23/08/2026
π A Relaxing Family Day Trip to Stokes Bay, Gosport
Looking for a simple coastal trip from Southampton? Stokes Bay is around 35β45 minutes away by car and is perfect for a relaxed family day out.
It is a pebble beach rather than a sandy beach, with beautiful views across the Solent towards the Isle of Wight. The beach is free to visit, with paid parking nearby.
There is also some interesting history here. During the Second World War, Stokes Bay was an important embarkation point for troops, tanks and supplies travelling to Normandy for D-Day. The five benches at the D-Day Memorial represent Sword, Juno, Gold, Omaha and Utah beaches.
β¨ Easy tour plan:
1οΈβ£ Visit the Stokes Bay D-Day Memorial
2οΈβ£ Walk along the seafront and see the GAFIRS Lifeboat Station
3οΈβ£ Let the children enjoy the playground and seasonal splash park
4οΈβ£ Have a picnic or visit one of the nearby cafΓ©s
5οΈβ£ Drive around 10 minutes to Lee-on-the-Solent for another beach walk and ice cream
π Stokes Bay Road, Gosport, PO12 2TR
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ΏοΈ Pebble Beach Car Parkβpaid parking
π» Public toilets available
π¦ Free seasonal splash park for younger children
π§Ί Picnic and BBQ areas nearby
Take water shoes, towels, spare clothes, sun cream and a picnic blanket. A lovely little coastal escape without travelling too far from Southampton! π