Website of the UK government

Safety

Many of our beaches have won awards for being well-managed, clean and safe. They offer a pleasant outdoor environment for activities, daytrips and holidays. But safety is not something you should take for granted when visiting coastal areas. To make sure you stay safe beside the sea, follow the advice of The Royal National Lifeboat Institution. And always check the weather forecast before setting out.

You may find the following links useful:

• Weather forecasts for the UK Opens new window
• Beach safety from Royal National Lifeboat Institution Opens new window
• Sea and beach safety from the RNLI Opens new window

Heritage coasts

Heritage coasts are special coastlines that are managed so their natural beauty is conserved and, where appropriate, they are made more accessible for visitors. Just over 1,000 kilometres, or 33%, of scenic English coastline is designated heritage coast.

You can easily reach many stretches of these beautiful coastlines via a network of public footpaths and bridleways. The South West Coast Path National Trail, for example, gives access to over 600 miles of coast.

Natural England helps to manage England's coastline and you can locate heritage coasts on their website.

The National Trust website also contains coastline pages full of ideas and information about where to go and what to do.

• Heritage coasts - information from Natural England Opens new window
• Coast and countryside highlights from the National Trust Opens new window

Beaches

Many beaches in the UK are owned by local authorities for public use. You can visit these beaches at all times, although certain activities, such as camping, driving or lighting fires, may be restricted. There are also some private beaches which are closed to the general public.

Local councils and Tourist Information Centres should have information about beaches in their area.

You can also use the ENCAMS Seaside Awards to find beaches that are clean and safe. ENCAMS is the national agency for litter abatement. It runs the Blue Flag award for beaches that meet certain criteria for cleanliness, safety and water quality. You can search for these award-winning beaches on the ENCAMS website. You can also consult the Marine Conservation Society’s Good Beach Guide.

• Find your local council
• Find a Tourist Information Centre Opens new window
• More about ENCAMS Seaside Awards Opens new window
• Find a Blue Flag beach Opens new window
• Marine Conservation Society's Good Beach Guide Opens new window

Nature and wildlife

Britain's coastline is home to a huge variety of wildlife, from bottlenose dolphins and basking sharks to corals and crustaceans. Our sea-cliffs and craggy coastal rocks also make ideal nesting sites for gulls and other seabirds. You should also look out for:

• wading birds along the shoreline
• inter-tidal marine life, such as crabs, limpets and small fish, in rock pools
• starfish and jellyfish on beaches
• seals close to shore

You'll find different wildlife in different coastal areas, but whatever it is you're looking for, make sure you always leave these important habitats as you found them.

More information on birds can be found on the Royal Society for the Protection of Birds (RSPB) website, and details of other coastal wildlife is available from the Wildlife Trust.

• Information on seabirds from the RSPB Opens new window
• Find your local Wildlife Trust Opens new window
• More information about coastal wildlife Opens new window

More useful links

• Visiting places of interest if you are disabled (disabled people section)
• Travel and holidays in the UK (disabled people section)
• Getting about in the UK