Most travellers book a beach holiday in the hopes of relaxing, but some of Europe’s most glistening shorelines attract huge crowds, making it hard to unwind.
For those looking to escape the crowds, Wizz Air has compiled a list of least crowded beaches, and an East Sussex gem has come first in the UK: Camber Sands, which is a mere one-hour train journey from London.
To determine the least overcrowded beaches, Wizz Air analysed over 50 European countries and their top beaches.
The airline estimated how much space each beach offers per person by measuring the beach, dividing its area by the size of a beach towel, and then dividing that by the average number of daily visitors.
Camber Sands, an ‘expansive, near-five-mile beach’ has space for 61.1 beach towels per person, offering visitors ‘plenty of room to stretch out, take sandy strolls and play watersports’.
As such, Camber Sands beats the likes of Nissi Beach in Cyprus, and Playa d’en Bossa in Ibiza, with Wizz Air declaring it to be ‘more relaxing than the Algarve’.
Camber Sands was only beaten to the top spot by the Beach of Durrës in Western Albania came first on the list – the 6.5-mile beachfront received a score of 64.5.
Meanwhile, Praia de Falesia in the Algarve, Portugal, was halfway down the list in seventh with space for 33.8 towels per person.
And Camber Sands isn’t the only English beach to make the list.
Brighton (also in East Sussex) ranked sixth and has several direct trains from the capital that will take you straight to the shore in under an hour, the airline notes.
What people are saying about Camber Sands
According to the UK Beach Guide, Camber Sands is unusual for a Sussex beach.
While most beaches along the Sussex coast are lined with pebbles, Camber Sands is ‘covered in fine golden sand’ and is home to the only dunes in East Sussex.
The website notes: ‘Despite its fantastic natural assets, Camber Sands remains largely unspoiled. For the larger part of the year, there is a good chance of finding some solitude here.
‘Even in the height of summer, the crowds are bearable even though it is within two hours of London.’
The top 10 least overcrowded beaches in Europe, according to Wizz Air
- Beach of Durrës – Durrës, Albania: 64.5 (towel space per person)
- Camber Sands – East Sussex, England: 61.1
- Zlatni Rat Beach – Bol, Croatia: 54.1
- Borsh Beach – Borsh Albania: 43.0
- Plage de Pampelonne – Ramatuelle, France: 33.8
- Brighton Beach – Brighton, England: 27.0
- Praia de Falesia – Algarve, Portugal: 24.3
- Mogren Beach – Budva, Montenegro: 20.1
- Nissi Beach – Ayia Napa, Cyprus: 19.3
- Playa d’en Bossa – Ibiza, Spain: 17.7
One Tripadvisor review, left by ‘Ruth M’ described it as ‘possibly the best beach in the UK’, with ‘miles and miles of gorgeous sandy beaches’.
Reviewer ‘Stuart R’ added: ‘I’ve been to a lot of beaches. This one takes some beating. A huge expanse of sand offers great views. A few coffee shops dotted around, but largely unspoiled.’
Meanwhile, ‘Bookthiefj’ wrote: ‘Lovely sandy beach, turquoise waters, and it was not too crowded on the day I visited. I loved this beach. I want to spend a day sleeping in the sun on the beach on my next visit.’
How to get to Camber Sands
The nearest train station to Camber Sands is Rye, and the journey from London to Rye usually takes just over an hour. Tickets start from around £16 on Trainline.
To get there, visitors can catch a train from London St Pancras to Ashford International and change at Ashford for Rye.
From there, visitors can catch the 102 Wave bus to the beachfront, which usually takes around 20 minutes. Or, if you’d prefer to walk, it’s just over an hour.
Things to know before visiting Camber Sands
The Rother District Council has a list of guidelines on its website for those visiting Camber Sands and advises visitors to follow the RNLI beach safety advice and check the beach safety sign for local hazards.
The website reads: ‘Camber Sands is known for its sandy beach, dunes and its flat and calm nature, but there is some important safety information you should be aware of:
- Beware of fast incoming tides – check the tide times
- Beware of sandbars – don’t get cut off by the tide
- Always wear clothing designed for swimming – when wet, normal clothes can cause you to sink!
- Beware of soft sand and mud exposed at low tide
- Do not dig deep holes or tunnels in the sand
- Our coastal waters are home to an array of marine species. The following link shares some useful advice on how to avoid getting stung and what actions to take if you do. Stings, spines and sharp teeth: Your guide to summer sealife.
- Alcohol and swimming don’t mix.
- Stay away from groynes and outfall pipes.
- Keep clear of the Harbour entrance. There are very strong currents and boats in the area.
- Safety signs are located along the foreshore. Make sure you read the information and familiarise yourself with the environment.’
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