King Edward’s Bay Beach

Tyne and Wear,
England
A pretty, sandy bay surrounded by cliffs and grassy banks, King Edward’s beach in Tynemouth is ideal for families looking for a fun day by the seaside

NEED TO KNOW

Type of beach

Sand.

Dogs

Dogs are not allowed on the beach from the 1st May to the 30th September. They are welcome on the beach for the rest of the year, but must be kept under effective control. There are no dog bins on the beach, so please take your waste home.

Lifeguard

Daily 27 May-03 September
Patrol times 10am-6pm

Beach cleaning

The beach is cleaned daily.

Parking

There is parking available near the beach for over 150 cars, including disabled spaces – a charge applies.

Nearest town

Tynemouth

Postcode

NE30 4HG

OS grid reference

NZ 37164 69517

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ABOUT

Despite being situated in an urban location, King Edward’s Bay beach has a very rural feel about it.

Also known as Tynemouth Short Sands it is just 200 m long and sits at the foot of Tynemouth Priory and Castle, which was once one of the largest fortified areas in England and is now managed by English Heritage.

It’s said that the castle is haunted by a Viking ghost called Olaf. Olaf was wounded during an invasion of the North East coast, and after being nursed back to health by the monks at Tynemouth Priory joined their monastery. When the Vikings returned to the area to launch another raid Olaf’s brother was killed and he was so overcome by grief that he died whilst praying in the chapel.

Today the ghost of Olaf dressed in his monk’s brown habit and gold belt regularly walks the castle grounds sometimes looking out to sea, particularly on windy days.

 

STAR SPECIES

Greay seal

The beach is popular with surfers with consistent, clean waves in winter being the best time to visit. People also come to dive and snorkel, as well as swim, and there are RNLI lifeguards patrolling the beach between May and September.

Although quieter than nearby Whitley Bay, it can get busy in the summer when families flock to the beach to sunbathe, build sandcastles, and play games.

After building up an appetite, a visit to Riley’s Fish Shack is a must. Located on the beach in two converted shipping containers, the semi-portable bar and grill serves seasonal fish and seafood dishes including lobster, kippers, mackerel, and squid cooked over a charcoal barbecue. They’ll even serve you your meals on the beach if you like – just ask at the counter when you place your order.

Nearby is The Gibraltar Rock, a pub with spectacular views over the bay which offers traditional pub grub, a fantastic selection of mouth-watering desserts, and a good range of wines, beers, and spirits.

There is parking available in Tynemouth as well as public toilets. Access to King Edward’s Bay beach is down a long flight of steps so not ideal for pushchairs or wheelchair users and the climb back up can be hard work.

AMENITIES

Castle
Castle
Diving
Diving
Fishing
Fishing
Food and drink
Food and drink
Litter bins
Litter bins
Sandcastles
Sandcastles
Shops
Shops
Snorkelling
Snorkelling
Sunbathing
Sunbathing
Surfing
Surfing
Swimming
Swimming
Toilet
Toilets
Walking
Walking

Visitor Reviews

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