For London tourists looking for a tranquil and scenic escape from the hustle and bustle of inner city life, the coastline of south England is a treasure trove of stunning coastal havens and hidden gems. If you prefer organized travel, consider one of the fantastic tours from London to experience these gems. Read on for our top destinations for a picturesque coastal day trip outside of London. You can also browse our private day tours across the best of England for ideas beyond the coast.
The Jurassic Coast, Dorset
Peaceful, rolling countryside and calm, cerulean waters await on the Jurassic Coast. This captivating five mile stretch of historic coastline along southern England presents a fascinating, almost continuous sequence of rock formations. These rocks date back as far as the Mesozoic Era. You can easily include the Jurassic Coast as part of many scenic tours departing from London. This makes your journey both comfortable and memorable. A true wonder to behold, it was the first natural place on earth to be designated a UNESCO World Heritage Site. This was due to its intense beauty and international geological significance.
Durdle Door, Dorset
In all its splendor and serenity, it’s really no surprise why Durdle Door is the most photographed and iconic landmark in Dorset. Travelers searching for unique journeys often add Durdle Door to their tours originating in London. This creates an unforgettable experience. This natural limestone arch takes its name from the old English word thirl, which means to pierce or drill. It was formed around 10,000 years ago. This happened when the power of the waves eroded the rock and forged a hole through its middle.
Lulworth Cove, Dorset
Lulworth Cove is renowned for its stunning panoramic views, crystal clear azure waters, and fascinating geological intrigue. For those booking excursions and tours out from London, Lulworth Cove is an ideal stop packed with natural beauty. Formed by the combined forces of the sea and a river swollen by melting ice at the end of the last Ice Age, this unassuming cove has so much to offer.
Other Landforms
As well as the big ticket rock formations, other unique landforms also feature on the Jurassic Coast including Lulworth Crumple, a jaunty cliff face created when the Europe and Africa tectonic plates collided. There is also Stair Hole, a hole in the Portland limestone which has slowly produced a circular sea cove with time. Notably, many visitors choose guided tours that start from London to make sure they don’t miss these remarkable coastal features.
The Sussex Heritage Coast, Sussex
Spanning six miles of stunningly scenic coastline from Eastbourne to Seaford, the Sussex Heritage Coast is a flawless, undeveloped National Trust area. It features iconic landscapes, seascapes, wildlife, and plenty of heritage. Travelers who prefer tours leaving from London will appreciate the convenience and insight these excursions offer while exploring the Sussex Heritage Coast. It is the longest stretch of undeveloped land on the south coast. In addition, it was the first Heritage Coast established to protect and conserve the best stretches of undeveloped coast in England.
Beachy Head, East Sussex
Standing at 530 feet high and boasting incredible views across the English Channel, the iconic white chalk cliffs of Beachy Head are the highest point along the south coast. They are also the highest chalk sea cliffs in Britain. For an unforgettable day, tours from the London area to Beachy Head allow visitors to take in these spectacular views with ease. Due to them facing southward, these imposing cliffs are subjected to severe southwest gales. This maintains their iconic, sheer edge.
Visitors who venture inland slightly will soon reach the quaint, quintessential village of East Dean. With charming pubs surrounding a beautifully manicured green, a thriving community of artists, and a perfect base location for avid birdwatchers, there is so much to see and do in East Dean after you have drunk your fill of the stunning landscapes and sea views offered by Beachy Head. For added convenience, a number of tours depart from London that include stops in East Dean and the surrounding areas. Brighton sits along this same stretch of coast, and our walking tour of Brighton is a pleasant way to get to know it.
Seven Sisters, East Sussex
Seven Sisters is the ultimate scenic destination for those with a love for picturesque landscapes and stunning nature walks. Whether you are on one of the organized tours starting from London or exploring independently, this area offers endless beauty. Featuring globally significant habitats and iconic white cliff coastlines, a trip to Seven Sisters is a tranquil and memorable way to enjoy the beauty of the Sussex Heritage Coast.
A huge range of trails and footpaths span the park across hundreds of miles of protected woodland, stretching from remote countryside to the sandy southern beaches of Sussex. Joining guided tours from London is a popular way to experience these trails and all the region’s wildlife. From the yellowhammer to the kingfisher, Seven Sisters boasts an impressive array of wildlife to be spotted through the seasons. Kayaking and paddle boarding is also available during the summer months. While you are in Sussex, our guide to Brighton covers what to see in the city itself.
Old Harry Rocks, Dorset
At the eastern end of the Jurassic Coast the chalk runs out into the sea as a line of white stacks known as Old Harry Rocks, part of the same ridge that surfaces again as the Needles on the Isle of Wight. Getting there means walking out along the headland from the village of Studland, and if you are coming from Poole the short way across the harbour mouth is the Sandbanks chain ferry rather than the long road round.
Lyme Regis, Dorset
Lyme Regis is the fossil hunting end of the coast, where Mary Anning found the marine reptiles that helped establish the science, and the cliffs still give up ammonites after a winter storm. The Cobb, the curving stone harbour wall, is the town’s landmark. Lyme has no railway station of its own, the nearest being Axminster inland, and the streets drop steeply to the sea, so it pays to park at the top and walk down.
Chesil Beach and Portland, Dorset
Chesil Beach is a bank of shingle running for miles along the Dorset shore, joining the mainland to the Isle of Portland, which is not really an island at all. Weymouth is the nearest town with a railway station, and the road out to the lighthouse at Portland Bill crosses the bank at Ferrybridge.
Birling Gap and Cuckmere Haven, East Sussex
Between Beachy Head and Seaford the cliff path drops to sea level twice. Birling Gap has a National Trust car park at the top and steps down to the shingle, and the tide comes in hard against the cliff, so it is worth checking before walking far along the beach. Further west, Cuckmere Haven is reached on foot from the car park at Exceat, following the meandering river down to the shore for the view back at the Seven Sisters that ends up on most postcards.
West Wittering, West Sussex
Sand rather than shingle, which is rare along this coast. West Wittering lies at the end of the peninsula south of Chichester, facing the entrance to Chichester Harbour with the Isle of Wight beyond. One road leads in and the beach car park fills early on summer weekends, so an early start or a weekday is the sensible plan.
Rye and Camber Sands, East Sussex
Rye was a working port until the sea retreated and left it stranded, which is why a hill town of cobbled streets and timber-framed houses now sits above flat marsh with no harbour beneath it. It has a station on the line between Ashford and Hastings, so it is one of the easier stretches of this coast to reach without a car. Camber Sands, a long beach backed by dunes, lies just east of the town across the river mouth.
Stringing more than one of these together in a day really needs a car, and our day trips from London page gives a sense of how far a single day reaches. If you would rather someone else drove, our guide to scenic train journeys across England covers the routes worth taking for the view alone.
If you are thinking about visiting Dorset in the UK or have a trip planned why not book a bespoke UK tour with us and explore in style? And finally, for the perfect adventure make sure to check out our range of day tours from London to all these amazing destinations.
