As the sun graces us with its presence this week, thoughts turn to outdoor pleasures like family barbecues, pub gardens, and seaside jaunts. West Wittering beach, a mere 55-minute drive from Surrey, is hailed as one of the UK’s top  beaches, perfect for a springtime amble or a full-blown summer day out.

Nestled in a picturesque West Sussex village, this soft sandy haven has earned a Blue Flag for its family-friendly appeal. Condé Nast Traveller magazine, which compiled a list of the UK’s best beaches, praises West Wittering: “West Wittering draws a crowd from all over the south coast, and is particularly popular with windsurfers. Low tide brings the promise of shallow lagoons to paddle in and creates a blank canvas for sand-castles. There’s a grassy patch ideal for picnics behind the beach huts that fringe the beach.”

Just under an hour from Haslemere by car, this stunning stretch of the South East coast is celebrated for its breathtaking natural beauty, rich history, and dedication to conservation.

It’s incredibly welcoming for families, complete with amenities such as toilets, baby changing facilities, parking, and a beach café that caters to little ones and is open daily from 9am to 4.30pm. The beach and café are also dog-friendly.

While dogs are restricted on the main swimming beach between groynes 14a and 18 (in front of the beach huts) from mid-May to mid-September, they can enjoy the entire beach throughout the rest of the year.

West Wittering is a hotspot for watersports enthusiasts, with windsurfing, kitesurfing and stand up paddleboarding being popular activities. Horse riding is also permitted on the beach at certain times of the year.

During the school summer holidays and weekends, the car park can become quite crowded, so visitors are advised to book in advance. However, outside these peak times, the beach offers a tranquil spot to unwind and watch the waves.

East Head, a sand dune system at West Wittering, features salt marshes and flowing tides.

From March to September, visitors can embark on the East Head and Ellanore circular walk, a picturesque four-mile route that takes approximately two hours to complete.

The trail, which passes Chichester Harbour and West Wittering village, boasts beautiful coastal paths, leafy lanes and plenty of coffee shops or pubs for refreshments.

It’s an easy, dog-friendly trail.

West Wittering beach is located at Chichester, West Sussex, PO20 8AU. Information about 2025 car parking charges at West Wittering can be found here.