Beaches in Southampton, Hampshire

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The beach guide has 12 beaches listed in and around the town of Southampton. We have arranged these beaches in order of closest to the town first (distance in brackets).

  • Weston Hard Woolston Beach (2.4 miles)

    Weston Hard Woolston © Chris Wimbush | BY-SA

    Small pebbly beach located at the mouth of the River Itchen.

  • Lepe Beach (9.5 miles)

    Lepe © Pierre Terre | BY-SA

    A stony beach that forms part of Lepe Country Park, situated in an Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty. Views across to the Isle of Wight and excellent coastal walks featuring pine-fringed cliffs, D-day remains and wild flower meadows. The main swimming area is a short walk east of the car park.

  • Calshot Beach (8.1 miles)

    Calshot © Gillian Moy | BY-SA

    Calshot beach forms part of a mile long shingle spit which reaches out into the mouth of Southampton Water. From here you get a great view of the ships coming and going from one of the UK's largest ports. The beach also offers panoramic views of the Solent, Southampton and the Isle of Wight so…

  • Solent Breezes Beach (7.7 miles)

    Solent Breezes © Martin Speck | BY-SA

    Solent Breezes is a shingle beach set beneath low cliffs, looking out onto the Solent from near the mouth of Southampton Water. As a result, it enjoys excellent views across to Calshot and the Isle of Wight. The beach sits in front of Solent Breezes Holiday Park, from where it can be accessed directly; offering…

  • Thorness Bay (12.6 miles)

    Thorness Bay © Ian S | BY-SA

    Thorness Bay is a Site of special scientific interest (SSSI) and this includes the 2 miles of sandy beach. Despite having a large holiday park located right next door the beach is big enough to offer some peace and quiet whilst watching the boats in the Solent.

  • Gurnard Beach (11.4 miles)

    Gurnard © Ronsaunders47 | BY-SA

    Gurnard Beach is located on the North of the Isle of Wight, within an easy and scenic 15 minute walk from the seaport town of Cowes. The pebble and shingle beach offers visitors lovely views across the Solent as well as stunning sunsets. Although Gurnard is a relatively small beach, it still offers plenty of…

  • Cowes Beach (11.2 miles)

    Cowes © Euchiasmus | BY-SA

    The long pebble beach at Cowes is backed by a wide esplanade. It makes a great place to sit and watch the various yachting events that take place here, including the prestigious "Cowes Week" sailing regatta in August. The beach has views over the Solent, and at any time of year it is a good…

  • Meon Shore Beach (9.3 miles)

    Meon Shore © David Martin | BY-SA

    Meon Shore is a lengthy stretch of shingle beach running along the Solent. It sits on the other side of Hill Head harbour which straddles the river Meon. Behind the harbour is the Titchfield Haven Nature Reserve, an area of coastal wetland that is home to a great diversity of species.

    The eastern end of…

  • East Cowes Beach (11.8 miles)

    East Cowes © P L Chadwick | BY-SA

    East Cowes is an easily accessible shingle beach, with a promenade and children's play area, just a few minutes from the old Victorian town of East Cowes. Plenty of shops, pubs and restaurants.

  • Hill Head Beach (10.3 miles)

    Hill Head © Shazz | BY-SA

    Set across the Solent from the Isle of Wight is a lengthy stretch of shingle beach backed by a tarmac walkway and Saltern Park. Like much of this stretch of coast the beach is divided up by wooden groynes. These offer some protection from the erosive forces of longshore drift, helping to keep the shingle…

  • Osborne Beach (12.8 miles)

    Osborne Beach © Steve Daniels | BY-SA

    Osborne beach gets its name from Osborne House, the former Isle of Wight residence of Queen Victoria. This where the Queen, along with Prince Albert and their nine children would come to get away from it all, and to this day the beach and surrounds remain a haven of tranquility and natural beauty.

  • Lee-on-Solent Beach (11.7 miles)

    Lee-on-Solent © Nick Macneill | BY-SA

    Whatever time of year; whatever time of day, there's always something going on in the Solent and Lee-on-Solent Beach is a great place to come to watch the goings on in this wonderful stretch of water between the south coast and the Isle of Wight. This attractive shingle beach lies between Portsmouth and Southampton, so…

Southampton beaches map

Map featuring Southampton beaches. Click on pins to view beach details