Explore Christchurch Beaches and Coastline

Christchurch is on the south coast of England and the most easterly coastal town within Dorset. You have a great mix of coastline, harbour, town and countryside.


Why not check beaches nearby as we have 57 beaches in Dorset. You can even take a look at our list of Dorset dog friendly beaches or even our United Kingdom Blue Flag beach list.

Christchurch Dorset Coast Map

Christchurch Dorset Coast Search Bar

Where would you like to go? Use our search bar to search across all our local listings, ideal for finding that nearest spot to visit:

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Want some ideas on where to visit?

Every favourite location must be visited for the first time. Want some ideas, why not check out the below small selection of coastal locations, including beaches, activities, things to see and do, and places to stay and eat:

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Highcliffe Castle

Highcliffe Castle is a grade I listed building situated on a cliff-top site overlooking Christchurch Bay, Dorset. The castle was built in the early 1830s by Charles Stuart, 1st Baron Stuart de Rothesay in a Gothic Revival style on the site of High Cliff house, a Georgian Mansion. The design, by William Donthorne, has carved Medieval stonework salvaged from the Read more…
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Mudeford Quay Beach

Mudeford Quay is at the entrance to Christchurch harbour is not a beach but provides a great family day out location. You can fish off the quay, walk to the beaches nearby, take the ferry to Mudeford Sandbanks and Hengistbury Head or participate in watersports. From this point you can sail, windsurf, canoe in Christchurch Harbour or out to sea. Read more…
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Hengistbury Head Beach

Hengistbury Head is a headland jutting into the English Channel between Bournemouth and Christchurch, at the end is a spit that creates the narrow entrance to Christchurch Harbour. Hengistbury Head beach is a pebble beach below the imposing clay and ironstone cliffs, with the Hengistbury Head Nature Reserve separating Poole Bay and Christchurch Bay and is a Site of Special Read more…
Place to eat

Avon Beach Restaurant

Beach: Avon Beach, Christchurch View: The café is situated on an idyllic stretch of Dorset’s South Coast with a view of Christchurch Harbour. What’s on the menu?: Open all day serving a range of home-cooked meals ranging from breakfasts, light lunches to tapas and an enticing evening menu. Read more…
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Mudeford lifeboat station

The Mudeford Lifeboat station is located at Mudeford Quay and operates an inshore lifeboat. This is a very picturesque location at the entrance to Christchurch harbour. Visits are allowed during crew training, check schedule on display in boathouse notice board. Read more…
Christchurch-Priory

Christchurch Priory

Christchurch Priory is an ecclesiastical parish and former priory church in Christchurch and is one of the longest parish churches in the country and is larger than most English Anglican Cathedrals. Read more…
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Highcliffe Castle Beach

Highcliffe Castle beach is a sand and shingle beach backed by woods and Highcliffe Castle. Limited facilities: parking, toilets and cafe in the grounds of Highcliffe Castle. Note that the parking in the woods at Highcliffe Castle can fill up early in good weather. You can park on Highcliffe cliff-top and follow the Coastal Path to the Castle and then Read more…
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Mudeford Sandbanks Beach

A sandy beach at the tip of Hengistbury Head. Swimmers, paddlers and watersports are segregated on designated areas between numbered groynes. The collection of 300 plus wooden beach chalets may look rough but the huts are in great demand due the excellent location. Facilities include toilets, cafe, bistro and shop on the sandbank; Mudeford Quay facilities including pub, cafe, shop Read more…
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Avon Beach

Avon Beach is situated at Mudeford to the east side of the Christchurch Harbour entrance, near Bournemouth and is a 1/4 mile of sandy beach with views of the Isle of Wight and the Needles Lighthouse. Avon beach is a great family beach providing a great place for beach games, a safe gentle slope into the sea and sand bars Read more…
Place to eat

Beach House Cafe

Beach: Mudeford Sandbanks Beach View: Situated on the sandbank of by Hengistbury Head and offering stunning panoramic views across Christchurch Harbour What’s on the menu?: Selection of hot and cold snacks, including fish and chips and burgers, refreshments, ice-creams Read more…
Place to eat

The Beach Hut Cafe

The Beach Hut Cafe is located on the award-winning Friars Cliff Beach, Christchurch, with amazing sea views from Hurst Spit in the East, to the Purbeck Hills in the West. A family-run beachfront café, open all year round, serving breakfasts, snacks, burgers & sausages, homemade cakes and ice-creams. Plenty of seating, both at tables on the prom, on the beach, Read more…
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Highcliffe Beach

Highcliffe beach is sand and shingle beach with groynes below grassy cliffs. The beach has areas marked for swimmers and watersports, providing safe conditions. Highcliffe beach also provides good access to the fossil hunting clay cliffs at Barton on Sea. The beach has a large car park and most facilities are by the car park or a short walk to Read more…
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