How to get to Birmingham’s nearest beaches by train – including one of the best in the world

Fancy a day at the beach but find the cost of fuel too expensive? Or maybe you’d rather relax on the train than have the stress of the freeway and finding a place to park.

Or have you decided to ditch the car and take public transport instead? There are many good reasons to take the train to the seaside.

You can get great deals on family cards and buy individual off-peak tickets from £18 each. And it takes less time than you might think to reach beach destinations via the railways.

Read more – One of the most beautiful beaches in the world is about three hours drive from Birmingham

Many fabulous holiday destinations have direct train connections from New Birmingham Street, which makes the trip really easy. And most have a train station a short walk from the beach, so you don’t have to spend extra money on taxi fares.

We’ve looked at some of the closest beaches to Birmingham, the best train routes to reach them and how long it takes to get there. We’ve even included Holkham Beach, which has just been named one of the best beaches in the world.

All of these train journeys can be booked through Railway line.

Weston-super-Mare

It takes approximately two hours 15 minutes to reach Weston-super-Mare from Birmingham. Take the train from Birmingham New Street to Bristol Temple Meads, then change here for a Great Western Railway train to Weston-super-Mare.

The beach is then just a five minute walk through town.

Rhyl

A trip to Rhyl will take around two hours and 20 minutes by train. You take a train from Birmingham New Street to Crewe, then switch to an Avanti West Coast train to Rhyl. It then takes about 13 minutes on foot from the station to the beach.

Borth

You can easily get to Borth from Birmingham New Street without having to make any changes. There are direct trains to the seaside town, which take around two hours and 40 minutes. Borth train station is only a minute walk from the beach, literally just across the road.

Barry Island

It will take you just under three hours to reach Barry Island by train. Board at Birmingham New Street, then change to a Transport for Wales train at Cardiff Central for a 25-minute train direct to Barry. It’s only a six-minute walk from the Barry Island Beach train station.

Hear Birmingham mum-of-four Ruth Cumming talk about how ‘liberating’ it has been to ditch the car and go everywhere, including holidays, trains, bikes and buses – on the award-winning Brummie Mummies podcast here

Aberystwyth

There are direct trains from Birmingham New Street to Aberystwyth station. The journey will take just under three hours. It is then only a short walk through the town to the beach.

Tywyn

There are direct trains from Birmingham New Street to Tywyn. The journey will take you about three hours. From there, it will take you about 10 minutes on foot to reach the seaside.

Bournemouth

You can get to Bournemouth in just over three hours by train as direct connections are available. Board a Cross Country train at Birmingham New Street to take you straight to Bournemouth. It’s about a 25-minute walk to the beach from the train station or a five-minute taxi ride.

Blackpool

The journey to Blackpool takes just under three hours by train. You get off at Birmingham New Street, then change at Preston (Lancs) to catch a Northern train straight into Blackpool Pleasure Beach station, which serves the theme park and beach.

Barmouth

You can take a direct train from Birmingham New Street to Barmouth without any changes. It will take about three hours and 35 minutes. The beach is literally a three minute walk from the train station, making it a very easy place to visit.

southend on sea

It takes around three hours and 35 minutes to reach Southend-on-Sea via the rail network. Take a train from Birmingham New Street to London Euston and then an underground to London Fenchurch station. From here you can take a train to Southend Central. The beach is about a 13 minute walk from the station.

Skegness

Trains to Skegness take between three and a half and just over four hours, depending on the route you take. The quickest is probably to get off at Birmingham New Street and then change to an East Midlands Railway train at Nottingham which will then take you to Skegness. It’s about a 15 minute walk to the beach from the train station, passing the clock tower on your way.

Porthmadog

Trains run directly to Porthmadog from Birmingham New Street Station. The journey will take you around four and a half hours, taking you through Aberdovey, Twyn and Fairbourne along the way. Borth-Y-Gest beach is then 1.5 km away, which takes about half an hour on foot or five minutes by taxi.

holkham

You can take the train from Birmingham New Street to Norwich, which takes around five hours, changing at Peterborough and Norwich. From here connecting buses serve Holkham.

Tenby

It’s a five hour and 15 minute train journey to Tenby, and you have to make two changes on the route. Coming from Birmingham New Street, you change at Cardiff Central to take a train to Carmarthen. From Carmarthen you can then take a train to Tenby. It is then just a 10 minute walk to Tenby North Beach from the train station.

*Travel times may vary depending on routes taken, times traveled and delays during the day.

Book by Railway linewith a lot of Train card options available for cheaper trips.

Read more – One of the UK’s best beach towns is just hours from Birmingham

Listen – Great Days Out in the Midlands You May Have Never Tried Before – on the Brummie Mummies Podcast

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