13 beautiful beaches under three hours from Birmingham to check out now that it’s sunny — featuring quiet bays, historic piers and views over Wales

Weston-super-Mare should be well known to most Brummies. Less than two hours from Birmingham (either by car or train), Weston-super-Mare is one of the best and closest beaches we have access to. With almost two miles of sandy shores to enjoy!

A flat and level promenade runs alongside it, with the iconic Grand Pier offering a classic amusement park mixed with up-to-the-minute entertainment. Meanwhile, the Marine Lake has seawater bathing and its own sandy beach when the tide is out!

Heading in the opposite direction, to the Wirral Peninsula, Thurstaston Beach will take you a similar amount of time to travel to. A mix of sand and shingle, looking out over to Wales, Thurstaston provides a beautifully unspoilt beach. Perfect for picnics, sandcastles and rock pool diving. It also sits near Wirral Country Park, a large area of parkland, as well as the 12-mile walking trail Wirral Way.

Rutland Water is the only inland beach in England to be awarded the prestigious Blue Flag status, recognised for its excellent water quality and safety measures. Located just 90 minutes from Birmingham, this 4,000-acre reservoir offers a scenic escape with plenty to do, including swimming, paddleboarding, and birdwatching. There’s a sandy beach operational in summer, plus a variety of watersports available—making it a must-visit for outdoor lovers.

If you fancy a beach with a little bit more life, a little further along the Wirral Peninsula, you’ll find West Kirby. It’s not the biggest of beaches near Birmingham, but it makes up for it with its lively coastal town and the West Kirby Marine Lake, plus stunning views of the Welsh Hills.

If you do decide to venture out this way, make sure to visit the breathtaking Hilbre Island – an 11.5-acre tidal island featuring a bird observatory and an old telegraph station. Some other brilliant beaches near Birmingham, up in this area, include New Brighton and Hoylake.

Head directly west from Birmingham and, after two to three hours, you’ll come to Barmouth Beach. Sitting in southern Snowdonia, the beach is a mix of sand and fine shingle. It’s ideal for bathing and watersports, while you can enjoy train and donkey rides, swing boats and amusement arcades. The adjoining Benar Beach is also vast, stretching seemingly forever, so it is a great place to escape the hustle and bustle of the town.

Aberystwyth is the perfect beach getaway from Birmingham, just a three-hour train ride away. If you want a classic Victorian seaside feel with options to dodge the crowds, North Beach features traditional seaside delights, while quieter South Beach is ideal for surfers and those seeking peace. Don’t miss the Cliff Railway for breathtaking views, and enjoy family-friendly activities like the Vale of Rheidol Railway and the arts centre.

Part of a larger stretch of beach that includes Ffrith and Barkby Beaches, Prestatyn Beach has to be one of the country’s best-kept secrets, with miles of sandy shores to explore. It’s a popular destination for watersports—like surfing, sailing and windsurfing—and also marks the beginning of the Offa’s Dyke National Trail, which runs south to Chepstow. For a sunny swim or a pleasant walk, Prestatyn is an underrated gem, only 2 and a half hours from Birmingham.

There are eight beaches in the Burnham area (including Brean and Berrow), but it is Burnham-On-Sea Beach itself that has the most to offer – it’s also award-winning! Burnham was once a small fishing village back in the late 18th century, before it began to grow in popularity as a seaside resort. It’s only a two-hour drive from Birmingham, and a visit to Burnham-On-Sea Beach is great for swimming and paddling and boasts a beautiful lighthouse.

Fans of the hit BBC show Gavin & Stacey will know this beach well. A two-and-a-half-hour drive from Birmingham means you can relive all your favourite scenes in this cute seaside setting. But you don’t have to be a fan of James Corden to replenish at the beach. Everyone can enjoy the Welsh peninsula of Barry Island. The golden sands of Whitemore Bay and the pebbly cove of Cold Knap are both wonderful places to visit. Ideal for swimming, fishing, windsurfing, walking, or rockpool diving.

It might feel like a long way away, but you can get to Bournemouth on a direct three-hour train from Birmingham. Here, you’ll find seven miles of sandy shores backed by a magnificent cliff line. It’s often considered one of the best beaches in the UK and even has its own micro-climate, offering some of the warmest sea temperatures in the UK. You can also stroll along the pier, enjoy ice cream, and try out one of many superb water sports in the water!

One of the few beaches near Birmingham that isn’t located by a coastal town because it isn’t by the sea. Cotswold Country Park & Beach is the UK’s largest inland sandy beach and is less than two hours from Birmingham. It’s comprised of a main beach for serious outdoor swimming, a paddling lagoon for playing and relaxing, and, for little ones, a mini children’s beach lagoon.

But that’s not all! There’s an adventure playground by the beach; daily mini golf; an AquaVenture inflatable course for all ages, with the high-energy obstacle course offering the ultimate total wipe-out style experience; rent kayaks, paddleboards and swan pedalo boats to explore these gorgeous lakes; and hire a BBQ for a cookout.

Blackpool might have a bit of a reputation as bust and noisy, but the beach itself can still be pretty breathtaking. Taking just over two hours to drive to, Blackpool’s famous Golden Mile (a nickname from its high number of slot machines, not sandy shores) is jam-packed with excitement. Swim, sunbathe, and build sandcastles. Explore its three piers and wander the promenade with ice cream. That’s before we even talk about Blackpool Pleasure Beach.

A legendary amusement park, it’s home to the largest collection of wooden roller coasters in the United Kingdom: the Big Dipper, Blue Flyer, Grand National and Nickelodeon Streak. But from the beach to Sea Life, the Blackpool Zoo to the arcades, this seaside town holds an abundance of attractions. You’ll never get bored in Blackpool, that’s for sure.

For somewhere far quieter and more peaceful, you’ll have to drive a bit further away. But you’ll never forget a trip to Llanddwyn Beach – making the three-hour drive worth it. Golden shores and crystal waters are free of fuss, amenities and manmade activities. Just you and the coastline. Staring out towards Ireland. Complete and utter peace. The Site of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI) is also rich in birds and wildlife.