Kitesurf Travel Guide: Shoreham, West Sussex

Shoreham Beach sits on a long shingle spit on England's south coast, a short drive from Brighton but with none of Brighton's beachfront crowds. Most people who know the name know it for Widewater Lagoon, the brackish, bird filled wildlife reserve that runs along the back of the beach, not for the kiting and windsurfing scene that uses the open sea right next to it. This guide covers the actual launch spot, the lagoon it is named after, and the practical details nobody tells you until you show up.

Why Shoreham?

Shoreham Beach is a steep, roughly 1.5 mile shingle spit that keeps its water close even at low tide, with few rocks underfoot, which local windsurfing guides note makes it comfortable to sail barefoot. The open sea here draws both casual weekend riders and some genuinely strong local talent, and conditions swing fairly hard between seasons.

→ Summer brings a reliable sea breeze, generally westerly or northwesterly, which fills in at low to mid tide and is the easiest window for less experienced riders.

↳ Winter conditions are rated by at least one UK kite and windsurf guide as "terrific," with head high breaking waves on a good southwesterly blow, though the wind tends to run more cross-onshore, which is a step up in difficulty from a clean summer sea breeze.

Getting There and Getting Around

Shoreham Beach is signposted off the A27 between Brighton and Worthing. Coming from the A23, stay on the A27 past the road tunnel, then take the A259 into Shoreham, where the beach is at the first roundabout heading west through town.
→ The large beachside car park has a 2 meter height barrier and costs roughly £1.50 a day between April and September, as of a recent check. Other nearby parking fills up fast on summer weekends.
↳ Widewater Lagoon itself sits between the far east end of Lancing Beach and the far west end of Shoreham Beach, right next to the A259. It is managed by Lancing Parish Council as a wildlife reserve, home to herons, swans, geese, cormorants and kingfishers, and is not the area kiters launch from.

When to Kitesurf

Summer is the easier, more forgiving season, with the sea breeze filling in reliably on westerly and northwesterly days. Riders chasing real swell and wave riding conditions generally look to winter instead, when a southwesterly blow can produce head high waves, though the cross-onshore wind direction makes winter sessions better suited to riders who are already comfortable in the water.

Safety notes: The beach has designated safe swimming zones that are enforced in summer, so kiters need to respect those boundaries and launch only where it is allowed. Rock groynes line the shore roughly half a mile east of the Widewater car park, worth avoiding on your approach. At high tide, a heavy shorebreak can hit the steep pebble bank hard, which catches out riders expecting the gentler low tide shoreline. If you are unsure where you are allowed to launch on a given day, local guides suggest calling ahead to confirm current zoning before you rig up.

Kitesurf Spots

Shoreham Beach, main launch near the Widewater car park: Open sea off a shingle beach.
Water: Sea, steep shingle, little change between tides, few rocks close in.
Level: Suitable for newcomers outside of high tide, and above.
East toward the groynes: Larger waves, more exposed.
Water: Sea, rock groynes present.
Level: Intermediate and advanced.

No kitesurfing school currently operates directly on Shoreham Beach itself. The nearest dedicated operator we found in West Sussex is GetKiteboarding School, based further west at Bracklesham Bay, which runs beginner and improver kitesurfing, windsurfing and wingfoil sessions. If you are new to the sport, booking a lesson there before a self guided Shoreham session is the safer order of operations.

Photographing Shoreham

A line of kites against the shingle, with the lagoon's wildfowl in the foreground, is a shot you will not get at most English Channel kite spots. If you shoot a session here, consider uploading it to Surf Snaps so riders can find their session by spot and date. If you were the one on the water, search Surf Snaps to see if your Shoreham session was caught on camera. Our guide to kitesurfing photography tips covers shooting fast moving riders against a bright, open sky like Shoreham's.

Where to Stay

→ Shoreham-by-Sea itself has limited lodging, so neighboring Lancing and Brighton fill in the gaps.

Budget ($)

The Crabtree Inn, Shoreham-by-Sea
A pub with small hotel rooms, a short walk from both the railway station and the beach.

Mid-Range ($$)

Beach Green Hotel, Lancing
Close to Widewater Lagoon on the Lancing side, a convenient base for the Shoreham launch area.

City Base ($$$)

Brighton hotels
Brighton is a short drive or train ride east of Shoreham, with the widest choice of larger hotels and restaurants on this stretch of coast.

Food and Drink

On the River: River Cafe and Bistro, Shoreham
→ Scenic views over the River Adur, a relaxed stop before or after a session.
In Town: Drift, Shoreham
→ A cafe in Shoreham's pedestrianized town center.
Coffee Stop: Teddy's, Shoreham
→ A busy, casual spot in town, good for a quick coffee between sessions.

FAQ: Kitesurfing Shoreham, West Sussex

Can you kitesurf in Widewater Lagoon?

No. Widewater Lagoon is a brackish, bird filled wildlife reserve managed by Lancing Parish Council, not a kiteboarding launch zone. The actual kiting and windsurfing takes place in the open sea on Shoreham Beach, right next to the lagoon.

What is the best time of year to kitesurf at Shoreham?

Summer offers an easier, more reliable sea breeze on westerly and northwesterly days. Winter brings bigger swell and head high waves on a southwesterly blow, but the wind runs more cross-onshore and suits more experienced riders.

Is Shoreham Beach good for beginners?

It can be, outside of high tide, when the shorebreak is gentler and the beach keeps a reasonably consistent shoreline. No dedicated kite school currently operates directly on Shoreham Beach, so a first lesson with an operator such as GetKiteboarding School at nearby Bracklesham Bay is a sensible starting point.

Where do you park for Shoreham Beach?

The main beachside car park has a 2 meter height barrier and costs roughly £1.50 a day from April to September, based on a recent check. Other parking nearby fills quickly in summer.

Where can I find photos of my Shoreham session?

Search Surf Snaps by sport, place and date on the explore page to see if a photographer caught your session on the beach.

More Underrated Surf and Kitesurf Spots

Keep exploring with the rest of this series and our other surf travel guides.