With temperatures continuing to rise, parents travelling to the coast to cool down with young children are having to juggle practicality alongside family fun. From nearby parking and baby changing facilities to accessible walkways and family-friendly food options, the logistics of a beach day can make a huge difference for parents with babies and toddlers.
So to find out which coastal destinations are best suited for families with babies and toddlers, the team at JoJo Maman Bébé have analysed some of the UK’s most popular beaches, looking at key metrics on accessibility, convenience, nearby amenities, water quality and online popularity.
The UK’s 10 most family-friendly beaches
| Rank | Beach | Location | Beach rating/ 5 | Approx distance to nearest car park( km ) | Dedicated Ramp access? | Access to baby changing facilities? | Average summer search volume | Water quality rating | % of family friendly food options | Final family friendly beach score /10 |
| 1 | Porthmeor Beach | St Ives | 4.7 | 0.22 | Y | Y | 15033 | excellent | 60% | 9.08 |
| 2 | Woolacombe Beach | Woolacombe | 4.7 | 1.1 | Y | Y | 42033 | excellent | 81% | 9.05 |
| 3 | Tenby South Beach | Tenby | 4.6 | 0.21 | Y | Y | 8067 | excellent | 62% | 9.03 |
| 4 | Perranporth Beach | Perranporth | 4.7 | 0.4 | Y | Y | 45700 | excellent | 69% | 8.98 |
| 5 | Watergate Bay | Newquay | 4.7 | 0.55 | Y | Y | 36033 | excellent | 54% | 8.58 |
| 6 | Newborough Beach | Newborough | 4.8 | 0.055 | Y | N | 24933 | excellent | 60% | 8.50 |
| 7 | Sandbanks Beach | Poole | 4.7 | 0.4 | Y | Y | 51367 | excellent | 48% | 8.35 |
| 8 | Formby Beach | Formby | 4.7 | 1 | Y | Y | 69500 | excellent | 59% | 8.25 |
| 9 | Whitesands Bay | Near St Davids | 4.2 | 0.19 | Y | Y | 20467 | excellent | 54% | 8.08 |
| 10 | Wells next the Sea Beach | Wells next the Sea | 4.6 | 0.12 | Y | Y | 19733 | good | 69% | 7.88 |
Porthmeor Beach in St Ives takes the top spot as the UK’s best beach for families with babies and toddlers. The Cornwall destination scored highly for accessibility, convenience and nearby amenities. Located directly in front of the Tate St Ives, the beach combines practicality with a scenic seaside setting, making it an ideal destination for parents travelling with young children.
Woolacombe Beach ranks second, standing out for having the highest percentage of family-friendly food venues in the entire top 10. More than 80% of nearby restaurants and cafés were considered suitable for families, while the beach’s extensive facilities, clean water and lifeguarded swimming areas helped secure its high ranking.
Tenby South Beach comes in third place. Known for its wide sandy shoreline and views across to Caldey Island, the beach’s spacious layout and shallow paddling areas during low tide make it especially appealing for families with babies and toddlers looking for a more relaxed beach experience.
JoJo Maman Bébé shares top beach tips for babies and toddlers
As little ones can be more sensitive to rising temperatures, JoJo Maman Bébé has spoken with pharmacist and health expert Thorrun Govind to share practical advice to help keep babies and children safe, comfortable and happy while enjoying the warmer weather.
Thorrun says: “Sun hats are a good idea when spending time outdoors. Look for styles that help shade the face, ears and neck and are made from lightweight, breathable materials.”
“During warmer weather, parents may also find it helpful to keep extra fluids, sunscreen, a sun hat, spare comfortable clothing and an umbrella or parasol for temporary shade in their baby bag.”
“Apply sunscreen generously before heading outdoors and remember often-missed areas like the ears, neck and tops of feet. Sunscreen should be reapplied every two hours, and more frequently after swimming, sweating or towel drying.”
You can view JoJo’s baby swimwear here.
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