West Sussex has 28 beaches spread across roughly 50 miles of coastline, from the famous golden sand at West Wittering to quieter shingle stretches where you can walk for half a mile without seeing another family. But not all beaches in West Sussex are equal. Some have sand, most are shingle. Some have lifeguards, most do not. Parking ranges from free to genuinely painful.
This guide covers the beaches worth visiting with kids, with honest detail on what you will actually find when you get there. No tourism-board gloss, just the facts: where to park, what the surface is like, whether there are toilets, and which ones to avoid on a scorching August Saturday.
Beach Comparison Table
| Beach | Surface | Lifeguards | Toilets | Parking | Dogs (Summer) | Postcode | |-------|---------|------------|---------|---------|---------------|----------| | West Wittering | Sand | Yes (summer) | Yes | Paid (expensive) | Restricted | PO20 8AU | | Littlehampton East | Sand & shingle | Yes (RNLI) | Yes | Paid | Restricted east of Norfolk Rd | BN17 5LG | | Bognor Regis East | Shingle (sand at low tide) | Yes (RNLI) | Yes | Paid | Banned west of Gloucester Rd | PO22 7AP | | Felpham | Sand & shingle | No | Yes | Free (village car park) | Restricted | PO22 7EE | | Climping | Shingle (sand at low tide) | No | Yes | Paid | Allowed all year | BN17 5RN | | Worthing | Sand & shingle | No | Yes | Paid | Restricted (Heene Rd to Splash Point) | BN11 3NT | | East Wittering | Shingle (sand at low tide) | No | Yes | Small car park | Restricted | PO20 8QR | | Bracklesham Bay | Sand & shingle | No | Yes | Pay & display | Restricted | PO20 8JS | | Selsey | Shingle | No | Yes | Free (500 spaces) | Check locally | PO20 0EU | | Shoreham/Lancing | Shingle | No | Varies | Varies | Allowed all year | BN43 5WA |
The Best Family Beaches
West Wittering: The Big One
There is a reason everyone talks about West Wittering. It is pretty much the only large sandy beach in West Sussex, and it is genuinely stunning. Golden sand, clean water that regularly earns Blue Flag status, views across to the Isle of Wight, and shallow lagoons left by the retreating tide where toddlers can splash safely.
The catch? Everyone knows about it. On a hot summer weekend, the car park fills before 10am and the road in becomes a car park itself. Parking is expensive and managed by West Wittering Estate. If you are visiting in July or August, arrive by 9am or do not bother.
At the far end of the beach, East Head is a National Trust sand dune spit with calmer water, rock pools and fewer crowds. It is worth the extra walk.
📍 Postcode: PO20 8AU 🏖️ Surface: Sand 🛟 Lifeguards: Yes (summer) 🚻 Toilets: Yes, plus showers and cafe 🅿️ Parking: Paid, managed by West Wittering Estate. Arrive before 10am in summer. 🐕 Dogs: Restricted areas in summer. Dogs on leads at East Head year-round.
Top tip: Visit at low tide for the biggest expanse of sand. The sea retreats a long way, creating warm shallow pools perfect for paddling. But watch the tide coming back in as it moves fast over the flat sand.
For more free days out across the county, check our full guide.
Littlehampton East Beach: Best for Families on a Budget
Littlehampton does not get the glamorous write-ups that West Wittering does, but for families it is arguably the more practical choice. RNLI lifeguards patrol in summer, there is a free KidCare wristband scheme for lost children, the sand at low tide is perfect for castles, and parking is cheaper.
The seafront has the UK's longest bench (seriously, it is over 300 metres), well-maintained gardens, amusements and cafes. It is a proper seaside day out without the West Wittering price tag.
One important safety note: never swim in the first bay next to the pier as the currents are dangerous. Swim from the second bay onwards.
📍 Postcode: BN17 5LG 🏖️ Surface: Sand and shingle (more sand at low tide) 🛟 Lifeguards: Yes, RNLI (summer) 🚻 Toilets: Yes, plus disabled facilities, showers, first aid 🅿️ Parking: Several pay car parks near the beach 🐕 Dogs: Restricted east of Norfolk Road in summer
Top tip: The [Arun District beach patrol](https://www.arun.gov.uk/beach-safety) operates a free wristband system for children and vulnerable adults. Pick one up when you arrive.
Bognor Regis East Beach: Classic Seaside
Bognor gets unfairly dismissed but the East Beach has proper family infrastructure: RNLI lifeguards, beach patrol officers from Easter to September, toilets, cafes, and the "Beach on the Beach" enclosed sandpit right next to the promenade, which is brilliant for little ones who are not keen on the sea.
It is shingle at high tide with sand revealed as the water drops. The Butlins resort sits right next to it, which tells you the kind of crowd to expect. Perfectly fine for a classic bucket-and-spade day, just do not expect tranquillity in August.
📍 Postcode: PO22 7AP 🏖️ Surface: Shingle, sand at low tide 🛟 Lifeguards: Yes, RNLI (summer) 🚻 Toilets: Yes, plus disabled facilities, first aid 🅿️ Parking: Paid, several options 🐕 Dogs: Banned west of Gloucester Road, 1 May to 30 September
For more ideas in the area, see our guide to dog-friendly days out in West Sussex.
Felpham: The Quiet Local Favourite
Just east of Bognor, Felpham is where locals go to avoid the Bognor crowds. It has a proper village feel, two decent cafes (The Lobster Pot and The Boat House), beach huts, a promenade, and free parking in Felpham Village car park.
The beach is steep shingle at high tide but reveals excellent rock pools and a large sandy area as the tide drops. No lifeguards, so you need to keep an eye on your own kids. The poet William Blake lived here and called it "the sweetest spot on earth." He might have been biased, but it is genuinely lovely.
📍 Postcode: PO22 7EE 🏖️ Surface: Sand and shingle (rock pools at low tide) 🛟 Lifeguards: No 🚻 Toilets: Yes 🅿️ Parking: Free in Felpham Village car park 🐕 Dogs: Restricted between Canning Road and Felpham Sailing Club, 1 May to 30 September
Hidden Gems: Quieter Alternatives
Climping Beach: Dog Walkers' Paradise
Climping (also called Atherington) is the beach the tourists miss. Backed by sand dunes and fields rather than a town, it sits within a Site of Special Scientific Interest and has a properly wild feel. Shingle at high tide with vast sand at low tide.
Dogs are allowed all year round with no restrictions, which makes it the best beach in West Sussex for dog owners. However, facilities are basic, the car park has had mixed reviews for its payment system, and there are no lifeguards. It is not the beach for a polished family day out, but it is perfect for a proper walk with the dog.
📍 Postcode: BN17 5RN 🏖️ Surface: Shingle, large sand expanse at low tide 🛟 Lifeguards: No 🚻 Toilets: Yes (basic) 🅿️ Parking: Paid 🐕 Dogs: Allowed all year, no restrictions
Bracklesham Bay: Fossil Hunting
If your children like finding things, Bracklesham Bay is the one. It is one of the best fossil hunting spots on the south coast, with fossilised shark teeth being a common find. The beach is sand and shingle with good rock pools at low tide and excellent water quality.
It has a more relaxed feel than the bigger resort beaches. There is a cafe (Billy's on the Beach), toilets and pay-and-display parking. Worth combining with a visit to West Wittering if you want variety in one day.
📍 Postcode: PO20 8JS 🏖️ Surface: Sand and shingle 🛟 Lifeguards: No 🚻 Toilets: Yes 🅿️ Parking: Pay and display along East Bracklesham Drive 🐕 Dogs: Restricted near the car park, 1 May to 30 September. Allowed further along the beach.
East Wittering: West Wittering Without the Crowds
Just two miles from its famous neighbour, East Wittering gets a fraction of the visitors. The beach is shingle at high tide but reveals great sand at low tide, perfect for castles and ball games. It is popular with surfers and has a relaxed, villagey atmosphere with surf shops and cafes on Shore Road.
No lifeguards and limited parking, but if West Wittering's car park is full (which it will be on summer weekends), this is your backup plan.
📍 Postcode: PO20 8QR 🏖️ Surface: Shingle, excellent sand at low tide 🛟 Lifeguards: No 🚻 Toilets: Yes 🅿️ Parking: Small car park on the beach 🐕 Dogs: Restricted areas, end of May to September
Selsey: Space and Solitude
Right at the tip of the Manhood Peninsula, Selsey is quiet, unpolished and has excellent water quality. The beach is shingle with parking for 500 cars, a children's play area and basic facilities. No lifeguards and the beach is not going to win any beauty contests, but it rarely gets crowded and is good for a peaceful family walk.
The town has a long fishing heritage and you can buy fresh crab and lobster from the local fleet. Worth the trip for that alone.
📍 Postcode: PO20 0EU 🏖️ Surface: Shingle 🛟 Lifeguards: No 🚻 Toilets: Yes, plus children's play area 🅿️ Parking: Free, 500 spaces 🐕 Dogs: Check locally for seasonal restrictions
Worthing and Shoreham: Town Beaches
Worthing Beach
Five miles of beach backed by a vibrant town with plenty to do if the weather turns. Shingle above the waterline with sand and rock pools at low tide. Worthing Pier is free to walk along and there is a cafe at the end. No lifeguards, but good facilities and easy access.
📍 Postcode: BN11 3NT 🏖️ Surface: Sand and shingle 🅿️ Parking: Paid along Marine Parade, plus multi-storey nearby 🐕 Dogs: Excluded from Heene Road to Splash Point, 1 May to 30 September, 24 hours a day
Check out our guide to family walks on the South Downs if you want to combine a beach visit with a hill walk.
Shoreham and Lancing
All beaches in the Adur district are shingle with some sand at full low tide. The standout is that dogs are allowed on all Adur beaches year-round, making these the go-to winter dog walk beaches. Shoreham Beach is a Local Nature Reserve with a 1.2km boardwalk accessible to wheelchairs and pushchairs. Lancing Beach Green has a playground and BMX/skatepark.
📍 Shoreham postcode: BN43 5WA | Lancing postcode: BN15 8AE 🏖️ Surface: Shingle 🐕 Dogs: Allowed all year, all Adur beaches
Beach Safety Tips
The Arun District Council beach safety page has detailed safety information for the Bognor and Littlehampton area. Key points for families:
- Always swim between the red and yellow flags where lifeguards are present
- Never use inflatables in the sea when the orange cone/sock is flying
- Check tide times before visiting. Low tide gives you more sand at most beaches
- Five beaches are tested daily for water quality during bathing season (15 May to 30 September): Pagham, Aldwick, Bognor East, Felpham and Littlehampton
- If you see someone in trouble, call 999 and ask for the Coastguard
For more family day out ideas across the county, browse our guides to free things to do in West Sussex and dog-friendly days out.