This article was published by the Great British Mag team on 24 March 2021.
As an international student, you might not feel comfortable driving in the UK (we are in the minority of countries that drive on the left-hand side of the road). But that does make travelling difficult sometimes, as public transport doesn’t serve some of the more remote and beautiful parts of the UK.
We don’t think you should have to miss out though, so have put together a list of some of our favourite beaches that you can easily travel to by train. These gorgeous coastlines are all less than a 20-minute walk from the nearest station, making them great destinations for a day at the seaside or a weekend away.
Castle Beach, Tenby
In southwest Wales, the harbour town of Tenby has three beaches: North Beach, South Beach and this, Castle Beach. That’s the ruins of the 13th-century Tenby Castle sitting on a rocky island out to sea. This is a lovely, scenic bit of coastline that’s great for a swim and is a 10-minute stroll away from Tenby Train Station.
Brighton Beach, East Sussex
Brighton is one of the UK’s most famous seaside resort towns. Its pebbled shoreline is peppered with colourful beach huts, and on sunny days locals and tourists descend here to grab a deckchair and make the most of the sun. The beach is less than 20 minutes by foot from the train station.
Whitby Beach, Yorkshire
See if you can spot the lighthouse as you look out to sea from this sandy beach on the northeast coast of England. If you get peckish, grab some fish and chips and tuck in while watching the donkey rides go back and forth along the shore. Little more than a 10-minute walk from the train station, it’s really easy to reach.
Crosby beach, Liverpool
This beach in the North West is more about the views and the strolls than the bathing. There’s a collection of 100 life-size figures – sculpted from cast iron – spread out along the three-kilometres coastline (the artwork is by Antony Gormley and is called Another Place). Get the train to Waterloo on the Merseyside line, and then you’ll have a 15 to 20-minute walk to reach the coast.
Fistral Beach, Newquay
This is one of Cornwall’s best-known and most popular beaches. It sits in the town of Newquay, which fills with sun-seeking tourists each summer. As it’s such a hotspot, it’s well-served by public transport and this particular beach (which isn’t Newquay’s only one, by the way) is easily walkable from Newquay train station.
Troon Beach, Ayrshire
The Scottish seaside town of Troon has some great coastline and pretty impressive views across the water to the Isle of Aran. There’s a busy harbour here too with a fish market that’s worth checking out. The sandy shores are only a five-minute stroll from the train station – ideal if you’ve packed a big picnic along with your bucket and spade.
Main Sands Beach, Margate
Margate is a coastal town that’s east of London – so is really a popular destination for those who live in the Capital. There’s plenty of sand to stretch out on here, but if you get restless check out the restaurants, bars and seafood stalls in the Old Town or visit the nearby amusement park, Dreamland. Take the train to Margate and then reach the beach by foot – it takes less than 10 minutes.
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