1. Weston Hard Woolston beach
This mile-long bay is known for its small brown pebbles and stunning views of the cruise ships that sail in and out of the Southampton docks. Weston Hard Woolston beach is equipped with a children's play area, making it the perfect place for family time.
It's also a playground for kitesurfers and windsurfers. The beach is accessible to bathers, even if the rocky surface makes it difficult to get into the water.
With breathtaking views, this is the ideal spot to enjoy the sea breeze during a sunset stroll. Pets are welcome under the supervision of their owners.
2. Calshot beach
It's one of the quietest beaches near Southampton. The coastline of Calshot beach is quite wild. With its colorful little huts, it offers a cosy environment, far from the hustle and bustle of the big urban beaches.
If you'd like to try your hand at water sports during your stay in Southampton, don't hesitate to head to Calshot beach for a paddle session.
The panorama of the Isle of Wight directly opposite is splendid, and you can also see Portsmouth on the left. If you're lucky, you might even spot a few seals in the surf.
The pebbled shoreline can make swimming and strolling along the water's edge difficult, except at low tide. When the sea retreats, it reveals a vast expanse of sand.
3. Lepe beach
This beach is part of the Lepe National Park. In this natural area, you'll enjoy exceptional walks overlooking the Isle of Wight, along pine-lined cliffs and wildflower meadows.
Lepe beach is equipped with a range of facilities, offering all the amenities you need for a full day out (toilets, restaurants, etc.).
Lepe beach is intimately linked with the history of the Normandy landings. Preparations for D-Day, including the gathering of troops and supplies, took place in Hampshire. Large numbers of soldiers with their vehicles and munitions waited for the big day in hidden camps in the New Forest. Lepe beach served as a staging area. As such, the pebble beach was reinforced with concrete hardening mats. Remnants of these wartime activities can still be seen on the site.
4. Hill Head beach
Hill Head beach is renowned for its calm waters. This makes it a particularly pleasant spot for water sports such as paddling or kayaking. You'll need shoes to walk on the pebble beach, even when the sea recedes.
The waters are shallow, so perfectly safe for those who aren't afraid of a dip in the cool waters of the English Channel.
If you prefer a stroll along the water's edge, you'll enjoy the tranquil yet majestic atmosphere of Hill Head beach and its cliffs. Not far from the beach is the Titchfield Haven National Nature Reserve, home to many species of birds.
5. Lee on the Solent beach
Lee on the Solent lies between Southampton and Portsmouth. Directly opposite is Cowes, on the Isle of Wight. You can watch the comings and goings of cruise liners and yachts on the waters of the Solent from the beach or its cobbled walkway.
Lee on the Solent has a children's playground and a small water park. The facilities are perfect for a variety of water sports, including jet skiing, windsurfing and canoeing. And let's not forget fishing, from crabbing at low tide to fishing lines at sea.
After a relaxing moment on the beach, set off to discover this small seaside town whose history is also linked to that of aviation. After the first seaplane trials, a training base was built, and the site of the former naval station is still home to an active air base.
If you want to take your exploration of the English coastline a step further, don't miss the beaches of the Jura coast. Just a few hours from Southampton, this is a UNESCO World Heritage Site. From East Devon to Dorset, discover the golden sands of Weymouth, the spectacular cliffs of Chesil Beach or Lyme Regis and its incredible fossils.