THERE are thousands of beaches in the UK but Cuckmere Haven has been named the best to visit in spring.
With beautiful views across the Seven Sisters chalk cliffs and some of the mildest temperatures in the country, it’s the perfect spot for your next trip to the seaside.
The experts at GO Outdoors analysed average spring temperatures, rainfall, sunshine hours and Google reviews to reveal the best spring beaches across England.
Cuckmere Haven in East Sussex came in top spot, scoring highly when it comes to mild temperatures as it’s an average of 9.5C during the spring months.
It averages 52mm of rainfall across the month, and 7.8 hours of sunshine each day.
The beach had a Google review score of 4.8 out of 5 and received an overall score of 9.60 out of 10 by Go Outdoors.
It beat other popular spots like Camber Sands, Southwold and Porthcurno Beach.
The shingle shoreline itself is unique as it’s the only spot in Sussex where a river flows through the beach to meet the sea.
It’s isolated too, but it’s worth the walk for the incredible views of the huge white cliffs.
One visitor said: “Absolutely stunning scenery. Long walks and perfect for the family I loved every second of walking his beautiful beautiful cliffs.”
Another added: “Wow – this iconic sight takes your breath away! The cliffs are blindingly white and the beach and surrounding countryside is so pretty. Everyone should see this once in their lifetime.”
While it has no shops or cafes around, there are four cottages up on the hilltop.
These are former homes of the coastguard and their families built in the 1820s, and are now used as residential homes.
Cuckmere Haven has also been called a ‘wild beach’ thanks to the amount of wildlife here, ranging from oystercatchers and skylarks to rabbits, seahorses and butterflies.
Daniel Start, author of Wild Guide London and South England, says: “This is a wild beach, where the river meets the sea, against a backdrop of the iconic Seven Sisters.
“You can explore the myriad caves carved within them or wander upstream to swim in the lakes made from the meanders of the ancient river.”
Here’s another of our favourite beaches in the south of England – and a hotel to stay at too…
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Sidmouth, Devon
Take a trip to Sidmouth on the Jurassic Coast and wander down Jacob’s Ladder to its pretty shingle beach. Make sure to walk along the promenade and check out the independent shops and boutiques. Stay at the four-star Harbour Hotel for sea views and traditional afternoon tea from £135 per room.
Even if you haven’t been there, you might recognise the spot as Cuckmere Haven is frequently used in the backdrops of films.
Movie fans will recognise the spot at the top of Cuckmere Haven from Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire when the characters use the Portkey to get to the Quidditch game.
The beach and surrounding area has also been used to film Robin Hood: Prince of Thieves, Atonement, Agatha Christie’s Poirot and Luther.
It was even used for Cheryl Cole’s music video, The Flood.
The closest train station to Cuckmere Haven beach is Seaford.
From there it’s a 15-minute drive, or there’s a popular walking route from the town across the coastline which takes just over an hour.
Another popular option is to head to Eastbourne and walk from there which is around a 12-mile trek.
Here are the best beaches to visit this spring…
This the full list of the best beaches to go to this spring according to Go Outdoors…
- Cuckmere Haven, East Sussex
- Southwold Beach, Suffolk
- Druridge Bay Beach, Northumberland
- Pentle Bay, Tresco
- Thornwick Bay, Flamborough Head
- Kimmeridge Bay, Dorset
- Camber Sands, East Sussex
- Porthcurno Beach, Cornwall
- West Wittering Beach, West Sussex
- Brancaster Beach, Norfolk
For more on beaches, here’s where to find the best UK beach and it gets the least amount of rain in the country.
Our 26 must-visit UK beaches for 2026 including tropical-feel spots and family-friendly finds.