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South Shields Beach

(Herd Sand)

Tyne and Wear, England


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South Shields Beach, also known as Sandhaven, is a popular tourist destination located in South Shields, Tyne and Wear, England. .

Sandhaven in South Shields is a sandy beach with dunes backed by cliffs. It is good for bird watching and, due to the high number of sea birds present in the area, is a Site of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI). The beach is a popular tourist beach with a programme of free entertainment provided during the summer months.

Located south of the River Tyne's south pier, Sandhaven boasts more than half a mile of golden sands. A popular destination for families, Sandhaven is within easy walking distance of the town centre and the award winning sea front parks. Facilities include Ocean Beach Pleasure Park, Dunes Bowling Alley and Smugglers Cove Crazy Golf Course, together with a hugely popular skate park and multi use games area.

During the summer months the beach is cleaned on a daily basis and a dog ban is enforced along the whole length of the beach between 8am and 6pm. A lifeguard service is provided by the RNLI from June until early September and a lively programme of events and activities takes place adjacent to the beach during June, July and August. Visitors can enjoy birdwatching, surfing, and windsurfing, as well as a range of family-friendly activities, including sandcastle competitions, volleyball, and surfing or paddleboarding lessons.

The beach runs from the pier to Trow Point, with the northern end being busier and having lots of family entertainment. The southern part of the beach becomes more natural with grassy dunes and rugged cliffs of Trow Point. The South Tyneside Heritage Trail crosses the beach, and the South Shields Surf School is located nearby.

There is loads of parking on the seafront all along the promenade. Deck chair hire is available from the hire centre under the walkway on the beach. A seasonal dog ban is in place on the northern half of Sandhaven Beach from May 1st to September 30th.

Sand

Weather and tides for Thursday 4 June

Today
Chance of rain 94%
Max temperature 16°C
feels like 16°C
Wind 19mph
Max UV Index
Tonight
Chance of rain 36%
Min temperature 11°C
feels like 11°C
Wind 18mph

The tide at South Shields Beach is currently falling. Low tide will be at approximately 12:53 PM, and the next high tide will be at approximately 7:03 PM.

Today's air pollution levels are forecast to be Low

Detailed weather and tides »

Recommended holiday cottages near South Shields Beach

Things to do and see in the area

South and North Marine Parks (0.4 miles)
Arbeia Roman Fort and Museum (1 miles)
The Customs House (1.3 miles)
Tynemouth Priory & Castle (1.4 miles)
Tynemouth Markets (1.5 miles)
Souter Lighthouse and The Leas (2.6 miles)
Souter lighthouse (2.6 miles)
Cullercoats Bike & Kayak (2.9 miles)

All distances are approximate

Other beaches nearby

Location: Westoe, South Shields

Location type: Urban

OS Grid: NZ379672

Coordinates: 54°59'53"N 1°24'31"W

Mapcode: GBR LBLN.T2

What 3 Words: sweep.trap.just

Coordinates and location codes are for an approximate mid-point of the beach, and may not reflect the best access point or the most popular part of the beach.

Country: England

Local Authority: South Tyneside

Nearest postcode: NE33 2LD

(for sat-nav purposes only, a beach does not have a postal address!)

Important! Beach information is compiled from a variety of different sources and is correct to the best of our knowledge at the time of compilation. However, information may be incorrectly supplied by our sources or go out of date after publication. BritishBeaches.uk makes no warranty as to the accuracy of any information on this page.

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Visitor information for South Shields Beach, Tyne and Wear, England. Weather, tides, visitor comments, beach facilities, photos, nearest postcode, beach information and nearby accommodation.

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216.73.216.53 Thu, 04 Jun 2026 09:48:09 +0100