9 Top Hampshire Beaches You Need To Visit
Stretching out over 230 miles from Highcliffe in the west to Chichester Harbour in the east, Hampshire’s coastline has a lot of wonderful spots – with beaches for all occasions along the way.
You’ll find some of Hampshire’s prettiest beaches fringing the New Forest National Park, while in the centre of the county Southampton Water’s wide tidal estuary curves inland, running up to the Hamble Valley – which encompasses lush woodland, trickling rivers and wide salt marshes soundtracked by sea breezes and the calls of oystercatchers.
Wild beach or a place with lots of activities? Up to you. From peaceful nature reserves to family-friendly swimming spots, here's our choice of the 9 top Hampshire beaches you need to visit.
If you’re visiting the area for a bit of outdoor activity, make the most of your time in the fresh air by choosing to stay at a campsite or glampsite – whether you choose a simple campsite or a stylish glamping stay, it’s a great way to add a little extra adventure to your break while also keeping costs down. Take a look at Pitchup’s full range to find the place that suits you.
Lepe Beach
The mile-long shingle beach at Lepe Country Park, east of Lymington, has gorgeous views across the Solent to the Isle of Wight. It’s popular with everyone from avid birdwatchers (the meadows and woodland at its edge are all protected wildlife habitats) to adrenaline junkies (who come to kitesurf and windsurf). Walk the five-mile-long Lepe Loop, a circular walk which takes in D-Day remains, craggy clifftops and wild flower meadows, then pick up an ice cream from The Lookout and settle in to watch yachts, ferries and cargo boats sail by.
Fancy more local rambles? Read our list of the best walks in Hampshire.
Hayling Island
A little way from Portsmouth, Hayling Island’s three main beaches (West, Beachlands Central and Eastoke) make up a three-mile stretch of sand and shingle – and they’re all Blue Flag-certified, which denotes high standards of cleanliness and water quality. The ‘lagoon’ created by mile-long West Winner sandbank makes West Beach a favourite with swimmers, while Eastoke’s proximity to Sandy Point Nature Reserve means it’s a good choice for birdwatchers and nature-hunters. Meanwhile, for a little bit of everything, plus easy access to family-friendly activities like Funland funfair, plump for Beachlands Central.
Calshot Beach
Is your dog part of the family? Then head to Calshot Beach, where dogs are welcome all year round (although you’ll need to keep them on a lead around the castle, the activity centre and near wildlife). Don’t forget your swimming gear – this mile-long stretch of shingle shore is a popular bathing spot. You can also try watersports like sailing and kitesurfing at Calshot Activities Centre, or get your historical fix at Calshot Castle, built by Henry VIII in the 16th century to repel any French attempts at invasion.
Like to plan days out with your pup? Check out our guide to more dog-friendly beaches in Hampshire.
Milford-on-Sea
Pebbly shores (with sand also appearing at mid to low tide), rows of colourful beach huts and gorgeous views out towards the Isle of Wight’s famous Needles are the hallmarks of the beach at Milford-on-Sea. Once a smugglers’ haunt, this coastal village is now calm, peaceful and packed with cosy cafés. If you fancy a walk, head to Hurst Castle (part of Henry VIII’s coastal fortifications), which is a mile and a half south of Milford-on-Sea village – and the route is beach all the way.
Hill Head Beach
If you’re especially keen-eyed, you can see Osborne – Queen Victoria’s gigantic Isle of Wight holiday home – from Hill Head Beach, between Gosport and Southampton. This is a long stretch of pebble beach, set within wooden groynes that look particularly dramatic during dusk-time strolls. To the west, there’s a small harbour looking out onto the Solent’s busy shipping lane. Hill Head is a popular spot for watersports and fishing, and it’s backed by Titchfield Haven National Nature Reserve for the birdwatchers.
Southsea
Coastal nature reserves are always wonderful, of course, but some of the best seaside holidays include getting sticky-faced eating candy floss on a pier. And that’s exactly what you can do at Southsea, a former Victorian resort town close to Portsmouth’s Historic Dockyard.
The beach itself is made up of flinty shingle and looks over towards the Isle of Wight and Palmerston’s Folly, four huge 19th-century forts built out to sea. It’s home to two piers (Clarence Pier and South Parade Pier), both with amusement arcades, and a funfair with rides ranging from the tame (the Flying Dumbos) to the mildly terrifying (Mad Mouse rollercoaster).
If you need a break from the beach, take a stroll through town to see the D-Day Story museum, Blue Reef Aquarium and blue plaques commemorating notable former residents like Rudyard Kipling and Arthur Conan Doyle.
Stokes Bay
If you’re the kind of person that likes long walks on the beach, Stokes Bay is a great beach for you. It’s huge, running from Lee-on-the-Solent to Stokes Bay Harbour (and the car park is correspondingly large, meaning you’ll rarely have to search for a space). While there are a lot of facilities here – including shops, a play park, barbecue spaces, tennis courts, crazy golf and a paddling pool – the real draws are the vast open skies and coastal views stretching as far as the eye can see.
Meon Shore Beach
Walk just past the clapperboard beach huts to the eastern end of Fareham’s Meon Shore and you might find treasure: this area is a well-known spot for fossil-hunters, who scan the beach’s smooth pebbles for finds. If you prefer to get your thrills another way, sign up for kitesurfing lessons with Airzone. Be aware that the western end of the beach is occasionally an unofficial naturist spot.
Barton-on-Sea
Sweeping clifftop views across Christchurch Bay, walking paths including the start of the Solent Way, beach huts and a long sand-shingle shore await you at Barton-on-Sea. This is Hampshire’s most westerly beach – a half-hour coastal walk will take you across to Dorset’s pretty Highcliffe Beach, topped by Highcliffe Castle and its flamboyant Gothic turrets. It’s also dog-friendly all year round, so it’s a good choice if you’ve got a beach-loving furry friend.
Planning to hit the Hampshire coast for more than just one day? Pitchup has a good range of places to stay, from wallet-friendly simple farm campsites to fully equipped holiday parks and cosy glamping units. Click the link below to explore all the options.