Ruislip Lido Beach, West London, 20 mins

It doesn’t get much closer than this! Just at the end of the Piccadilly line there’s a little slice of the seaside in the form of Ruislip Lido Beach – a 700-acre woodland nature reserve, gorgeous natural lake with a genuine sandy beach. You can’t swim in it but, if you’re unable to escape the city for a beach day trip this is a close second best. The nearest stations are Ruislip and Northwood Hill which are a short 20-minute walk away. As expected, being the only beach on the doorstep, it does get busy so sharpen those elbows and get there early for a prime sunbathing spot.

Brighton, East Sussex, 60 mins

You don’t need us to tell you about London’s cool little sister Brighton, but don’t discount it for a day trip. It might be a pebble beach but we don’t mind when it’s so easy to get to (trains direct from Victoria and London Bridge will get you there within the hour) and when there’s so much else to do. All the cool kids live in Hove now, so head west for a slightly quieter beach and amazing pizza at Fatto A Mano on Church Street or make time for a cocktail in Bohemia before wandering through the lanes to pick up a treasure or two.

Camber Sands, East Sussex, 60 mins

Up your sandcastle game at Camber Sands, a five-mile stretch of gorgeous talc-soft beaches with rolling dunes. Justifiably well-loved by beach-goers, it’s also a dream filming location, having featured in Dunkirk, The Invisible Woman, and The Longest Day to name a few. It’s a great spot if you’re into your watersports with kite surfing, paddle boarding, kayaking, sailing, windsurfing, waterskiing, fly-boarding, and jet skiing (phew) available for water babies. When the tide rolls in make a beeline for The Gallivant, an award-winning restaurant nestled in the dunes.

Leigh-on-Sea, Essex, 60 mins

A small (we’re talking a sliver) but perfectly formed sandy beach lined by cockle sheds, Bell Wharf Beach on the edge of Old Leigh is dinky but packed with character. Great for an early-morning swim or walk (it’s skinny but long at seven miles), be sure to stop at one of the many on-trend eateries, from Ru’s Bubble Waffles selling desserts to go up a dress size for, to truly incredible Japanese food courtesy of Ozen, two miles up the road in Westcliff. Later in the day, head back to the beach when it becomes livelier in a chilled-out way, with windsurfing and sailing when the tide’s right, followed by littlies cockle-hunting in the muddy flats.

Southend-on-Sea, Essex, 70 mins

England’s newest city is also one of London’s nearest seaside towns: Southend is perfect if you’re all for a bit of kiss-me-quick and Waltzer action. Famous for the longest pleasure pier in the world (a Victorian showstopper at 1.33 miles long), you’ll find arcades, rollercoasters and fish and chips. For when you want a breather from the teacups, Southend’s sweeping coastline is also home to seven award-winning beaches, with Westcliff one of the best. A good choice for families with nippers, not only is it sparkling clean, but there’s a crabbing pool where kids can play when the tide is out (be warned that the beach can be totally submerged in high tide). Make sure you pay a visit to 1950s ice-cream parlour Rossi’s, loved by locals including Jamie Oliver.

Botany Bay, Broadstairs, 80 mins

Yes, Kent has its very own Botany Bay and it is a surprising rival for its cousin down under. What it lacks in toned, tanned Aussie surfers it makes up for in beautiful chalk stacked cliffs, which offer stunning views and plenty of unbelievable photo ops for the ‘gram. A great one to bring the kids to thanks to the many rock pools as well as sand for hole-digging and castle-building. Relatively underdeveloped, this secluded hidden gem is perfect for a more relaxing beach day away from the city.

Margate, Kent, 90 mins

Margate is well and truly back on the map now courtesy of the Sam Mendes movie Empire of Light. It’s got something for every kind of beach-goer – fun arcade games, a retro theme park, the pomp of the pier, lovely independent shops and delicious seafood (check out Buoy and Oyster for lush platters). Fancy a dip? Our favourite place is Walpole Bay – a gorgeous tidal pool with all the pros of sea swimming without the panic of incoming tides.

Mersea Island, Colchester, 90 minutes

Pastel beach huts, delectable oysters and rolling countryside views – who knew this hidden gem island was under 2 hours on the train from London? Just seven miles across, Mersea Island is home to beautiful wild beaches and, fun fact alert, some of the world’s finest oysters have been harvested here since Roman times. Twice a day, high tide covers the road, forcing everyone to slow down and wait – no bad thing in this beautiful setting. You can check the tides here before you travel. Don’t miss a meal at the Company Shed on the west of the island too which is the best place to buy seafood, though it does get very booked up, we love taking away a seafood platter and eating alfresco on the beach with some wine and bread – bliss.