Best Family Friendly Beaches in Devon

Devon’s coastline is 150 miles of some of England’s finest beaches — but not all are equal when you’ve got kids in tow. You want gentle slopes, lifeguards, loos, parking that doesn’t require a second mortgage, and ideally an ice cream within whimpering distance. Here are the best family friendly beaches in Devon.

What makes a beach family-friendly?

The checklist: lifeguard cover (RNLI patrols — check the RNLI’s beach finder), gentle shelving (no sudden drop-offs), facilities (toilets, café, parking nearby), shelter (Devon’s coast can be windy — cliffs behind help), and things to do (rockpools, sand quality for castles, space for games). All the beaches below tick most of these.

What are the best family friendly beaches in Devon?

North Devon

• Woolacombe: three miles of golden sand, consistently voted among Britain’s best beaches. Lifeguarded, great facilities, surf schools for older kids. Gets busy in August — arrive before 10:30am. Parking £8–£12/day.
• Saunton Sands: Woolacombe’s quieter neighbour — vast, beautiful, with the famous Braunton Burrows dunes behind. Lifeguarded in season, excellent for kite flying and long walks. Less commercial, which many families prefer.
• Croyde Bay: the surfers’ beach — superb surf school scene (kids’ lessons from £35), lifeguarded, with great rockpools at low tide. Can be lively; the village has excellent cafés.
• Westward Ho!: the exclamation mark is part of the name, and the beach earns it — huge sandy expanse, very gentle slope, ideal for small children. The pebble ridge is a geological curiosity kids love.

South Devon (the English Riviera and beyond)

• Bantham: the family favourite of the South Hams — lifeguarded, gentle waves, rockpools, a superb café, and the River Avon for calmer paddling. Gets busy; the meadow car park fills by 11am in summer.
• Bigbury-on-Sea: famous for Burgh Island (reachable on foot at low tide via the causeway, or by sea tractor at high tide — kids adore the sea tractor). Lifeguarded, great sand, the Pilchard Inn on the island for lunch.
• Blackpool Sands: (no, not that one) — a stunning shingle-and-sand cove near Dartmouth, lifeguarded, with excellent facilities and some of the clearest water in Devon. Sheltered and calm — perfect for nervous swimmers.
• Oddicombe Beach (Babbacombe): accessible by the historic cliff railway (£3 return — an attraction in itself), sheltered red cliffs, lifeguarded, café on the beach. The English Riviera at its most charming.
• Goodrington Sands (Paignton): the full traditional seaside — lifeguarded, calm water, amusements and the pier nearby, Occombe Farm’s play park up the road. Maximum facilities, minimum stress.

East Devon

• Exmouth: two miles of sand, the Jurassic Coast’s western gateway, lifeguarded sections, watersports centre, and the town’s full facilities behind. Great for a beach day combined with the Jurassic Coast story.
• Seaton: quieter, with the tramway (a delight for kids — £12 adult, £6 child return) and fossil-hunting on the Jurassic cliffs nearby.

Beach day kit list (the family edition)

• Windbreak (£15–£25) — Devon’s secret weapon against the coastal breeze.
• Beach shelter/tent (£25–£40) — shade for babies, changing privacy, nap space.
• Proper sun protection — the sea breeze masks burning; reapply relentlessly.
• Bucket, spade, fishing net (£5–£10 total from any seaside shop — or bring from home and save the markup).
• Wetsuits for kids (£15–£25) — extends swimming time enormously in British water.
• Picnic + plenty of water — see our picnic planning guide.
• A bag for rubbish — leave only footprints (the RNLI and every local thanks you).

Beach safety with kids

Non-negotiables: swim between the red-and-yellow flags (that’s where lifeguards watch), supervise constantly (drowning is silent and fast — no phone scrolling), check tide times (Met Office and RNLI apps), beware rip currents (if caught: don’t fight it, float and raise your hand), and know that inflatables + offshore wind = danger (they blow out to sea faster than you can swim). Teach kids the Float to Live basics: tilt head back, relax, breathe. Five minutes of safety talk buys a summer of safe swimming.

Devon beach FAQs

Which Devon beach is best for toddlers? Westward Ho! or Goodrington — vast, gently sloping sand, calm water, maximum facilities. Shallow paddling for ages.

Which is best for teenagers? Croyde or Woolacombe — surf schools, social scene, and enough space to be independent without being unsupervised.

Are dogs allowed? Many Devon beaches have seasonal dog bans (usually May–September on the main beaches). Check the local council site before promising the dog a beach day — Saunton and parts of Woolacombe have year-round dog areas.

When’s the best time to visit? June and September: warm enough to swim (with wetsuits), quiet enough to park, and the sea’s at its best. August is glorious but packed — arrive early or embrace the crowds.

The surf schools: learning in Devon

Devon’s north coast is England’s surf capital, and the surf schools are excellent for kids: Croyde and Woolacombe both have multiple ISA-accredited schools running kids’ group lessons (£35–£50 for 2 hours, all kit included). Age 7+ for group lessons; under-7s can do private family sessions. Book the first lesson of the day (cleaner waves, fewer people) and manage expectations: standing up by lesson two is a triumph. The schools provide wetsuits, boards and endless encouragement — you just bring the swimwear, the towel and the camera. Many families plan the whole Devon week around the surf progression; by day three the kids are hooked for life.

The takeaway

Devon’s best family beaches — Woolacombe, Saunton, Bantham, Bigbury, Blackpool Sands, Westward Ho! — all offer the magic combination: lifeguards, gentle water, sand worth building with, and facilities that keep parents sane. Pick by your kids’ ages (toddlers: gentle and calm; teens: surf and scene), arrive before 10:30am in summer, pack the windbreak, and respect the flags. The beach days your kids remember for decades are built from exactly these ingredients: sand, sea, safety, and ice cream. The Jurassic and Atlantic coasts are waiting — see you on the sand. And if the weather turns, remember: some of the best beach days end with everyone sheltering in a seaside café, sandy and happy, with hot chocolates all round.