Best Beaches Near Newcastle
Written by UK Hidden Gems Editorial
Updated 5 August 2026
The best beaches near Newcastle are King Edward's Bay, Sandhaven Beach, Embleton Bay, Longhoughton Beach, Alnwick Sugar Sands, Newbiggin East Beach, East Chevington Bay Beach and Easington Beach.
Newcastle sits on the Tyne, a short run from the beaches at the river's mouth and within easy reach of the great sandy coast of Northumberland to the north and the Durham shore to the south. Nearest the city are the sheltered sandy cove of King Edward's Bay below Tynemouth Priory and the long town sands of Sandhaven at South Shields across the river.
North into Northumberland lie some of the finest sands in England: the sweeping golden bay of Embleton below Dunstanburgh Castle, the quiet Longhoughton and the pocket cove of Sugar Sands near Boulmer, and the sculpture-watched sands of Newbiggin and the reserve-backed East Chevington on Druridge Bay. South, the reclaimed shore at Easington on the Durham coast still turns up sea glass in its shingle.
Some are minutes from the city, others a scenic drive up the coast. Here are eight beaches to seek out near Newcastle.
King Edward's Bay
Photo: Anthony Foster via Geograph.org.uk
King Edward's Bay is a small sandy cove at Tynemouth, tucked below the cliffs beside the ruins of Tynemouth Priory. Grassy banks and cliffs enclose it, reached by a flight of steps down from the headland, sheltered and quieter than the beaches nearby.
A cafe and toilets sit at the top, with lifeguards on the sand in season. The old priory and castle look down over the bay from the point above, making it one of the most scenic little coves within an easy hop of the city.
Sandhaven Beach
Photo: Oliver Dixon via Geograph.org.uk
Sandhaven Beach Surfers, windsurfers, kayakers and anglers all share this long sweep of dune-backed sand, known also as Herd Sand, tucked just south of the pier where the River Tyne meets the sea at South Shields. A full seafront runs behind it, with parking, a cafe and toilets, and lifeguards keep watch through the season.
This is a lively town beach forming the northern half of the sands, with Littlehaven Beach carrying on just along the coast. One thing to note before you set off: part of the beach bars dogs through the summer months, so check the signs if one is coming along.
Embleton Bay
Photo: Russel Wills via Geograph.org.uk
Embleton Bay is a long, sweeping beach of golden sand on the Northumberland coast, backed by low dunes and a links golf course. At its southern end the ruins of Dunstanburgh Castle stand out on a dark whinstone headland above the shore.
Reefs of the same dark rock and rock pools break up the sand toward the castle. It is reached on foot from Low Newton or along the shore from Craster, a walk that takes in one of the great castle-and-coast views in England.
Longhoughton Beach
Photo: DS Pugh via Geograph.org.uk
Longhoughton Beach Locals call it Longhoughton Steel, steel being the old word for a rocky reef, and reef is what you find when the tide draws back to reveal ledges among the sand. This quiet bay of sand, shingle and rock lies on the north Northumberland coast near Alnwick, rewarding for rock-pooling and a spot of sea fishing.
The Northumberland Coast Path runs behind it, and a small car park off Crowlea Road drops you close to the shore. Nothing waits on the sand itself, but the village of Boulmer and its pub sit a short walk to the south.
Alnwick Sugar Sands
Photo: Peter McDermott via Geograph.org.uk
Sugar Sands is a small cove on the Northumberland coast between Howick and Boulmer, a short way from the village of Longhoughton. It is a pocket of pale golden sand, only around a hundred metres of it, set between low grassy cliffs with rocky outcrops and good rock pools at either end.
No road runs down to the beach, so you reach it on foot, either down from the lane above or along the coast path from Howick or Boulmer. The sand has a slightly coarse, crunchy feel underfoot.
It is a low-key, sheltered spot given over to rock-pooling and quiet afternoons.
Newbiggin East Beach
Photo: Les Hull via Geograph.org.uk
Newbiggin East Beach is the sandy bay at Newbiggin-by-the-Sea in Northumberland, curving between two breakwaters and backed by a long promenade. Its best-known feature stands out in the water: Couple, a sculpture by Sean Henry of two larger-than-life figures of a man and a woman, set on a platform on the offshore breakwater and seen from the shore.
A smaller version sits in a park near the front for a closer look. The sculpture was put up in 2007, around the time the bay was restored with sand shipped in from further down the coast.
East Chevington Bay Beach
Photo: David Robinson via Geograph.org.uk
East Chevington is a stretch of the long sandy sweep of Druridge Bay in Northumberland, backing onto a nature reserve made from a former opencast coal site. Behind the dunes lie two large lakes fringed with reedbeds, watched over by birdwatching hides and rich in wildfowl and waders.
The beach itself runs wide and open, part of the great curve of Druridge Bay. The reserve is looked after by the Northumberland Wildlife Trust, so a beach walk here pairs easily with an hour at the hides.
Easington Beach
Photo: Oliver Dixon via Geograph.org.uk
Easington Beach Not so long ago this shingle was black, buried under the spoil that the colliery above tipped straight onto it. The clean-up around the turn of the millennium changed all that, hauling away the waste and letting the Durham shore breathe again.
What remains is a stony beach under low cliffs, folded into a nature reserve with the coastal path running above. Look down and the pit still leaves its traces: fragments of old industrial debris and worn sea glass work their way up through the pebbles.
The town's mine shut its gates in 1993, and every year since, the coast has clawed a little more of itself back.
FAQs
Which beaches are closest to Newcastle?
King Edward's Bay near Newcastle is a sheltered sandy cove tucked below Tynemouth Priory, reached by steps from the headland with a cafe and seasonal lifeguards. Sandhaven at South Shields is a long town beach at the mouth of the Tyne, good for surfing and family days with a full seafront behind it.
What can you see at Embleton Bay near Newcastle?
Embleton Bay near Newcastle sweeps golden sand up to the ruins of Dunstanburgh Castle on its whinstone headland, one of the great coast views in England. Newbiggin East Beach looks out to Couple, Sean Henry's pair of larger-than-life figures standing on the offshore breakwater.
Where can you find quiet coves and reserves near Newcastle?
Sugar Sands near Boulmer is a hundred-metre pocket of pale sand reached only on foot, and Longhoughton is a quiet rock-and-sand bay good for rock-pooling. East Chevington on Druridge Bay backs onto a wildlife reserve with lakes and birdwatching hides behind the dunes.
Conclusion
Newcastle sits on the Tyne, a short run from the beaches at the river's mouth and within easy reach of the Northumberland and Durham coasts. Nearest are the sheltered cove of King Edward's Bay below Tynemouth Priory and the long town sands of Sandhaven at South Shields.
North into Northumberland lie the sweeping golden bay of Embleton below Dunstanburgh Castle, the quiet Longhoughton and pocket cove of Sugar Sands near Boulmer, the sculpture-watched sands of Newbiggin and the reserve-backed East Chevington on Druridge Bay. South, the reclaimed shore at Easington still turns up sea glass.
From a priory-topped cove to a castle-backed strand, these are the beaches to seek out near Newcastle.
