Beach, baby! Where to find the perfect summer school holiday family break close to home!

Let's face it pirates, the UK has some absolutely stunning beaches! And they're great on a sunny day.

With weather slightly less predictable here than, let's say in Spain or Greece, and staycation prices rocketing sky high in prime summer school holiday times, we understand why you'd look at going abroad.

BUT, with potential strikes in place, lengthy passport controls at the border and other obstacles that might make travelling, especially with small children slightly stressful, it’s worth considering a beach break closer to home.

Check out our findings for beach staycations close to home with prices from £379 TOTAL for the whole family.

THE SOUTHWEST

There is no denying, the Southwest is one of the most popular regions in the UK for a beach break. It benefits from a mild climate, even in the winter months, the region is often warmer than other parts of the country.

Here are some of the beach hot spots you should look out for when you're there:

📍Woolacombe Beach: a three-mile-long sandy beach in North Devon that's been awarded the title of Britain's best beach several times.

📍Fistral Beach: located in Newquay, Cornwall is renowned for its excellent surf conditions.

📍Porthcurno Beach: situated near Land's End, Cornwall, expect soft white sand and crystal clear water.

📍Saunton Sands: another North Devon gem, a vast sandy 3-mile beach.

📍Bantham Beach: situated in South Devon, a great spot for families with young children due to its shallow waters.

📍Sennen Cove: located in West Cornwall, a beach with a stunning backdrop of rugged cliffs.

📍Blackpool Sands: located in South Devon, it's a Blue Flag beach with crystal-clear waters and fine shingle sand.

CORNWALL

This is probably the most expensive region we came across in our search for a beach getaway during the school holidays. Expect to pay slightly more in South Cornwall compared to North Cornwall.

It’s not impossible to find the right thing for your family, though. It might take a couple of compromises (smaller property for example or less cool facilities - no pool or hot tub) to get the location you want for an acceptable price.

DORSET

We've come across cheaper prices here during the school holidays compared to further down South. The beaches here are beautiful along the Jurassic coast.

Try a day trip visiting Bournemouth and its beach. Lyme Regis is a lovely town to stay in. There's an aquarium and lots to do in the summer months.

THE SOUTHEAST

We've spotted quite a few great prices for this region. Some of the beaches might be shingles rather than sand (you'll find that a lot in the Southeast), but a sandy beach will be a short drive away if that's what you're looking for. Some of the top spots:

📍Camber Sands, East Sussex: a long sandy beach near Rye. It has a scenic dune system and is great for kite surfing, wind surfing and horse riding.

📍Brighton Beach, East Sussex: a pebble beach which is known for its lively atmosphere. There are a pier, amusement arcades, and seafront cafes.

📍West Wittering, West Sussex: This is a sandy beach located near Chichester. It has a beautiful expanse of sand and is popular for activities such as kite surfing and paddleboarding.

📍Whitstable Beach, Kent: a shingle beach near Canterbury known for its colourful beach huts. It's popular for its seafood restaurants and boutique shops.

KENT

SUSSEX & SUFFOLK

THE NORTHEAST

Home to Which? Magazine's continuous winner of the best seaside resort: Bamburgh, Northumberland. Definitely worth a visit. Apart from Bamburgh, here are some more hot spots you can visit when you're there:

📍Saltburn Beach: this beach boasts a long pier, colorful beach huts, and dramatic cliffs.

📍Runswick Bay: located in the North York Moors National Park and is a great spot for rock pooling and fossil hunting.

📍Whitby Beach: located in the historic town of Whitby, is a popular spot for surfing and has a backdrop of the town's iconic abbey.

📍Filey Beach: award-winning golden-sand beach located in the town of Filey.

📍Seaham Beach: located in County Durham, is known for its unique sea glass which can be found on the shore.

Yorkshire, Northumberland & Durham

THE NORTHWEST

Turns out there's not much difference in pricing between the two coasts. It's really down to you to decide if you prefer the east over the west coast.

Check how long it'd take you to get there. Kids and car journeys are a thing that want to be planned meticulously.

Check out these beaches while your're there:

📍Formby Beach: located just north of Liverpool, this beach is known for its beautiful sand dunes and stunning views of the Irish Sea.

📍Morecambe Bay: stretching from Cumbria to Lancashire, it's a vast expanse of sand and mudflats. It's a popular spot for birdwatching and kite-surfing.

📍St Anne's Beach: located on the Fylde coast, this beach has a long promenade, perfect for a leisurely stroll, and plenty of ice cream shops and cafes.

📍Crosby Beach: this beach near Liverpool is home to Antony Gormley's famous art installation, "Another Place".

📍Walney Island: located just off the coast of Barrow-in-Furness, this island boasts miles of unspoiled beaches and sand dunes.

CUMBRIA & LANCASHIRE

WALES

When we checked, we found (a bit like with Cornwall), that North Wales shows to have better pricing than South Wales. You can save around £200 by choosing the right spot in Wales.

📍Rhossili Bay: located on the Gower Peninsula, three-mile-long stretch of white sand. It has been named one of the best beaches in the world by numerous travel publications.

📍Barafundle Bay: nestled between cliffs and can only be accessed by foot.

📍Newgale Beach: over two miles of sand, popular spot for surfers and kite surfers.

📍Tenby South Beach: popular seaside town in Wales, one of the most picturesque spots in the area.

📍Porthcurno Beach: located on the Llyn Peninsula, this is a cove with crystal-clear waters and golden sand.

SCOTLAND

Scotland and going for a beach break might not come to mind as a fist thought when planning for a family break.

But, if Scotland is on your bucket list, there are stunning beaches to explore and we've spotted some decent prices for the school holidays!

Here are just some examples of the most amazing beaches in Scotland you might want to visit:

📍Luskentyre Beach, Isle of Harris: Often regarded as one of the most beautiful beaches in Scotland, it's famous for its white sand and turquoise waters.

📍West Sands Beach, St. Andrews: Expect a vast expanse of golden sand and spectacular views of the North Sea.

📍Achmelvich Beach, Assynt: Perfect spot for swimming, kayaking, and sunbathing.

📍Sandwood Bay, Sutherland: one of Scotland's most remote beaches, makes it less touristy if you fancy an undisturbed beach break.

📍Camusdarach Beach, Arisaig: You'll get views of the surrounding hills and islands on this beach.

📍Coral Beach, Isle of Skye: The sand is made up of crushed white shells that give it a unique pinkish glow.