The sun is (sometimes) shining, and sand is returning to London's streets in the form of pop-up urban beaches. Here's where to find them in summer 2024.
Fulham Beach Club at Neverland 2024
Outdoor riverside bar Neverland once again hosts the Fulham Beach Club, a sand-sprinkled bar and party venue with beach huts, sofas, day beds, cabanas and beach bubbles (igloos, but make it summer) to hire, all in Instagram-friendly pastel hues. There's a bar, and a kitchen serving street food — pizzas, burgers, wings and the like — and you can order from your phone and have it delivered to your table. The venue is strictly 18+ after 5pm, and well-behaved dogs are welcome.
Fulham Beach Club at Neverland. General entry from £7 (no reserved seating), extra charge for beach huts, sofas and bubbles. Open until 6 October 2024.
Walthamstow-on-Sea at Big Penny Social
Beer hall Big Penny Social is ditching the bar stools for deckchairs as pop-up beach Walthamstow-on-Sea reopens. Sandpits and deckchairs take over the venue's outside space, with beach huts available to hire. A pop-up fish and chip shop serves up the classic dish, as well as pizza, penny sweets and the like.
Walthamstow-on-Sea at Big Penny Social. Entry £4 per person — extra charge for beach huts. Open 7 June-8 September 2024.
Hampstead Beach at JW3
Jewish community centre JW3 is switching things up at its annual beach this year. For the first time, the sandy strip will be located under the venue's new Dorfman Piazza, which has an opening and closing roof, so the beach stays dry whatever the weather (and you should be able to find some shade, on even the sunniest days. Beach snacks are available from Kosher food pop-ups, and the JW3 Bar is open throughout.
As always, check the programme for free, family-friendly beach activities throughout the summer. Plus, this year, sporting events including football, the Olympics and Patalypmics are shown on screens at the beach.
Hampstead Beach at JW3, 1 July-1 September 2024.
Urban Beach at Earl's Court
A trio of sandy spots has opened at Empress Space in Earl's Court, offering deckchairs and picnic spots, as well as games including table tennis, chess, and giant Connect 4. Prefer something a bit quieter? There's an outdoor library where you can pick up a book to read.
Urban Beach at Earl's Court, open from 24 July 2024. Free entry. Accessed via Empress Place.
London's year-round beach: Ruislip Lido
No need to wait for these pop-up beaches to roll out their sun loungers. Ruislip Lido in Hillingdon has a natural beach year-round, as long as you don't mind sharing sand space with swans. There's even a miniature railway to make getting there that bit more fun. Be aware though, that swimming in the lake is always prohibited.
The Thames Foreshore
And no list of London beaches would be complete without the natural ones, along the Thames foreshore. Well, we say 'natural', but some of the choicer spots have clearly had sand imported over the years. Stairs down to the foreshore can be found all along the South Bank. One notable area is close to Gabriel's Wharf where a particularly sandy patch often attracts sand sculptors.
Another excellent patch is the beach in front of Tate Modern. This one is more pebbly, but is a fascinating place to explore with children. Always be careful when on the foreshore for sharp flotsam and jetsam, and beware of rising tides.
Looking for the real seaside? Check out our guides for the best real sand you can get to on a day trip from London:
