Shoreham

One of London's nearest wave venues, this large shingle beach attracts plenty of weekend warriors alongside some top-class locals. Windsurfing is from the 'Widewater' car-park, while kiters launch half a mile east beyond the rock groynes. Safe swimming zones are enforced in summer, but respecting the rules is a small price to pay for the reliably strong sea breeze. Typical winter conditions are head-high breaking waves with cross-onshore wind – terrific, especially in a good south-westerly blow! A great low tide venue as there are very few rocks and the sea never retreats far across the sand, whereas high tide often dumps a heavy shorebreak onto the steep pebble bank.