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Winchelsea Beach

East Sussex, England


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Winchelsea Beach is a quiet and historic beach town located on the western edge of Rye Bay in East Sussex, offering a range of watersports options and a unique natural setting. .

Winchelsea Beach, locally known as 'The beach', is a small, rural resort that was first developed in the early 20th century. The beach is predominantly shingle, with shallow sand flats exposed at low water, and generally achieves high bathing water quality standards.

The gently sloping beach is made up of shingle, although a large area of level sand and mud is exposed when the tide is out. From the top of the sea wall, there are views to the south-east towards Camber Sands and the Dungeness headland, and on clear days, it is possible to see the red cliffs at Fairlight to the west.

The beach is backed by the Rye Bay Caravan Park, and there is a cafe offering hot and cold food and outdoor seating. Winchelsea Beach is a great destination for kayaking, jet-skiing, sailing, and windsurfing, although there are no lifeguard services available. Visitors can also enjoy walking and exploring the flat expanse of sand and mud that becomes visible at low tide.

The nearby Rye Harbour Nature Reserve, which lies a short walk to the east of the beach, is known for its rich birdlife and natural beauty. The reserve offers stunning views and is a popular spot for nature lovers and birdwatchers.

Winchelsea beach is popular with dog walkers throughout the year. However, from May 1 to September 30, dogs are not allowed on certain parts of the beach, although there are specific areas where dogs can be exercised on leads during this time.

The ancient town of Winchelsea, about one and a half miles inland from Winchelsea Beach, was once a busy harbour and part of the Cinque-Port alliance. Unfortunately, the old town was destroyed by floods in the 13th century, and today the sea has receded some distance from the town.

Shingle

Weather and tides for Thursday 4 June

Today
Chance of rain 84%
Max temperature 17°C
feels like 18°C
Wind 26mph
Max UV Index
Tonight
Chance of rain 40%
Min temperature 10°C
feels like 12°C
Wind 19mph

The tide at Winchelsea Beach is currently falling. Low tide will be at approximately 8:12 AM, and the next high tide will be at approximately 2:20 PM.

Today's air pollution levels are forecast to be Low

Detailed weather and tides »

Recommended holiday cottages near Winchelsea Beach

Things to do and see in the area

St. Thomas the Martyr (1.2 miles)
Rye Harbour Nature Reserve (2.4 miles)
Rye Heritage Centre (2.7 miles)
The School of Wizards & Witches (2.7 miles)
Ypres Tower Museum (2.7 miles)
St. Mary's Parish Church (2.7 miles)
Kino Rye (2.7 miles)
Camber Sands (3.3 miles)
Camber Kitesurfing (3.3 miles)

All distances are approximate

Other beaches nearby

Location: Winchelsea Beach

Location type: Village

OS Grid: TQ918159

Coordinates: 50°54'39"N 0°43'38"E

Mapcode: GBR QY2.YHQ

What 3 Words: landings.lotteries.carrots

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.

County: East Sussex

Country: England

Local Authority: Rother

Parish: Icklesham

Nearest postcode: TN36 4LX

(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 Winchelsea Beach, East Sussex, 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 07:23:38 +0100