Portslade

Portslade beach sits just west of Brighton, a working-class stretch of shingle that doesn't pretend to be anything it isn't. You get the Channel, you get the pebbles, and you get proper seaside without the pier crowds. On a clear day there's something satisfying about the simplicity of it - grab fish and chips, find a spot among the beach huts, watch the light change on the water.

It's the kind of place families actually use rather than visit. Local kids splash about in summer, walkers head east towards Brighton or west along the coast path without breaking stride. The beach itself is free, obviously, though parking round here can be tight on summer Saturdays. Allow an hour or two if you're serious about a swim, longer if you fancy a proper coastal walk - the shingle does punish your calves after a mile or so.

If you're camping nearby at Eastern Sands or Beach Park, you're perfectly positioned. Portslade works best as part of a larger coastal day rather than a destination in itself. The real value is in the walking - head west towards Shoreham if you want something a bit different from the Brighton hubbub. Don't come expecting manicured gardens or attractions; come for the beach doing what beaches do, without the theatre.