Top 10 family beaches

Here are our top 10 family beaches in Britain...

Bournemouth Beach

Where: Dorset
Bournemouth Beach is an 11km stretch of sand and a fantastic playground for families. Bournemouth was the first beach to introduce the family-friendly Kidzone scheme, where your children wear a coloured wristband, which will help keep them within the coloured beach zones and make it easy to identify them if they wander off.

Ainsdale Beach

Where: Southport
With a Blue-Flag award for its clean swimming waters, Ainsdale Beach is the ideal place for a relaxing family day out. The beach offers lots of activities to keep your children entertained, including fabulous sand dunes, which form part of a Local Nature Reserve. Family activities at the beach include kit surfing and parakarting, and there are donkeys in the nearby village, which children love.

New Quay

Where: Wales
New Quay, near Cardigan in Wales is a must-see if your family loves animals. You're more likely to see dolphins in the wild here than in any other part of the UK. The Cardigan Bay Marine Wildlife Centre, based in New Quay, runs boat trips in the summer, so you can see for yourself the seals, birds, dolphins and porpoise that visit this beautiful coastline.

Three Shells Beach

Where: Southend
This compact, sandy beach is very popular with families. Situated at the bottom of Southend Pier, the longest pleasure pier in the world, Three Shells Beach is very clean, with lots of play equipment for children of all ages. There's also an Adventure Island Theme Park nearby, so the kids will never get bored.

Burnt Island Beach

Where: Fife
This beautiful sandy beach overlooks the Firth of Forth, and has lots of natural rockpools for your children to explore. Visit the nearby Seaside Park, where your family will have a great time on the crazy golf course, bouncy castle and summer fairground. There's so much to do here, none of you will want to leave.

Shell Beach

Where: Herm
On the small island of Herm in the Channel islands, you'll discover Shell Beach, a stunning, unspoilt beach named after the millions of tiny shells that make up the sand. At low tide, exciting rock pools are revealed, which provide hours of entertainment for young explorers, while the beach café supplies all the essentials you'll need for a great family day out.

Filey Beach

Where: Yorkshire
Filey Beach is a stunning wide stretch of golden sand that is the base for a great day out. There's also a promenade, where you and your family can soak up hours of fun. Pony rides along the beach will make your child's day, and there's also a crazy golf course and an arcade to keep the whole family entertained.

Blackpool Sands

Where: Devon
This award winning family beach is one of Devon's most popular attractions. There's a safe swimming area for children, as well as sand pits, a bathing raft and kayaks for hire, so there's no danger of boredom. Set in an unspoilt, sheltered bay and surrounded by evergreens and pines, Blackpool Sands is also a great place to relax.

Lowestoft Beach

Where: Suffolk
Lowestoft, the most easterly town in Britain, is home to the Blue-Flag award winning Lowestoft Beach. A busy family resort, Lowestoft Beach has 2 piers, both offering traditional seaside attractions. A long, traditional promenade runs behind the beach, and has plenty of indoor and outdoor attractions for all the family.

Benllech Beach

Where:  Anglesey
Take one look at the long stretch of golden sand on Benllech Beach and you'll see why this beach is award winning. The coast is a listed Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty, and there are shops, cafés and a picnic area so you and your family can make the best of your day at this beautiful beach.