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Beaches & Coast in Reading

Reading isn't exactly coastal, so any beach day means a proper trip out. Closest is Ruislip Lido Beach, a longer trip out to Ruislip, a sandy stretch by a lake with woodland walks and craft sessions, though the splash pad and fishing are both closed for now. Further out still, Hengistbury Head Beach in Bournemouth is a wide nature reserve beach with a land train to Mudeford Spit and wildlife webcams to spot along the way, and Kingston Beach out at Shoreham-by-Sea has free rock pools and a swim spot, though parking there is limited. For toddlers, the lake at Ruislip feels calmer than open sea, and it's the one with proper public transport links and toilets. If you want the full seaside experience, Hengistbury Head has parking, a cafe, dog friendly paths and wheelchair access, so it suits a whole day rather than a quick dip. Kingston Beach is free and good for rock pooling with older kids, but get there early if you're driving. All three are free to get onto, so the only real cost is the journey.

✓ 3 places✦ 2 free to visit