Best dog-friendly beaches in Sussex

Sussex is a superb place for a coastal holiday with your dog. The Sussex coast is home to several excellent beaches, some famous, some secret, some with no restrictions and others with seasonal no-dog zones. There are miles of coast and room for everyone to spread out on East Sussex and West Sussex's beaches. From Pett Level and Hastings in the east to West Wittering in the west, there is a diversity of beaches to suit everybody. Shingle beaches, rocky coves, wild dune-fringed expanses, sandy stretches and beaches fringed with cliffs. We have put together this guide to our favourite dog-friendly beaches on the Sussex coast to help you pick out the holiday destination that suits you and your pet the most.

We have self-catering dog-friendly cottages all along the coast for you, your family and friends, and most importantly your four-legged buddy! Our pet-friendly properties really are the perfect pads for those who want to treat their best four-pawed pal to a great holiday. Top pup features can include dog beds and blankets, outdoor taps, enclosed gardens, exercise areas, welcome packs packed with treats, and being in a good location, close to pet-friendly attractions. Book your dog-friendly property by the Sussex coast today.

If you are looking for even more ideas of places to go in Sussex or dog-friendly coastal holidays in England, check out some more of our helpful guides: our Canine guide to Sussex and The UK's top dog-friendly beaches. With so many dog-friendly beaches in Sussex to discover, it’s quite likely that you’ll want to spend a bit of time in the county! Click on the button below to discover your dog-friendly retreat on the Sussex coast.

Skip to: 

• Camber Sands
• Hastings
• Bexhill-on-Sea
• Pevensey Bay
• Brighton
• Worthing
• East Head 
• Littlehampton

Dog-friendly Camber Sands, East Sussex

Most dogs in England will never have seen a beach as wide or quite as long as Camber Sands. The tide rolls out wonderfully far at Sussex’s most easterly beach, and its expanse stretches from a military exclusion zone far to the east for 6 miles to the reinforced River Rye estuary at the west end. 

Sand dunes run at the edge of the western end of the beach and it’s a wonderful wild place to explore, run and play. You can’t see the village of Camber which is hidden behind the dunes, so the beach feels remote even though it isn’t. Popular with dog walkers, kite surfers, swimmers and sunbathers, Camber is a winner and rightly so, it’s beautiful.

Dog-friendly Hastings beach, East Sussex

The seaside resort of Hastings has been one of the county’s top destinations for over one hundred years. Its long shingle beach offers miles of space to walk and enjoy the sea views with your four-legged friend. There are restricted zones for dogs around the pier area, but like so many beaches along the Sussex coast, there’s space for everybody to play and enjoy themselves. 

Above the Old Town, you will find Hastings Country Park and the ruins of Hastings Castle, which are great areas for taking the dog for a leg stretch. Take a day trip a few miles inland to Battle, to see the site of the famous 1066 Battle of Hastings. In fact, many of the historical sites in the area are outdoors and dog friendly.

Dog-friendly Bexhill-on-Sea beach, East Sussex

Bexhill-on-Sea is a popular destination for those planning a fantastic escape to a place by the sea. Your dog will love it too because there is a massive shingle and pebble beach with a lengthy promenade to match in the town. And whilst your pup might be distracted by other things, the seafront has a very eye-catching De La Warr Pavilion (which is an art gallery). 

There are a few seasonal no-dog zones (around the pavilion, but room to play isn’t an issue at Bexhill as there are miles of coast to enjoy here). You can see Beachy Head to the east towering above the sea which is a good idea for a day out. The town is also home to two lovely parks, Manor Gardens and Egerton Park to explore with the hound. Bexhill is home to some great dog-friendly cafes and pubs too.

Dog-friendly Pevensey Bay, East Sussex

Pevensey Bay is a small seaside resort with a lovely dog-friendly beach and makes for an amazing spot to enjoy a coastal break away from the cities and big towns. Pevensey Bay has a shingle and pebble beach making it perfect for strolls with the pooch any time of year. 

Close to the ruins of Pevensey Castle and Pevensey Levels Nature Reserve (dogs on leads only) the area is very atmospheric and there are no restrictions on Pevensey Beach making it dog heaven.

Dog-friendly Brighton beach, East Sussex

Brighton is one of England’s most famous seaside cities. Its beach is one of its largest draws and is a popular place to visit any time of year for all. The promenade runs for miles from Brighton Marina in the East for nearly 8 miles to Portslade Docks; in between is Palace Pier and the main swathe of the beach with its string of pubs and places to eat and drink. 

There are one or two dog-restriction zones around the pier area and in Hove but as with many resorts along the coast, there’s a lot of room for everyone and you can still enjoy the sea views from the lofty promenade. Around the town, you have the North and South Lanes, as well as Pavilion Gardens for cool photo opportunities of the Royal Pavilion.

Dog-friendly Worthing beach, East Sussex

Worthing is a seaside resort with a much quieter profile than its jazzier neighbour, Brighton. It’s within easy distance for evenings out in the city though. The beach is a pooch heaven with a long shingle and pebble stretch of beach and a nice flat promenade to stroll along and watch the sea roll in and out.

As an alternative to the beach, head up on the South Downs which are a few miles inland and along the coast eastwards, before meeting the English Channel at Beachy Head, and Eastbourne.

Dog-friendly beach at East Head, West Sussex

Situated close to Chichester and West Wittering in West Sussex, East Head is a fabulous stretch of dog-friendly beach. Protected and managed by the National Trust because of its rare habitats and wildlife, it’s a beautiful spot for a dog walk. 

East Head is a dynamic place full of maritime plants and makes for an effective escape from the outside world for you and your dog. Head along the coast to West Wittering, which is a larger beach with places to eat, drink and swim.

Dog-friendly Littlehampton beach, West Sussex

Home to magnificent stone and sandy beach, Littlehampton is a seaside resort to remember. At the western end of the Sussex coast, this is distinctive because of its lovely harbour and quay close to where the River Arun meets the sea. 

It’s a classic holiday destination with a beach that fills up nicely with sunseekers and their children. There are lots of places to dine or have a cool pint in the sun, whilst the dog relaxes with you. Littlehampton offers the perfect blend of laidback sights and sounds with a fun-packed day at the beach.

Stay at a dog-friendly cottage in Sussex

We have a whole range of dog-friendly holiday cottages in East Sussex and West Sussex all along the coast where you and your four-legged buddy will find a warm welcome and all sorts of features which will make a holiday with your pet a fun and wonderful experience.