We All Like to Be Beside the Seaside

A new national survey shows that many disabled people who want to visit the beach more often are being prevented from doing so due to a lack of basic accessibility features.

With around 16.8 million disabled people in the UK, 24% of the general population, and almost 50% of people living with a long-standing health condition, access to everyday spaces remains a significant issue.

Led by the Beach Access Project in collaboration with the University of Brighton new research shows that many disabled people and people with long-standing health conditions are unable to access the coastline in practice, despite the vital role beaches play in wellbeing, recreation, and family life.

The findings reveal a clear gap between demand and access.

Of the 1.071 respondents to the survey, from across the UK, 54% said they could not access the beach at all during their most recent visit.

While 98% said they wanted to visit beaches more often and 85% hoped to reach the water’s edge, only 23% were able to reach the shoreline on their last visit, highlighting the scale of accessibility barriers along the UK coastline.

For wheelchair users and those with limited mobility, the challenges were even more pronounced, with just 13% able to reach the water.

The findings show that while some essential facilities are relatively common, such as accessible parking (70%) and nearby food and drink outlets (68%), the features that genuinely enable people with medical conditions and disabilities to move safely across sand and reach the shoreline remain rare.

Only 8% of beaches had beach matting or boardwalks, 16% offered beach wheelchairs, 7% had accessible beach platforms, and just 3% provided staff support to access the beach environment.

Yet the demand for accessible features is overwhelming. Ninety per cent of respondents said beach matting would improve their experience, while 72% said access to beach wheelchairs would make a meaningful difference. Where accessible equipment or organised support is available, people are up to three times more likely to reach the water.

The research also highlights the emotional and social impact of inaccessible environments, with many respondents describing frustration, exclusion, and being unable to share everyday experiences with family and friends.

For some, this extends to parenting, as families with disabled and non-disabled children cannot always use the same spaces, and disabled parents face barriers to safely taking their children to the beach.

To find out more and to access the full report visit https://beachaccessproject.co.uk