Best beach spots in Portsmouth and the surrounding coast

Grab your buckets and spades, we’re going to the beach! Summer isn’t summer without a trip to the beach. And our south coast has plenty to offer. Whether you like to sunbathe, paddle or go for a full-on dip, here are some of our favourite local beach trips around Portsmouth, Southsea and further afield. So grab your picnic and suncream and head to the coast — it’s not all pebbles! We even know of a few spots where you can find a Portsmouth sandy beach.

Beaches in Portsmouth

Southsea Parade Pier and Surround

It’s possible to enjoy the beach within easy reach of the centre of Southsea and its shops and cafes. Smooth out your picnic blanket on the stretch of beach close to South Parade Pier, close to the newly installed helter-skelter and traditional funfair. You won’t have to move too far to grab an ice cream or snack either.

Eastney Beach

Further east along the coast, the beach does tend to be a bit quieter. There are still cafes nearby for drinks, snacks and ice creams, plus toilets. Head further east, however, and you might find yourself at the naturist beach…

Hayling Island

Hayling Island offers over three miles of shingle beach, with stretches of sand below the high tide mark. Easily accessible via the Hayling ferry from Eastney, it offers a great day out in the summer-time. There is a car park, toilets plus options for refreshments too.

West Wittering beach

Further afield is the ever-popular West Wittering beach. On warm summer days, the approach by car can be arduous, but once there it offers endless stretches of sand and warm shallow lagoons for paddling in at low tide. There are plenty of facilities, including nearby campsites if you fancy turning your trip into a mini-break.

Isle of Wight

If you really want to make a day of it, grab a ticket to Ryde (picture of Priory Bay)! Hop on the Wightlink catamaran at Portsmouth Hard Station and skip across the Solent to the Isle of Wight. Unlike it’s Southsea counterpart, Ryde beach is sandy – great for making sandcastles and digging holes. With plenty of facilities nearby, this is a great place to spend a full day on the beach.

As always when you visit the beach, do take note of where the lifeguards are and enter the water to swim and bodyboard only between the red and yellow flags.