A complete guide to the best beaches in Lincolnshire

When it comes to beaches in the UK, the south-west of England often gets all the plaudits. But over here on the east coast we have some fabulous spots that are worthy of more attention. Looking for your perfect day trip to the coast from Lincoln? We’ve picked out the best beaches in Lincolnshire for any kind of adventure, from the popular resort towns to the secluded creeks that few people know about. This guide also includes plenty of dog friendly beaches where your canine friends will always be welcome.

Beaches in Lincolnshire: north to south

Lincolnshire has beaches of many shapes and sizes, each with its own unique characteristics. Everybody has different preferences and requirements, and so instead of trying to rank these beaches in any way, we thought it would be better to simply run through them geographically from north to south.

We are putting together individual guides for each beach too, so keep your eyes peeled for those! Let’s get started…

1.  Cleethorpes

• Ideal for: fun days out with the family and trying Grimsby fish and chips
• Parking: there are various paid car parks close to the beachfront, ranging from £5–£8 for the day or £1–£2.50 per hour
• Lifeguards: yes
• Dog friendly? It depends when you visit – dogs are not allowed on the main beach areas from Good Friday until the end of September
• Toilets: there are public toilets on Sea Road just a minute’s walk inland from the pier

We begin in North East Lincolnshire with the resort town of Cleethorpes, just around the coast from Grimsby on the cusp of the Humber estuary. Think amusement arcades, candy floss and donkey rides on the beach!

The sand at Cleethorpes stretches for miles, and there is plenty to do around the area. The town is packed with activities, particularly for days out with kids or water sport adventures. It does get very busy, especially in summer, so it’s not the best choice if you’re looking for a quiet coastal spot.

There is some interesting nature to explore around the area, however. Just outside the town to the south you will find nature reserves, and it’s also not too far away from Donna Nook, where you can see grey seal pups towards the end of the year.

2.  Saltfleet

• Ideal for: peaceful walks on unspoilt sand and marshlands, and letting your dog stretch their legs
• Parking: at several entrances, including some free street parking
• Lifeguards: no
• Dog friendly beach? All year round! This is our favourite place to take Regan 🐾
• Toilets: no – the nearest public toilets are a 15-minute drive away in Mablethorpe

As dog owners, this is one of our very favourite beaches in Lincolnshire. Saltfleet will also appeal to anyone who likes untouched, off-the-beaten-path beaches to wander and enjoy the fresh ocean air.

Salfleet Beach, which includes Saltfleetby and Theddlethorpe Dunes, is a huge blanket of open sand surrounded by dunes and marshland. We love bringing the dog here as it’s always quiet, including in summer, and there is lots of space on the beach even when the tide is in. There are various entrance points to Saltfleet beach.

We usually park on Sea Lane in Saltfleet. At the end of this road you will see the entrance to an easy scenic trail that leads out to the beach – follow it to the right and you will reach the sand after 10–15 minutes or so.

3.  Theddlethorpe Beach

• Ideal for: long dog walks, peace and quiet, paddling in the sea
• Parking: at Crook Bank (up to 20 cars) with voluntary payment to Natural England
• Lifeguards: no
• Dog friendly beach? All year round! This is another of our go-to spots for Regan 🐾
• Toilets: no – the nearest public toilets are a 10-minute drive away in Mablethorpe

Theddlethorpe Beach is part of the same long stretch of sand as Saltfleet, but we wanted to include it separately as it’s such a fantastic open spot of sand that is typically very quiet.

The best entrance point to Theddlethorpe Beach is at Crook Bank Car Park, which is free to park, but with an optional donation to Natural England. It’s a small car park, but even when we came on a sunny Saturday there was plenty of space, which gives you an idea of what a hidden gem this place is.

It’s about a 5 to 10-minute walk from the car park to the beach, and if you want to walk all the way out to the sea, it’s quite a bit further – especially at low tide. The sand is marvellous, including a dry and fluffy patch around midway out that rises a bit higher than the tide can reach. The sea is very shallow, and when the sun has been out it’s nice and warm. Very good for swimming but be aware that there is no lifeguard cover.

Once you are far out, you can see the attractions of Mablethorpe just to the south, and you can even walk over there at low tide. There are no restrictions on dogs, so this is another great place to come for some canine adventures, or just for some lovely quiet time.

4.  Mablethorpe

• Ideal for: seaside town afternoons for couples or families
• Parking: a choice of paid car parks plus free street parking not far from the beach
• Lifeguards: yes
• Dog friendly beach? Not between May and September
• Toilets: yes, a few public toilets around the town and by the beach

Mablethorpe is a vibrant resort town with a beautiful golden central beach that has achieved the Blue Flag award for its cleanliness. It’s much smaller than Cleethorpes and has a little more character to it, with some interesting shops and indoor markets.

There are plenty of things to do around the town and, like Cleethorpes, it’s well facilitated for children. You will find funfair attractions, crazy golf, paddling pools, a boating like, and donkey rides in the summer. Make sure you try some delicious doughnuts from the High Street before you leave.

One unique feature of the beach at Mablethorpe is the Time and Tide Bell, a sculpture featuring a huge bell that is rung by the rising tide. We heard it loud and clear from more than a mile away up on Theddlethorpe Beach and wondered what it was at first! The sculpture, which is on the sand to the north side of Mablethorpe Beach, is one of several of its kind around the UK but the only one in Lincolnshire.

We also like Mablethorpe as a couple’s afternoon or evening out. The promenade is lovely around sunset, and there is a good choice of places to eat.

5.  Sutton on Sea

• Ideal for: an alternative quieter seaside town trip
• Parking: plenty of car parks near the beach and free street parking around the town
• Lifeguards: yes
• Dog friendly beach? Not between May and September, and must be kept on lead on the neighbouring beaches too
• Toilets: yes, by the beach

Sutton on Sea is a charming seaside village that offers a quieter alternative just down the coast from Mablethorpe. It has a local Lincolnshire feel and doesn’t attract such big crowds in the summer.

The beach at Sutton on Sea is characterised by the colourful beach huts that line the front, and the clean, golden sand. It’s a nice spot to dip in for a swim or just relax on the beach.

Make sure you try some fish and chips from Waldo’s, a short walk down the High Street! It’s one of the best we’ve tried on the Lincolnshire Coast.

6.  Sandilands

• Ideal for: quiet getaways and dog walking
• Parking: some road parking off Roman Bank / Huttoft Bank
• Lifeguards: no
• Dog friendly beach? Yes!
• Toilets: yes, on Huttoft Bank

As you can see from the picture above, Sandilands is another beach we love to bring the dog! (That’s Regan when we were still doing long lead training with him.) Canine friends are welcome here throughout the summer, and there is a long stretch of sand for them to enjoy.

We stayed for a weekend camping at South Farm Caravan Park, which is about a kilometre walk inland from Sandilands beach along a waterway. This spot was ideal for some peace and quiet, while still being able to nip up to Sutton on Sea for our fix of fish and chips.

Sandilands is also known for its striking beach huts, including one which won an award for architectural excellence!

7.  Huttoft Beach / Moggs Eye

• Ideal for: seaside picnics, beach games and fishing
• Parking: pull up your car or motorhome right next to the beach (charges apply 10am–5pm from Good Friday to 31 October)
• Lifeguards: no
• Dog friendly beach? Yes!
• Toilets: yes

Huttoft Beach, also known as Moggs Eye, is one of Lincolnshire’s real hidden gems and is probably the beach we visit most often. You can park up right next to the beach and enjoy an impeccable stretch of flat sand, perfect for sunny afternoon picnics.

Lincolnshire beaches don’t often get the national acclaim they deserve, but Huttoft has been picked out by The Guardian as one of Britain’s best wild beaches.

Don’t leave it too late in the day if the weather is good – it’s rarely busy, but with only 200 parking spaces stretched along the width of the beach you don’t want to be disappointed.

There is also a café and facilities by the beach, which opened in April 2022. Huttoft Boatshed Café is an old boatshed that has been transformed into a fresh space with a shop, café, toilets, and a rooftop terrace area where you can sit with a view of the sea.

Read more about this gem in our guide to Huttoft Beach / Moggs Eye, which includes information about new parking charges and vehicle restrictions.

8.  Anderby Creek

• Ideal for: some peace and quiet away from the tourist crowds
• Parking: a car park is right next to the beach (charges apply 10am–5pm from Good Friday to 31 October)
• Lifeguards: no
• Dog friendly beach? Not between May and September on the main beach, but there are dog-friendly spaces either side
• Toilets: yes, at the beach car park

Just down from Huttoft on one of the most unspoiled stretches of Lincolnshire coastline, Anderby Creek is a picturesque and convenient spot with good facilities. There is a car park and café, not to mention the Creek Tavern, a little nearby seaside pub that serves good food.

The secret of Anderby Creek is catching on. However, when it gets busier in summer you can walk a short way along the beach in either direction to find quieter spots. The sand just keeps on going, and the water quality around these parts is excellent.

Anderby Creek Beach is also home to the Cloud Bar, the world’s first dedicated cloud observatory! On the rooftop platform you can observe the skies using five adjustable mirrors, and find out everything you could possibly want to know about clouds on the ‘cloud menu’.

Read more in our complete guide to Anderby Creek Beach, including information about new parking charges.

9.  Wolla Bank Beach

• Ideal for: romantic beach walks, morning runs, quiet afternoons, or sunrises if you’re an early riser
• Parking: there is a small car park by the beach with a height barrier (charges apply 10am–5pm from Good Friday to 31 October)
• Lifeguards: no
• Dog friendly beach? Yes!
• Toilets: no, but Anderby Creek is just a mile up

Wolla Bank Beach occupies the same stretch of sand as Anderby Creek, just a little further down. You can reach it via a short, narrow track that leads off the main coastal road to a small car park with just a handful of spaces.

The sand here is golden and wonderfully textured, and the beach backs onto dunes, grassy plains and a small nature reserve rife with birdlife. It’s a serene spot where you can guarantee some peacefulness whatever time of year, and dogs are always welcome on the beach.

The east-facing Lincolnshire coast is perfect for ocean sunrises, and this is a particularly beautiful vantage point if you’re game for an early start.

10.  Chapel St Leonards

• Ideal for: chilled-out days out at the seaside with friends or family
• Parking: various paid car parks around the village, including close to the beach
• Lifeguards: no
• Dog friendly beach? Not on the central beach between May and September, but you don’t have to walk far up or down the coast to find areas that are dog-friendly all year round
• Toilets: yes, although they may be seasonal

Chapel St Leonards is a cosy, friendly village on the Lincolnshire seafront that offers a quieter alternative to Ingoldmells and Skegness. It has a spacious sand and shingle beach which is very pleasant for walking.

There are some interesting things to see and do around the village too. The UK’s only purpose-built marine observatory, the North Sea Observatory, has a striking building design and is about a kilometre’s walk up from the beach. The observatory is free to enter and features an art gallery as well as some displays about the coastline’s natural history.

While Chapel St Leonards not as busy as the nearby resort towns, there are still some amusement arcades and other fun activities, making it a good option for family days out. There is also a good choice of places to eat and drink. One is the Admiral Benbow – a pub on the beachfront that sells dog ice cream!

11.  Ingoldmells

• Ideal for: caravan park holidays and seaside theme park days out
• Parking: various paid car parks are close to the beach, including a multistorey car park on Sea Lane
• Lifeguards: no
• Dog friendly beach? Yes, all year round
• Toilets: yes, in the town centre and by the car park at the north end of the beach

The image of Ingoldmells is dominated by the Millennium Roller Coaster rising high at Fantasy Island theme park, and acres upon acres of caravan parks sprawling in every direction. It is like one big seaside holiday park, and was an early part of the Butlin’s resort empire.

This is the most built-up part of the Lincolnshire coastline and so it might not be your cup of tea if you’re looking for somewhere quiet. But if you love the mayhem, Ingoldmells does have a nice sandy beach on its seafront, lined by a promenade.

In addition to the theme park there is an array of activities around Ingoldmells, including a bowling alley, shops, markets and arcades.

12.  Skegness

• Ideal for: seaside weekend breaks or fun days out
• Parking: plenty of car parks, and it’s also pretty easy to find free street parking within walking distance of the beach
• Lifeguards: yes
• Dog friendly beach? Not between May and September, and must be kept on lead on the neighbouring beaches too
• Toilets: yes

When I was growing up in the 1990s, I remember Skegness having a reputation as a tacky resort town with a littered beach and dirty water. I visited recently for the first time in about 25 years and was pleased to find it has been completely transformed.

Skegness remains one of the most popular coastal spots in Lincolnshire, and has really cleaned up its act. In 2019 the town’s central beach was awarded Blue Flag status, recognising its cleanliness, excellent water quality and environmental management. It is a spacious beach with golden sand, and is particularly nice to walk along when the tide is out.

You could easily make a whole weekend of it in Skegness. It has everything you would expect from a British seaside resort town, complete with funfair experiences, donkey rides, boating, horse-and-carts, arcades and sweet shops. You’ll find all these and more in our guide to the best things to do in Skegness.

There are plenty of educational activities too, such as a seal sanctuary and an aquarium. And it’s just a short drive down the coast to the final beach in our guide…

13.  Gibraltar Point Nature Reserve

• Ideal for: discovering wildlife and nature on the coastline
• Parking: Lincolnshire Wildlife Trust operates two car parks on the reserve that cost £2 for two hours or £5 for the day
• Lifeguards: no
• Dog friendly beach? No, it is a protected wildlife area
• Toilets: yes, at the Visitor Centre and Coastguard Station

The Lincolnshire coast has some fabulous nature spots to complement its many miles of sandy beaches. Gibraltar Point Nature Reserve stretches from Skegness to the Wash, and is filled with an array of native wildlife and a network of scenic walking trails.

Gibraltar Point also has a stunning unspoilt beach on its coastline. As it is part of the nature reserve, this isn’t the kind of beach for sunbathing, games and dog walks. Rather, it is a peaceful spot to walk among nature on the shore and spot the many species of birds that live here.

When driving into the reserve, the beach car park is the first you will reach. From here it’s about half a kilometre’s walk along a well marked trail out to the sand.

Parking on beaches in Lincolnshire

Lincolnshire County Council provides car parks at many beaches along the Lincolnshire coast. Many of these are free of charge, but in 2022 some charges have been introduced at Anderby Creek, Chapel Six Marshes, Huttoft Car Terrace, Marsh Yard and Wolla Bank.

The charges apply from Good Friday to 31 October and are as follows:

• Up to 1 hour: £1
• Up to 2 hours: £2
• Over 2 hours: £4

Parking remains free for cars with disabled badges.

You can pay the parking fees using the APCOA Connect app, so it’s a good idea to download it before you arrive. You’ll need to register your vehicle on the app, then enter the location code (provided at the site) and choose the amount of time you want.

Alternatively you can pay by calling 01895 262 122 when you arrive.

Best beaches in Lincolnshire: map

You can click the map below to explore the locations of the beaches in Lincolnshire we’ve highlighted in this article:

The Lincolnshire Coast Path

Feeling adventurous and like a good hike? All beaches in Lincolnshire are becoming connected by a coastal path that will eventually stretch around the entirety of England. The Skegness to Mablethorpe route was the first section of the Lincolnshire Coast Path to be officially opened.

Looking for more activities around Lincolnshire? Check out more of our ideas for day trips from Lincoln.

Have you visited any beaches in Lincolnshire? Let us know your favourites in the comments below.

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