Southampton is blessed with some of the finest beaches in the County Hampshire. With so many to choose from, it can be tough to know where to start. To help you out, we’ve compiled a list of the 10 best beaches in Southampton. Whether you’re looking for a quiet spot to relax or a bustling beach with plenty of activities, you’ll find what you’re looking for here.
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Weston Hard Woolston Beach Southamton
Weston Hard is a beautiful Southampton Beach. It is a small marina near the mouth of the river Itchen. This Southampton beach can be found near the Itchen Bridge in the South East of Southampton. Weston Hard Beach Southampton is a pebble beach. It is popular with dog walkers and those looking for a peaceful little picnic. In summer, this Southampton beach is popular with families whose kids look for little crabs between the pebbles.
Also Read: 15 Things To Do In Southampton This Weekend[expander_maker id=”1″ more=”Read more” less=”Read less”]
Head to Weston Hard for a nice walk or a little picnic, but swimming on this Southampton Beach is strictly forbidden. Thanks to the mouth of the river Itchen there is a large chance of riptides which are very dangerous.
There is a dedicated Weston Beach car park. If the car park is full however, you can also head to Victoria Road Car Park or the Southampton City Parking linked below. Near this Southampton Beach you will also find a kids’ play area and as this is a dog-friendly Southampton beach you can bring your 4-legged friends here too! [expander_maker id=”1″ more=”Read more” less=”Read less”]Read more hidden text[/expander_maker]
Calshot Southampton Beach
Next in the list of beaches in Southampton is Calshot beach. Calchot Beach is a mile long shingle spit. This Southampton beach reaches out into The Solent.
Calshot beach is one of Southampton’s most beautiful beaches. The shingle beach stretches for miles, and is an excellent place for recreational activities. You can enjoy swimming, sunbathing, fishing, surfing, horseback riding, cycling, volleyball, windsurfing and more. It has a family friendly atmosphere with kid-friendly amenities like showers and changing rooms.
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[expander_maker id=”1″ more=”Read more” less=”Read less”]This Southampton Beach offers an amazing view of the Solent. From here you can watch ships and ferries come by or wave at the many sailing boats by the Southampton Beach. Behind Calshot Beach Southampton you will find the Calshot Marches which are beautiful marshlands and mud flats, perfect for dog walking nad picnics.
Dogs are allowed on this Southampton Beach making both Calshot Beach Southampton and the Calshot marshes a favourite dog-walking spot for locals and tourists alike. [/expander_maker]
Netley Abbey Beach Southampton
Netley Abbey is one the best family beaches in Southampton. This is a lovely pebble beach with a café, toilets, parking and a nice play park. This Southampton Beach also comes with a large car park which has a view over the Solent.
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[expander_maker id=”1″ more=”Read more” less=”Read less”]Netley Abbey Beach Southampton is a beach I would recommend for walks. Dogs are allowed on this beach so you can take your wet-nosed friends with you to this Southampton Beach. There is a lot to do near the Netley Abbey Beach in Southampton. The Royal Victoria Railway is only a short walk away, there is a sailing club, and a bit down the road along the Netley wall you will find Sophie’s pond and Abbey Hall.
Sophie’s Pond near Netley Abbey Beach in Southampton is a beautiful pond near the beach side public car park. It is filled with ducks and geese and is the perfect place to feed the ducks. Abbey Hall on the other hand is a beautiful green field of grass overlooking the Solent that is perfect for picnics or playing games with kids.
There aren’t too many tourists on this beach which makes it a great place to visit if you are looking for a quiet Southampton Beach. [/expander_maker]
Hamble Common Beach
Hamble Common Beach is a beautiful and quiet beach perched between the mouth of the river Hamble and the Southampton Water before it floods into the Solent. This beautiful sandy Southampton Beach is well-known for its World War II fortifications which you can still see to this day. Other than that this beach is very popular with sailors and dog walkers. From Hamble Common Beach you can easily see the ferries to and from the Isle of Wight come in. As this Southampton Beach is connected with the Netley Abbey Beach, there is quite a distance of beach you can walk on a sunny Sunday afternoon.
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[expander_maker id=”1″ more=”Read more” less=”Read less”]The Hamble Common itself is a small patch of sandy dune which houses many wild birds and creatures. It is best to keep your dog on a leash at all times during nesting season while walking over the common. There is also a group of cows that walks freely here, and in spring the Hamble Common by Hamble Beach Southampton is abloom with many brightly coloured wildflowers.
There are many small cafes around the beach where you can stop for refreshments or have a little snack. This beach provides free car parking. Hamble Common Beach is a dog friendly beach. [/expander_maker]
Weston Shore Promenade Southampton Beach
Want to find a Southampton Beach perfect for walking? Then the Weston Shore Promenade is the perfect beach in Southampton for you! From this Southampton beach you will have an amazing view of the sunset. This promenade is the perfect place to go walking or cycling as there is a dedicated track that runs along the beach. This beach near Southampton also comes with lots of benches where you can sit and have a nice view over the Southampton harbour and the boats.
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[expander_maker id=”1″ more=”Read more” less=”Read less”]Close to the Weston Shore Promenade you will also find a playground. This Playground is a great place for kids to play near the Southampton Beach. There are parking spaces near this beach in Southampton. Nearby you will also find a few cafés and in summer there is even an ice cream van. You are not allowed to bathe or swim at Weston Shore Promenade Beach in Southampton as it is adjacent to an industrial estate and the Woolston Wastewater Treatment Works.
The beach is, however, dog-friendly. [/expander_maker]
Lee-on-Solent beach Southampton
Lee-On-Solent Beach is a great beach for those who want to have an amazing walk with great views onto the Isle of Wight. This shingle beach near Gosport allows you to spot large cruise liners or cargo ships and if the weather is nice you might even be able to spot Osborne House from the beach!
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[expander_maker id=”1″ more=”Read more” less=”Read less”]Lee-On-Solent beach is the perfect beach to go for a picnic. Although this is a shingle beach in Southampton, there are more than enough grassy bits to lay down your picnic blanket. There is lots to do for the kids as well in this Southampton Beach. When the tide is out they can look for crabs and other little sea creatures in the many rock pools.
This Southampton beach is known for its great fishing, but also for swimming and bathing as well as water skiing and wind surfing. There is a slipway available if you would like to bring your own kayak, rib or boat.
Is this Southampton Beach Dog Friendly? Yes and No. Dogs are not allowed on this beach between May 1st and September 30th. [/expander_maker]
Hill Head Beach
Hill head Beach is a beautiful beach near Southampton, just opposite the Isle of Wight. This long shingle beach in Southampton lies in Fareham between Southampton and Portsmouth. The beach is covered in little stones and shells and is divided by wooden groynes. These groynes protect the beach from the water and make sure that the sand and shingle doesn’t just drift off into the solent.
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[expander_maker id=”1″ more=”Read more” less=”Read less”]This Southampton Beach is very popular with people looking to do some watersports. In fact, it is well known for people who go for sailing, windsurfing and kitesurfing. This Southampton Beach is also a great spot for those who want to do a bit of fishing.
Hill Head Beach is also a great spot to go for a walk. This Southampton Beach lies close to the Titchfield Haven National Nature Reserve. This Nature Reserve houses lots of beautiful birds. There is no lifeguard service and dogs are allowed on the beach during the autumn and winter months. There is, however, a small part of the beach just west of the main car park that is dog-friendly all year round! [/expander_maker]
Lepe Beach Southampton
Lepe Beach near Southampton is a beautiful shingle beach in The New Forest. Lepe Beach is one of the most popular beaches in the area, mainly because there is a camping site connected to the beach and the beach lies in one of the most beautiful national parks of the South of England. In addition, there is also a café where you can eat, and there are dedicated BBQ areas for those who want to hold a family picnic.
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[expander_maker id=”1″ more=”Read more” less=”Read less”]It’s a great beach to bring your kids as The New Forest and Lepe beach played a big part during WW2. In fact, Lepe beach was a departure point for troups! You can find lots of great information boards along the beach.
Overall, this beach near Southampton is made up out of pebbles. The beach is popular with people that are into watersports. There is no lifeguard available but you can still bathe here as the water is quite calm. Just don’t go to deep and keep an eye out on the tide. Dogs are not permitted on the beach in summer months. If you are into camping I would also have a look at the Lepe Beach campsite. You can find more information about this in our article about the best camping spots in the New Forest.
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Brownwich Beach Southampton
If you are looking for a great beach for walking, then Brownwich beach should be on your list! This beautiful beach near Brownwich pond is located in Fareham and is a great place to walk the dog, go beach combing or just have a family picnic. When the weather is clear you will be able to see the Isle of Wight from the beach, and it is not uncommon for this Southampton Beach to be rather busy during the summer. There is ample parking and there are even toilets available!
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This Southampton beach is dog-friendly. There are large dunes connected to this Southampton beach which makes it a great picnic spot as you can sit out of the wind, protected by the dunes. This is a gorgeous Southampton beach to spend a few hours on a summer’s afternoon. [/expander_maker]
What are the best dog-friendly beaches in Southampton
Out of many beaches in Southampton, there are a few beaches that are dog friendly. You will be able to walk your dog on the beach as long as you adhere to the local guidelines. The following Southampton beaches are dog-friendly.
- Brownwich Beach
- Calshot Beach
- Hamble common beach
- Taddiford Gap
Please note that some beaches listed as dog friendly may still have certain restricted areas during certain times of year.
What are the best family beaches near Southampton
Getting bored in Southampton and want to have a good sunny day out with your family? There are many beaches in Southampton which are family friendly. Here are some of the best beaches in Southampton for some family fun in the sun!
- Hill Head Beach
- Calshot Beach
- Lepe Beach
Lieze Neven is a globetrotting travel writer and expat currently based in Nepal. With a passion for exploration, she has lived in Dubai, the UK, and Belgium, alongside her international teacher husband. Her parents live in France and she tries to visit Paris at least once a year. Together, they travel the world looking for the best hotels, experiences and food locations have to offer!
Where we can definitely swim? What beach at?
Lepe Beach and Calshot beach which are all a drive away. Hill Head Beach is also good for a swim.