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The Sun
19 minutes ago
- Entertainment
- The Sun
Our favourite seaside towns that are less than 90 minutes from London with Banksy art and award-winning beaches
BORED of the concrete jungle views over London when the sun is out? Well, here are our favourite destinations for a day trip, and they are all less than two hours away from the capital. 8 8 Folkestone, Kent I could hardly talk about amazing seaside towns without mentioning my hometown of Folkestone. From being named a trending place to live by TimeOut, to being dubbed the new Brighton (being both arty and less than an hour from London - 54 minutes to be exact) there has never been a better time to visit. New restaurants and bars are popping up, including the new Med restaurant Cavella on the popular Harbour Arms, as well as the upcoming small-plate restaurant Pomus after success in Margate. Two new playgrounds including the huge adventure park Lower Leas Coastal Park are being renovated, with the town's unique funicular set to reopen next year. It has its own Banksy, hidden sandy beaches and trendy hotels to stay the night - what more could you want? If you need entertaining, there is The Board Room for shuffleboard and darts, or the Harbour Screen with live shows and films (and some nearby live music). My top tips? Head to Burrito Buoy for a frozen margarita, grab a delicious pizza over at Brewing Brothers, and end your night at The Old Buoy pub. You'll be well fed and watered, and make a few local mates along the way… - Kara Godfrey, Deputy Travel Editor Brighton, East Sussex When people think of beach day trips from London, Brighton comes to their mind immediately for good reason. Only an hour on the train, the seaside city has often been associated with YouTubers over the years. Yet the destination is loved for many reasons. From the narrow alleys with quaint shops, great ice cream spots and the iconic i360 with breathtaking panoramic views - Brighton really does provide something for everyone. Top 5 Beaches in the UK 8 The history is there too, with the iconic pier still open today and full of classic arcade games and the old pier - of which remains only still stand. The beach itself has pretty pebbles, a long-stretching promenade and pretty townhouses. Sit next to the pier just as Georgia does in Angus Thongs and Perfect Snogging, whilst listening to waves crash, with a classic Mr Whippy in hand with a 99 flake as seagulls circle overhead - a quintessentially British experience that feels like a day out set in the 60s. And if that wasn't enough to draw you there - Brighton is super dog friendly, so is a great day away from the city for your four-legged friend - Cyann Fielding, Travel Reporter Broadstairs, Kent You're spoilt for choice when it comes to a beach sunbathe in the historic Kent coastal gem, Broadstairs - which is an hour and 20 minutes away from London by train. There's seven sandy coves to explore, all linked by clifftop paths that offer spectacular views across the English Channel. Among the most popular is the main beach at Viking Bay, but Stone Bay is a good alternative if you're looking to escape the crowds. It's as traditional a British seaside resort as they come with imposing Victorian buildings sitting alongside fisherman's cottages. Author Charles Dickens had a summer home at Broadstairs for more than 20 years in the middle of the 19th century and it had a significant influence on his writing, particularly the novel David Copperfield. The Dickens House Museum offers an illuminating insight into his life and works. But this is very much still a bustling, seaside resort with lots of family-friendly fun including arcades and rides. And it's becoming a bit of a foodie mecca too. Twenty Seven Harbour Street has stunning views and tasty treats cooked over fire. And a must-visit is Morelli's - it's been serving up traditional gelato since 1932. The fabulous Art Deco interior is beaten only just by the stunning sundaes - Lisa Minot, Head of Travel 8 Rye, East Sussex The medieval town of Rye in East Sussex isn't strictly seaside, but you can see the sea from its cobble streets and it has a harbour where boats sail out to the English Channel. Plus, if you go back as far as the 15th century, the sea came much closer to the foot of the hill the town is built on. It's the perfect place to spend a day out - taking an hour and six minutes on the train from Kings Cross St Pancras. If you fancy a morning on the beach, a bus runs from the town to the stunning Camber Sands beach - a three-mile stretch of golden sand backed by dunes. Or you can for a six-mile circular walk from Rye to Winchelsea beach. Back in the town after lunch, there are plenty of fantastic pubs to choose from, my favourites being the 12th century Mermaid Inn and the George In Rye, as well as the Globe Inn Marsh on the outskirts of the town. Equally, you could book a taxi and check out Tillingham vineyard in nearby Peasmarsh, with its Michelin Green Star wine tours and excellent pizzas. Make sure to save some time to rummage through the many, many antiques shops, as well as Knoops hot chocolate shop and the wonderfully old fashioned Britcher and Rivers sweet shop - Caroline McGuire, Head of Travel (Digital) 8 Frinton-on-Sea, Essex I, like many others believe Frinton-on-Sea to be the more chilled out and luxe sister of Clacton. Slightly further up the coast Frinton in Essex has a huge sweeping beach that is lined with the classic brightly coloured beach huts - a mark of any beach day trip. The best part is that on the Greater Anglia route, you can get from London to Frinton in an hour and a half. The beach at Frinton is award-winning, having scooped up a Blue Flag award and Tripadvisor's Travellers Choice Award in 2024. You can easily walk from from Frinton to Walton-on-the-Naze too, it's an easy walk along the promenade and you get to see the clock tower on the way over. All-in-all, it takes around 40 minutes to get there. 8 After such a walk, you might need to quench your thirst after a day of building sand castles and paddling in the sea, there is a pub called the Lock & Barrel. Down Connaught Avenue surrounded by independent shops, art studios and boutiques is the first and only pub in Frinton. For anyone wanting an ice cream, you don't find them along the beach front because they're not allowed. For more days out, have a look at the best value attractions around the UK. And here, the National Trust reveals their best free attractions to visit this summer – from sky gardens to 'city oasis' parks. 8
BBC News
42 minutes ago
- General
- BBC News
Pevensey man accused of posing as Uber driver to abuse women
A driver allegedly posed as an "unofficial Uber" driver to pick up "vulnerable and intoxicated" women he could abuse, a court Head, 68, had latex gloves, condoms, Viagra tablets and a balaclava in his silver Mercedes when he was arrested in November Head, of Pevensey in East Sussex, is accused of assaulting an 19-year-old woman he picked up near Hove Park and kidnapping, sexually assaulting and attempting to rape a 25-year-old woman after picking her up in Brighton city denies the charges, saying that he offered the 25-year-old a lift home but did not touch her and never met his other alleged victim, jurors at Lewes Crown Court were told. The court was told on Monday that Mr Head was a "sexual predator" who "slipped up" the night he was arrested by his home, business cards advertising him as a "N-Uber driver" were emblazoned with the slogan "Safe and Reliable - For All Occasions" underneath one of his phone two attacks allegedly took place in the early hours of 19 August and 18 November, Jarvis KC, prosecuting, said that in the first attack a 19-year-old woman was "intoxicated and vulnerable" when Mr Head sexually assaulted her in Hove the second incident, Mr Head is said to have picked up the 25-year-old woman from Middle Street in Brighton after telling her he was an Uber driver who had just finished working and would give her a free Jarvis added that Mr Head then tried to rape the woman in the back seat of his car after driving near to her was arrested the same night after the woman came to and kicked him away, memorised part of his number plate and reported the incident to police, Mr Jarvis told the 25-year-old woman has since died, the jury was Head had two mobile phones and was "savvy enough" to know that if he kept them on while he was driving, the network provider could record his movements so kept them in flight mode while he was searching for victims, the court trial continues.
BBC News
an hour ago
- Health
- BBC News
Terminally ill sailor from Seaford sets off solo around the UK
A terminally ill 26-year-old woman from East Sussex has set off on a solo voyage sailing around the British Turner, an engineer from Seaford, lives with Ehlers Danlos Syndrome, a debilitating genetic condition that affects connective full-time wheelchair user left Brighton Marina on Monday on the 2,070 mile (3,331km) trip she hopes to complete within four to eight said was feeling "nervous and excited" and was hoping to become the "first disabled person to undertake a solo and non-stop circumnavigation of the UK and Ireland". Ms Turner was diagnosed with the illness, which causes fainting and seizures, when she was to complications, doctors have told her that her condition is now told BBC Radio Sussex: "I'm just looking forward to getting out there now."It has been a long time coming."Despite not being able to swim and being prone to seasickness, she has previously represented Great Britain in para-inclusive sailing events. She said: "The worst part about it is when there is no wind."I can't use my engine as part of the record attempt. "So when there's no wind I go wherever the tide wants. Drifting is really hard to deal with mentally when you want to be making progress."Ms Turner is raising money for Sailability, a charity that enables people with disabilities or who come from a difficult background to get into sailing.
BBC News
5 hours ago
- Business
- BBC News
A21 set for traffic lights as part of Queensway Gateway works
Temporary traffic lights have returned to a road in Hastings as the final phase of a major highway improvement scheme continues at Sussex Highways has been working with Balfour Beatty Living Places since last September to carry out works to connect Queensway Gateway to the A21 Sedlescombe Road work forms part of the Queensway Gateway Project which is expected to be completed this summer. It was originally due to be finished by Sussex Highways has confirmed that traffic lights will remain in place on the A21 until the final stage of the junction improvement work is complete. A spokesperson said: "The temporary lights will cover half the distance as they did previously, from The Ridge flyover to the southern side of Junction Road. This should reduce the amount of queuing."John Bownas, manager of Love Hastings, says the concern is that this is "going to slow down traffic even more"."The real worry that we're looking at here is chaos being caused by two-way traffic lights," he East Sussex Highways spokesperson said that everything is being done to "minimise the disruption and complete the work as quickly as possible".During the final phase of work, 3,000 cubic metres of earth will be removed from an embankment, a water main will be relocated, and work will be carried out on the northern filter lane and signalised complete, the road - which will connect Queensway with the A21 in northern Hastings/St Leonards - is expected to improve traffic flow between Bexhill and and Rye MP Helena Dollimore has been critical of the delays to this project, telling House of Commons in December that residents refer to it as the "road to nowhere".
BBC News
6 hours ago
- Business
- BBC News
Hove residents object to Burger King 24-hour opening plans
Plans for a Burger King restaurant in East Sussex to stay open 24 hours a day have sparked concerns from dozens of local 30 objections have been sent to Brighton & Hove City Council after the fast-food chain applied for a late-night refreshment licence for its Goldstone Retail Park branch in have complained about anti-social behaviour in the car park, which is opposite Hove Park, as well as cooking smells, litter and people urinating in will be able to put forward their concerns in a licensing hearing on Monday. Alan Moon, chairman of Friends of Hove Park, told Radio Sussex: "What we have a problem with is if this means people bringing more rubbish into the park and just dropping it in the park."Hove Park is really beautiful and well used and we are all trying to keep it looking good. "What would be a really nice idea is if Burger King could sponsor some litter bins in the park to alleviate the problem."The restaurant has applied for a late-night licence to sell food and drink from 23:00 to 05:00, according to the Local Democracy Reporting have also been raised by Goldsmid ward councillor Jackie O'Quinn, as well as the council's own licensing team, which opposed the plans on the grounds it would breach the council's own Police and the council's environmental protection team have agreed draft conditions with restaurant operators, Leon Kennedy Ltd, which also runs the North Street and King's Road stores in the draft conditions would limit the sale of hot food and drink to drive-through customers only from 11pm.A direct telephone number for the manager would also be made available to nearby residents and businesses – and litter patrols would be carried out in the area.
