Camber Sands beach on a summer day with families on the golden sand and dunes

Camber Sands with kids: things to do in Camber and family days out near Camber Sands

The beach is the headline act, but this corner of East Sussex has plenty of understudies ready when the weather turns or small people need a bit of novelty. Here is our 2026 guide to a family holiday at Camber Sands.

Camber Sands is one of the best beaches in the south east for children, and Beachside Cottage is set up for families: a travel cot, highchair and books for children, a fully enclosed garden, a garage so the buggy and beach kit never clutter the hall, and the sand a short walk away. Here is how we would spend a week with kids.

Is Camber Sands good for kids?

Yes, and toddlers in particular. Camber Sands is the only sand dune system in East Sussex, with seven miles of golden sand that slopes gently into the sea. Two hours either side of low tide the beach leaves warm, shallow lagoons that children will love, and there is room to dig, fly a kite or play cricket even on a busy day. The sand is soft, so a buggy is hard work once you leave the paths: a baby carrier or a beach trolley makes the beach day easier. Older children get kites, steam trains, castles and karting, and most of the family activities below are within twenty minutes of the cottage.

Beach safety at Camber Sands

Lifeguards: In 2026 RNLI lifeguards patrolled Camber Central at weekends from Easter and daily from late May to 27 September, and Camber West at May half term, summer weekends and daily from mid July to early September, 10am to 6pm. Swim between the red and yellow flags. No flags means no lifeguards.
Tides: The tide comes in fast across the flat sand and can cut off sandbars. Check tide times before every beach day, and keep children away from the harbour mouth at the western end, the groynes and the outfall pipes.
Lost children: A wristband scheme helps reunite lost children. Call in at the coastal office or speak to the beach patrol when you arrive, and agree a meeting point with older children.
Inflatables: Use them only when the orange windsock is not flying, as an offshore wind can carry them out to sea.
Barbecues: Gas barbecues raised off the sand only, and never in the dunes. In August 2026 Rother suspended all barbecues and flames because of wildfire risk, so check first. The cottage has its own barbecue on the decking.
Dogs: From 1 May to 30 September dogs are kept out of the zoned bathing areas. See our dog walks guide.

Parking, toilets and getting to the beach

Day visitors use the council car parks at Camber Central, the Western car park and Old Lydd Road, which are charged from 8am to 7pm, or the free Broomhill Sands car park at the eastern end. On sunny weekends in the school holidays the main car park fills early. Staying in the village of Camber you can walk to the beach, which is the easiest way to manage a family beach day. Toilets are by the Central car park and at the Welcome Centre, which opened in 2025; there are none at Broomhill. See our Camber Sands parking guide for charges.

Things to do in Camber with kids

Lagoons, dunes and sandcastles

A short walk from the cottageFreeBest near low tide

The simplest day is the best: a morning on the sand while it is quiet, a picnic, lagoons at low tide and a walk along the beach to see how far you get. On the western side of the beach, look across the harbour mouth to Rye Harbour.

Kites and watersports

Camber Sands beachLessons from around age 12Paddleboarding nearby

Camber is one of the best kite beaches in the country. The licensed schools run taster sessions in kitesurfing, landboarding and kite buggying for older children, and simply flying a power kite on the sand makes a brilliant afternoon. For younger children, Rye Watersports on flat inland water runs paddleboarding lessons, kids’ windsurfing and holiday activity clubs. See the watersports guide.

Camber Castle

About 2 miles from Rye HarbourFree to walk around

Henry VIII’s artillery fort stands alone among the sheep on the levels between Rye and the sea, with no road to it. Children love that you have to walk to a real castle.

Golden sand dunes with marram grass at Camber Sands, East Sussex, looking down to the beach and sea — Low tide leaves warm lagoons and streams, the best natural playground on the south coast.

Things to do in Rye with children

Rye Castle Museum and the Ypres Tower

Rye, 4 milesUnder 16s free

The Ypres Tower was built in 1249 to keep out French raiders, and inside are smuggling stories, the old prison cells and a balcony over Romney Marsh. Under 16s go free, which makes it one of the best family attractions in Rye.

Rye Heritage Centre

Strand QuayTown model and penny arcade

The sound and light town model is a twenty-minute potted history of Rye that children and adults both enjoy, followed by the vintage penny arcade machines. Then walk up Mermaid Street and hunt for the house names.

Rye Harbour Nature Reserve

5 milesFreeBird hides and a café

Rye Harbour’s bird hides turn a morning into a proper safari. Children love ticking off avocets and oystercatchers, and the Discovery Centre café waits at the end with hot chocolate. The flat track is good for scooters and bikes.

Family days out near Camber Sands

Romney, Hythe & Dymchurch Railway

Dungeness, 9 milesOne-third-scale steam trains

Steam locomotives at one-third scale have run along this coast since 1927. Ride from Dungeness up the coast towards Dymchurch beach and Hythe with faces glued to the window, and climb the Old Lighthouse at Dungeness while you are there. Greatstone and Dymchurch beaches are sandy at low tide too.

1066 Battle of Hastings, Abbey and Battlefield

Battle, about 40 minutesEnglish HeritagePlay area

Stand on the site of the battle where King Harold is said to have died. The visitor centre has a film and replica armour, there is a children’s audio guide for the battlefield walk and a wood-carved sculpture trail, and the play area beside the café has barrels, carts and an enormous wooden ox. The town of Battle is worth a wander afterwards.

Bodiam Castle and the Kent & East Sussex Railway

About 35 minutesNational TrustSteam from Tenterden

Bodiam is the castle a child would draw, rising sheer from its moat, with spiral stairs up the towers. Come by heritage steam train on the Kent and East Sussex Railway from Tenterden to Bodiam station and walk up to the castle.

Hastings Old Town

About 35 minutesA full seaside day

Two Victorian cliff lifts, tall black net huts and a working fishing beach, the free Shipwreck Museum, crazy golf, arcades and fish and chips. The East Hill Lift runs daily in summer and at weekends in winter, and rock pooling at Pett Level on the way is best at low tide.

Port Lympne Safari Park

Near Hythe, about 40 minutesTruck safariBook ahead

A big day out in Kent, with a truck safari through open paddocks of rhinos, giraffes and zebras and a dinosaur trail in the woods. Pack lunch and allow the whole day.

Go-karting at Lydd

About 15 minutesOutdoor circuitFrom age 6

Lydd Kart Circuit runs small karts for children from six years old and at least a metre tall, plus a clubhouse diner. It runs in most weather; book ahead.

Rainy day plans

When the weather turns, try Rye Heritage Centre and the Rye Castle Museum, the visitor centre at Battle Abbey, Kino, Rye’s independent cinema, or a steam train ride with the windows steamed up. The Smart TV at the cottage has your own streaming sign-ins for wet evenings, and the washer dryer deals with sandy clothes.

School holidays and the best time to visit

Camber Sands is a popular location in the summer school holidays, and car parks fill early on hot weekends. Arrive before ten for a beach day, or stay in Camber so you can walk. May half term and September bring lifeguards, warm sand and fewer crowds. Out of season the beach is wide open for kites, bikes and long walks, and a winter family holiday here is one of our favourite things.

Where to stay in Camber Sands with kids

Families choosing where to stay in Camber Sands usually compare Camber Sands Holiday Park with a self catering cottage. Beachside Cottage sleeps four in two bedrooms, each with a super-king bed that splits into two singles, so siblings can share or parents can keep a little one close. There is a travel cot and highchair, an enclosed garden for toddlers and a decking area with a barbecue. Getting here is easy: Camber is about two hours’ drive from London, or take the train to Rye and the 102 bus to Camber in 15 to 20 minutes.

At the cottage: Travel cot, highchair, children’s books, enclosed pebbled garden, a garage for the buggy and beach kit, Smart TV with your own streaming sign-ins for rainy evenings, and a washer dryer for sandy clothes.
Getting about: Bus 102 to Rye in 15 to 20 minutes; most family days out above are 10 to 40 minutes by car. Parking at the front and rear of the cottage.
Village shop: The village shop in Camber covers beach-day basics, and The Owl pub in the village serves food.

A ready-made family day

A morning on the sand while it is quiet, a picnic in the dunes, an afternoon steam trip from Dungeness with an ice cream at the lighthouse, fish and chips in Rye on the way home, then one round of the penny arcade if anyone is still standing.

Camber Sands with kids: your questions answered

Is Camber Sands good for kids?

Yes. It is one of the best beaches in the south east for children: seven miles of golden sand, dunes to explore, and warm shallow lagoons at low tide. Swim between the red and yellow flags when the RNLI lifeguards are on duty, keep children in sight, and check the tide times before you go.

Is Camber Sands good for toddlers?

Very. At low tide the beach leaves shallow pools that warm up in the sun, which are perfect for toddlers. The sand is soft, so a buggy is hard work once you leave the paths; a baby carrier or a beach trolley is easier.

Are there lifeguards at Camber Sands?

Yes, in season. In 2026 RNLI lifeguards patrolled Camber Central at weekends from Easter and daily from late May to 27 September, and Camber West at May half term, summer weekends and daily from mid July to early September, 10am to 6pm. No flags means no lifeguards.

Are barbecues allowed at Camber Sands?

Check before you go. Rother District Council only ever allows gas barbecues raised off the sand, never disposable, wood or charcoal ones, and never in the dunes. In August 2026 the council suspended all barbecues and flames because of wildfire risk. The cottage has its own barbecue on the decking.

What if a child gets lost on the beach?

Camber Sands runs a wristband scheme to help reunite lost children. Call in at the coastal office or speak to the beach patrol when you arrive, and agree a meeting point with older children.

Are there good day trips from Camber Sands with children?

Plenty, most within 40 minutes: the Romney, Hythe and Dymchurch Railway, Rye Castle Museum and the Ypres Tower, Battle Abbey and the site of the Battle of Hastings, Bodiam Castle and the Kent and East Sussex Railway, Hastings Old Town, and Port Lympne Safari Park.