Oh I do like to be beside the seaside!

There are so many places you can travel to by train for a really lovely day out along the coastline of the South of England. The only trouble is - will you have the time to visit as many of them as you would like to this year?

Don't forget your bucket and spade when you get on the train for this truly Great British Day Out!

There are few better things to do in life than to take a trip with friends or family to the good old British seaside, and along the South Coast of England there are many different locations, all just a short train journey away, where you can do just that.

Although there's a wide range of traditional entertainment at most of the popular destinations, it doesn't have to be all Punch & Judy shows and Donkey rides of course! Southend-on-Sea has the longest pleasure Pier in the world, its Victorian wooden boards stretching for over a full mile out to sea! It's perfect for taking a stroll along on a beautiful sunny day, and taking in a nice cup of tea at the end whilst over-looking the ocean.

As well as being in possession of a long pebble beach and a well worn promenade to match, Brighton also offers some lovely boutique shopping opportunities, within its maze of narrow little cobbled streets and alleyways, which are great to lose yourself amongst for the afternoon. 

Portsmouth is steeped in Maritime history and the Historic Dockyard has some very special residents in the shape of Nelson's ship HMS Victory and the Mary Rose, both permanently moored there. Along with Portsmouth Harbour and no less than 12 different Museums such as the D-Day Museum, it's an altogether more cultural take on the traditional trip to the seaside.

If you feel like experiencing life at a slower pace for a change, step back in time and visit the tranquil town of Bexhill, which is perfect for a truly relaxing day out. Also worth visiting there is the fascinating example of classic 1920's Modernist architecture that is the De-La-Warr Pavilion, which provides some stunning views of the surrounding area, as well as being a national centre for contemporary arts too.

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