Best beaches in East Sussex

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Below are a list of the top 12 beaches in East Sussex as selected by the users of the Beach Guide website.

The current most popular beach in East Sussex is Camber Sands. If you would like to have your say on which are the best beaches in East Sussex just follow the link to the beach and vote by clicking the star ratings at the top right of the page.

  • 1. Camber Sands Beach

    Camber Sands © All Rights Reserved

    Camber Sands is a little unusual for a Sussex beach and the reason is right there in the name. Yes, sand! Unlike most beaches along the Sussex coast which are lined with pebbles and shingle held in place by a series of groynes, Camber Sands is covered in fine, golden sand. Not only that but…

  • 2. Birling Gap Beach

    Birling Gap © All Rights Reserved

    The beach at Birling Gap is set at the base of the imposing, sheer chalk cliffs known as the Seven Sisters. Despite being set between the well known seaside resorts of Eastbourne and Brighton this is one of the longest stretches of undeveloped coastline on England's south coast.

    Birling Gap beach is a mix of…

  • 3. Brighton Beach

    Brighton Beach © Trine.syvertsen | BY-SA

    One of the UK's most famous beaches, Brighton Beach is a pebbly beach with certified Blue Flag waters a 4-mile promenade that buzzes with life in all seasons. It is known as London's beach, even though it is 47 miles away. Unsurprisingly, it can get very crowded on Bank Holidays, but that's all part of…

  • 4. Cuckmere Haven Beach

    Cuckmere Haven Beach © Stephen Dawson

    This quiet pebble beach is dominated by the white chalk cliffs of the Seven Sisters just to the east. It sits at the mouth of the meandering Cuckmere river. One of the best known views of the beach is looking out over the coastguard cottages towards the Seven Sisters. This row of 4 cottages was…

  • 5. St. Leonards Beach

    St. Leonards © Oast House Archive | BY-SA

    Popular sand and shingle beach just to the west of Hastings. The beach has something of a traditional British seaside feel and is backed by a promenade. There are plenty of facilities nearby.

    St Leonards-on-Sea is a popular family beach and also attracts watersport enthusiasts as it is great for windsurfing, kitesurfing, kayaking  and fishing.

    There is…

  • 6. Bexhill Beach

    Bexhill © Mal B | BY-SA

    The traditional south coast seaside resort of Bexhill is maybe not in its prime these days but it is still a good spot for a family day at the beach.

    Those of you familiar with the beaches of Sussex will not be surprised to read the beach is mainly shingle held in place by a series…

  • 7. Fairlight Glen Beach

    Fairlight Glen © Oast House Archive | BY-SA

    Fairlight Glen is a popular naturist beach, also enjoyed by non-naturist visitors. It is found in a suitably secluded location overlooking Covehurst Bay a mile or so east of Hastings. Whilst people do swim here, bear in mind that there are hidden rocks submerged in the surf and that there is no lifeguard service.

    The…

  • 8. Pevensey Bay

    Pevensey Bay © Simon Carey | BY-SA

    This rural, shingle beach about 5 miles north-east of Eastbourne is known to be the place where William the Conqueror landed in 1066 before the Battle of Hastings. During the 12th century, the former harbour was a busy commercial port, although today the coast has receded so the village of Pevensey is now about 1…

  • 9. Seaford Bay

    Seaford Bay © David Howard | BY-SA

    This wide stretch of shingle beach stretches nearly 4 miles between Newhaven harbour and Seaford Head. Seaford has a somewhat laid-back feel to it and is an ideal place to relax and avoid some of the summer crowds that flock to other south coast beaches. Let's get one thing straight first of all; Seaford is…

  • 10. Cooden Beach

    Cooden Beach © Paul Gillett | BY-SA

    Cooden is your typical Sussex beach, so expect a long stretch of shingle divided up by wooden groynes and you won't be disappointed. At low tide there are some sandy flats exposed.

    This stretch of coast is popular with kite surfers and windsurfers. Whilst previously allowed, jet skis are currently prohibited from launching and landing…

  • 11. Normans Bay

    Normans Bay © Shazz | BY-SA

    Normans Bay lies on the Sussex Coast between Bexhill and Eastbourne. There is a camping and caravan site adjacent to the beach with a local railway track running behind it. The beach is composed of a mixture of sand and shingle which slopes gently down to the water. At low tide an expanse of sand…

  • 12. Hastings Beach

    Hastings © Oast House Archive | BY-SA

    Hastings' main beach backs right onto the seafront of this established seaside resort town so you are never far away from the town's facilities and attractions. Backed by grand whitewashed Edwardian hotels and a two-layered promenade Hastings has all the credentials of a Great British seaside town. There is even a fine Victorian pier. But…