Is there anything that can beat a beach in the summer? Didn’t think so. Whether your hometown is London or you plan on visiting the city soon, we’ve scoped out some of the hottest urban beaches to top up your tan.
BRENT CROSS Liven up your summer with this urban beach, packed with golden sand. Amongst this realistic beach is a Thorpe-Park inspired amusement centre filled with fairground rides. Bring the children along and they can indulge in ball games while you soak up the sun. If you’d prefer to be a part of the action, tune in to the big screen where Brent Cross stream the tennis so you never have to miss a game. Measuring 2,500m², this beach has enough sand for the little ones to spend the day digging. Bring your buckets and spades, and a picnic (to avoid the busy queues at the food places). Location: Brent Cross Shopping Centre, London, NW4 3FP
FULHAM BEACH CLUB Fulham Beach Club has an adults-only sort of vibe, where you can embrace rich-bass songs and sip cocktails for hours. But it’s also a chilled environment to destress and enjoy some tasty grub. Jimmy Garcia’s pop-up restaurant offers bottomless bunch, beers, cocktails, and a BBQ to keep your hunger pains at
bay. The venue is heaving with daybeds, beach hubs and cabanas, and everywhere you look, there’s heaps of sand to create the feel of being at an authentic beach. But if you’d prefer fun activities than lazing around under the sun, there’s plenty happening, too. Indulge in cocktail masterclasses, table tennis, beer pong, shuffleboard, and many more. If it’s a special day out, upgrade to the VIP to hire out beach huts and receive bottomless alcohol. Location: Neverland, Fulham Beach, Wandsworth Bridge Road, London, SW6 2TY
HAMPSTEAD BEACH
This urban beach is free to enter and it’s the perfect spot to unwind and forget about your stresses. Fill your day with fruity cocktails and artisanal food daily, while you embark in private events through the summer. If you’re stuck for what day to choose, Thursday is generally a great bet as you can get two-for-one cocktails and let your hair down with a party playlist. Bear in mind that the beach is within the Jewish community so check the website before making a special journey there. Location: JW3, Finchley Road, NW3 6ET
CAMDEN ROUNDHOUSE BEACH This free-to-enter urban beach gets packed pretty quickly, so we suggest getting there early to secure a spot. It offers a family-friendly environment where you can watch classic films surrounded by sand, or opt for comfort food at the Beach Bar. There’s plenty for children to eat too, and an authentic vibe where families are gathering playing sports together on the beach, or children are creating sand castles. If you head to the beach on a Saturday, you can catch a live music performance from upcoming musicians and DJs from the area. Location: Chalk Farm Road, NW1 8EH