The seaside resort 84 minutes from Surrey with sandy beach, lovely cafes and coastal walks loved by locals

When we think of sandy beaches in easy reach of Surrey, Bournemouth often first springs to mind. It's a popular destination for families when the sun is shining and many of us trundle down the M3 in the school holidays to get there. Away from the hustle and bustle of main Bournemouth is a suburb of the coastal resort town that offers similarly gorgeous strips of golden sand further along the South East coastline.

Located just south of Christchurch and 84 minutes drive from Surrey , Southbourne is a Blue Flag award-winning beach located west of Bournemouth. Lots of lovely reviews of it have been left on travel review website Tripadvisor. 'Alison J' from Guildford described it as "so much quieter than the main Bournemouth beach and just such a nice relaxing beach.



There is also usually a nice breeze so that you never feel too hot. Great to walk along or chill out on." Another reviewer, 'xKiwi22' from Bournemouth, said: "Perfect - beautiful beach without the crowds.

Perfect to explore Mudeford spit and Hengistbury heads. Lovely view of Isle of Wight." The beach can be accessed directly from Southbourne high street via Fisherman's walk.

It is popular with families as it boasts facilities such as toilets, baby changing and food and drink outlets. The main area of Southbourne is Southbourne Grove, a long shopping street with independent shops and eateries. Located on Southbourne clifftop is Café Riva, which offers beautiful panoramic views of the sea.

Breakfast is served daily there from 9am and includes a create your own fry up, sandwiches, eggs benedict and pastries. The lunch menu is available from 12pm and of course features classic fish and chips. The café is dog friendly, child friendly and there's even an 18-hole mini golf course on site.

On the cliffs above the beach is the Fisherman’s Walk nature trail which runs between Fisherman's Avenue and Portman Crescent in Southbourne, linking to Southbourne Grove. It is a narrow strip of woodland with a nature trail and plenty of wildlife. The zig zag path leads down to the beach, alternatively, you can take the Fisherman's Walk Cliff Lift.

Another great self-led walk is the Hengistbury Head Trail. Situated further up the shoreline, it's a fantastic place to visit during a trip to the seaside. Ramblers can discover its wide variety of habitats including woodland, freshwater wetland and coast, as well as its internationally important archaeology and geology, with the trail’s stunning scenery taking walkers through 10,000 years of history.

April is a particularly good time to witness migratory birds going back to their breeding grounds, including cuckoos and swallows. Visitors can finish up by taking the land train to Mudeford Sand spit, then enjoy the beautiful views with a cup of tea and a slice of cake at one of the gorgeous cafes. There are public toilets and refreshments at the visitor centre and Hengistbury Head beach.

According to property website Rightmove, house prices in Southbourne have an overall average of £444,327 over the last year. This is cheaper than the average price of houses in Surrey - £615,828. The majority of properties sold in Southbourne during the last year were flats, selling for an average price of £272,007.

Detached properties sold for an average of £655,492, with semi-detached properties fetching £396,968..