Sandown Beach

Sandown Beach is one of the Isle of Wight's most popular and complete family seaside destinations, a long arc of fine golden sand curving around the broad expanse of Sandown Bay on the eastern coast of the island. The beach is wide, gently shelving, and backed by a traditional esplanade with amusements, cafes, beach huts, and the kind of seaside infrastructure that has made the town a holiday destination since the Victorian era. The bay faces southeast into the Channel, picking up enough sun and shelter to make it warm and swimmable on good summer days. The cliffs at Yaverland to the north of the bay are a designated SSSI and have yielded an impressive number of dinosaur fossils, adding a palaeontological dimension to a visit for those prepared to look.

Dogs face seasonal restrictions on the main Sandown beach between 1 May and 30 September under the Isle of Wight Council PSPO, reinstated in January 2025. The long sandy stretch between Sandown and Shanklin to the south is dog-friendly year-round and is one of the best continuous dog-walking beaches on the island. Outside the restriction season, the full beach is freely accessible. The wide low-tide sands give dogs plenty of room even when restrictions are in force, provided you are on the right section. Pay and display parking is available in the town, and there are toilets, cafes, and amusements along the esplanade throughout the season.