Need a Change of Scenery from Southampton? Which Beaches Are Just an Hour Away?

There are many things to do in Southampton, but if you want to go to the beach, you need to explore a bit further. Let me explain…

Living in Southampton, we're never short on things to do, but every now and then, a change of scenery calls. Ever feel that itch for the need for a visit to the beach and wonder 'Where can I even go?' The city centre might not offer a beach to wander to, but the good news is, we've got some incredible stretches of sea just a quick drive away.

I'm a bit of a beach bum myself and have spent many a day chasing the sun and sea breeze across Hampshire. So, below, I have listed the closest beaches to Southampton and provided some details about each one. 

At the end of the article, I sum up which is best, depending on your preferences. But first of all, here is a map so you can see where they are compared to Southampton.

1. Calshot Beach

Distance from Southampton City Centre: 18 Miles (approx)

Time it takes to drive from Southampton City Centre: 35 minutes (approx)

Type of beach: Sand and shingle

Calshot Beach is known for its excellent water sports facilities, offering sailing, windsurfing, and kitesurfing. The nearby Calshot Activities Centre also provides organised sports and courses. 

The beach is family-friendly, with picnic areas and a playground. Additionally, Calshot Castle, a historic coastal fortress, offers insights into England's coastal defence and panoramic views of the Solent and Isle of Wight.

Read here to find out more about Calshot Beach.

2. Lepe Beach

Distance from Southampton City Centre: 17 Miles (approx)

Time it takes to drive from Southampton City Centre: 35 minutes (approx)

Type of beach: Mix of shingle and sand

Lepe Beach, near Calshot, offers visitors natural beauty and family-friendly activities. It has ample parking, though it's worth noting that the area can become particularly busy on certain days.

The beach features a great playpark, making it a hit with children and families looking for a day out by the sea. Besides the play area, Lepe Beach provides excellent opportunities for coastal walks, where visitors can enjoy the landscape.

Adjacent to the car park, there's a field where families often engage in various games, such as cricket and frisbee, or lay down a picnic blanket. 

On a clear day, you can look across to the Isle of Wight, enjoying the sight of the island from the mainland. 

There’s also a great cafe called the Lookout. You can grab a hot drink or ice cream to enjoy along the coast or have lunch inside and look over at the Solent. I really like it here, but due to its popularity, it can get busy, mainly if the weather is nice or at the weekends. In the evening, they may also have a spot of live music.

3. Milford on Sea

Distance from Southampton City Centre: 22 Miles (approx)

Time it takes to drive from Southampton City Centre: 45 minutes (approx)

Type of beach: Shingle beach with sand at the water's edge during low tide

Milford on Sea boasts breathtaking sea views towards Christchurch Harbour and the Isle of Wight, offering a generous stretch of coastline divided into two main areas – Hordle Cliff Beach and Hurst Road, the latter often referred to by locals as Keyhaven Beach.

For those heading to Hordle Cliff beach, parking is conveniently available at Paddy’s Gap and Hordle Cliff car parks (SO41 0NS), where you'll also find toilet facilities and a kiosk serving refreshments at the Hordle Cliff car park. 

This part of the beach transforms at low tide to reveal a sandy expanse and a sandbar, becoming a hub for beach cricket, swimming, kite surfing, kayaking, and paddleboarding, all set against the backdrop of vibrant Milford on Sea beach huts.

Meanwhile, Hurst Road offers an extensive beachfront experience with a modern play park, the Needles Eye café, and concrete beach huts. A unique feature here is the walkway atop the beach huts, which allows visitors to stroll the length of the beach with elevated views of the Solent.

Parking at Hurst Road is facilitated by two car parks – Hurst Road West and Hurst Road East (SO41 0PY), where visitors can also access toilets and café facilities for refreshments.

4. Highcliffe Beach

Distance from Southampton City Centre: 22 Miles (approx)

Time it takes to drive from Southampton City Centre: 45 minutes (approx)

Type of beach: Shingle with sandy patches

Highcliffe Beach, located in Dorset, near the picturesque cliffs, merges shingle and sandy spots ideal for those who enjoy bodyboarding and bathing. It's complemented by several promenades and cliffside paths for exploration.

Right on the cliff top, adjacent to the car park, is a welcoming café, providing a perfect spot to relax with a view. Highcliffe High Street, just a short walk away, offers a variety of shops and cafés.

Dogs are welcomed year-round, with specific restrictions applied during the busy summer months to certain sections of the beach. 

Highcliffe Beach is one of my favourite spots. It blends leisure and the natural world in a way that appeals to just about everyone. However, its popularity does mean it can become quite crowded, particularly on sunny days or weekends. Planning your visit with this in mind is always a good idea.

5. Weston Shore

Distance from Southampton City Centre: 3.5 Miles (approx)

Time it takes to drive from Southampton City Centre: 15 minutes (approx)

Type of beach: Pebble

Weston Shore stretches along the Solent from Abbey Hill to the River Itchen at Woolston. This spot offers direct waterfront access and views over the Solent, which is ideal for watching the arrival and departure of large cruise liners. 

The pebble beach features a children’s play area and seating shelters along the promenade. It also has a vast open space for recreational activities, a reminder of its historical use during the First World War when it hosted a factory producing brass strips for rifle cartridges. 

This area is good for games and leisure, like kite flying. Facilities include an open-air café and toilets at the end of Weston Lane. Additionally, Weston Shore is part of the National Cycle Network, making it accessible for cyclists.

However, opinions on the area vary, with some suggesting it could benefit from more care and attention. This leads to the question: can Weston Shore truly be considered a beach?

While it boasts a pebbled shoreline and access to the water, there's a debate over whether it meets the criteria of what many would traditionally consider a beach.

6. Netley Beach (Royal Victoria Country Park)

Distance from Southampton City Centre: 6 Miles (approx)

Time it takes to drive from Southampton City Centre: 20 minutes (approx)

Type of beach: Pebble

Tucked away in Royal Victoria Country Park in Netley, a small secluded beach that offers a prime view of the Port of Southampton, where cruise ships are a common sight. 

Visitors often come here for picnics, woodland walks, and kite flying, taking advantage of the park's setting. The park is steeped in history. It was the former site of the Royal Victoria Military Hospital, of which only the chapel remains, now serving as the visitor centre.

While the beach provides excellent views across Southampton Water and of the cruise ships, it's not recommended for swimming. 

Royal Victoria Country Park is a treasure on the South Coast. It offers a small beach, ancient woodland, and vast open fields. It's open daily and caters to visitors of various interests and capabilities. Entry is free, but parking is charged.

Read here to find out more about Royal Victoria Country Park.

7. Hill Head Beach

Distance from Southampton City Centre: 15 Miles (approx)

Time it takes to drive from Southampton City Centre: 35 minutes (approx)

Type of beach: Shingle

Hill Head Beach, located in Fareham, features a long stretch of shingle beach with a tarmac walkway behind it. The beach is segmented by wooden groynes that help prevent erosion by maintaining the shingle in place.

The beach is a favourite among watersports enthusiasts, offering excellent conditions for sailing, windsurfing, and kitesurfing and being a noted spot for fishing. At its western end, there's a small harbour by the River Meon's mouth as it flows into the Solent, near the Titchfield Haven National Nature Reserve. This reserve is known for its diverse birdlife.

Overlooking the busy sea lanes of the Solent, Hill Head Beach is also a perfect place for boat-watching, adding to its charm as a versatile destination for both action-packed activities and peaceful nature observation.

8. Lee-on-Solent Beach

Distance from Southampton City Centre: 18 Miles (approx)

Time it takes to drive from Southampton City Centre: 35 minutes (approx)

Type of beach: Pebble

Lee-on-the-Solent, a town with a selection of shops, cafes, and restaurants, is known for its expansive promenade that boasts excellent views of the Solent and the Isle of Wight. The restaurant "On the Water" is highly recommended for meals anytime, including breakfast.

The Hovercraft Museum is an interesting visit for enthusiasts of maritime and aviation history. However, it's important to check its opening times beforehand. 

The nearby Solent Airport Daedalus also offers a unique spectacle, with aircraft, occasionally including Spitfires, taking off from Cafe 05. 

The promenade is equipped with parks (which my daughter particularly likes) and an amusement arcade, offering entertainment for families, including the chance to play on 2p push machines. Lee-on-the-Solent provides ample parking options, although they may come at a cost, with free parking available on nearby streets. 

9. Southsea Beach

Distance from Southampton City Centre: 25 Miles (approx)

Time it takes to drive from Southampton City Centre: 45 minutes (approx)

Type of beach: Mix of stone and sand

Southsea Beach, located in Portsmouth, attracts a diverse crowd, including families, couples, and groups of friends, both locals and tourists. It's an ideal spot for various activities, from strolling the promenade to relaxing on the beach or swimming. 

One consideration is parking, which can be challenging and expensive for short visits. Despite this, the experience of enjoying a picnic, whether from home or nearby shops and restaurants, makes it worthwhile.

Southsea Beach boasts a lovely promenade with dining options, enhancing its appeal for family outings. It's also home to the D-Day Museum, adding a historical element to your visit. 

On a clear day, the beach offers stunning views of the Isle of Wight. With an amusement arcade, cafes, and restaurants along the way, there's plenty to keep you entertained. Numerous benches along the promenade provide spots to sit, rest, and admire the scenery. 

The Naval Memorial is a poignant site to visit, and the beach's proximity to the common makes it great for dog walking and other outdoor activities. Additionally, the hovercraft station on Southsea Beach offers a day trip to the Isle of Wight, further enhancing the beach's appeal as a versatile destination within Portsmouth.

10. Hayling Island Beach

Distance from Southampton City Centre: 30 Miles (approx)

Time it takes to drive from Southampton City Centre: 45 minutes (approx)

Type of beach: Shingle beach with sand at the water's edge during low tide

Hayling Island, located along the Solent, boasts over 3 miles of beaches. The seafront, primarily shingle above the high tide mark, transitions to stretches of sand below, offering exceptional views of the Solent and the Isle of Wight. 

The beaches' shelving can cause waters to deepen quickly at high tide. In contrast, at low tide, especially at West Beach, conditions are ideal for swimming due to the shallow waters and the warming effect of a 'lagoon' created by the West Winner sandbank.

The beach area provides a mix of pebble and sand, with nearby parking making it easily accessible. You can enjoy amenities like an arcade, Funland amusement park, and fish and chip shops for a classic seaside experience. Additionally, a small steam train offers rides along the beach to Funland and back.

Recognised as a prime spot for kitesurfing, Hayling Island Beach also appeals to swimmers, particularly in the evening when the tide is low. Adequate footwear is recommended due to the pebbly sections of the beach.

What is the best beach near Southampton?

Deciding on the best beach near Southampton hinges on personal preferences. For sandy beaches, head towards Bournemouth and Poole in Dorset, but the area around Southampton has its own set of appealing coastal spots.

Calshot Beach, 35 minutes from Southampton, offers both sand and shingle and is ideal for water sports enthusiasts. It offers sailing and kitesurfing alongside family-friendly facilities.

With similar travel time, Lepe Beach is noted for its natural beauty and family-oriented amenities, including a playpark and coastal walks, though parking can be competitive.

Highcliffe Beach in Dorset, 45 minutes away, blends shingle and sandy areas. It is suitable for bathing and exploring promenades and cliffside paths, with convenient café access for breaks.

Milford on Sea offers scenic views towards the Isle of Wight, low-tide sandy expanses, and elevated Solent views from the beach hut walkway. Parking is available at Hordle Cliff and Hurst Road.

Despite these options, Weston Shore falls short for those seeking traditional sandy beaches. It is more pebble-oriented and has limited activities.

Other mentions include Weston Shore, leading to Netley Beach in Royal Victoria Country Park, for its historic backdrop and Hill Head Beach, for its shingle beach and watersports. Lee-on-the-Solent boasts an expansive promenade, while Southsea Beach in Portsmouth is known for its various activities, historical sites, and views.

Hayling Island Beach, about 45 minutes away, is popular for kitesurfing. It has over 3 miles of beaches transitioning from shingle to sand, family-friendly amenities, and parking.

Ultimately, the "best" beach depends on your preferences. Whether you're looking for water sports, family outings, or historical exploration, the area around Southampton offers a beach to match almost every preference.