter?
Our listings show free entry at Birling Gap and the Seven Sisters, Camber Sands, Cuckmere Haven and Cuckmere Valley, East Head, RSPB Pagham Harbour, Seven Sisters Country Park and Worthing Pier. Check each listing for anything charged on top, such as parking, food or activities.
Which of these suit toddlers?
Our listings mark Volk's Electric Railway and Harbour Park as suiting toddlers and young children.
Which of these have indoor space?
Our listings show indoor space at Harbour Park. The others are listed as outdoor visits, so dress for the weather.