Summer Bank Holiday Guide: How Wheelchair Users Can Enjoy a Day by the Sea

The Summer Bank Holiday is the last long weekend of summer. For many, that means one thing: heading to the coast.

But if you‘re a wheelchair user, a beach trip can feel like a challenge. Sand that swallows wheels. Slopes that feel like hills. No accessible toilets for miles. It can feel like the beach wasn’t built for you.

The good news? Many UK beaches are now genuinely wheelchair-friendly. They‘ve thought about the ramps. They’ve installed the toilets. They‘ve put in the infrastructure.

Here’s what you need to know to plan a stress-free day by the sea.

Brighton Beach – flat, wide promenade for miles

Brighton has made serious improvements to beach accessibility. Recent upgrades include a Changing Places facility and a wheelchair accessible beach deck near the Palace Pier, complete with picnic tables and sunshades. The Black Rock boardwalk provides stable, level access down to the beach. Beach wheelchairs with balloon wheels are available to borrow from the Seafront Office. Blue Badge parking has also been improved, with almost double the number of spaces on Madeira Drive.

Best for: A classic seaside experience with pier, shops, and endless promenade.

Bournemouth Beach – one of the UK‘s most accessible beaches

Beach wheelchairs with balloon tyres are available during the summer season, on a first come, first served basis. Mobi-mats at Boscombe beach and a wooden boardwalk at Sandbanks beach help wheelchair users move easily from the promenade onto the sand. The UK’s first purpose-built accessible beach huts are also here – each can accommodate up to four wheelchair users at once. Wheelchair accessible toilets with RADAR key access are located at multiple points along the seafront.

Best for: Soft sand, wide beaches, and award-winning facilities.

Great Yarmouth Beach – free beach wheelchair hire

Great Yarmouth Borough Council offers free beach wheelchair hire at two locations. The special wheelchairs have large pneumatic wheels which slide over the sand, giving people with limited mobility easy access to the beach. Bookings can be made in advance.

Best for: Classic British seaside with 15 miles of sand.

Sandbanks Beach, Dorset – Blue Flag since 1987

Sandbanks has won the Blue Flag award every year since 1987. The beach is flat and wide, accessible by ramp, with good paths and accessible toilets close by. Beach wheelchairs are available during the summer season on a first come, first served basis. A wooden boardwalk allows wheelchair access onto the sand. The car park has accessible spaces for Blue Badge holders.

Best for: Golden sand, clear water, and stunning views.

Caswell Bay, Swansea – Blue Flag and Seaside Award

Caswell Bay holds both a Blue Flag and Seaside Award. The beach is wheelchair accessible, with disabled parking spaces in the car park. Floating beach wheelchairs are available for hire – booking is essential as they go quickly. The car park also has a Changing Places unit adjacent to the toilet block.

Best for: Clear water, stunning Gower Peninsula views, and free floating wheelchairs.

A quick note about electric wheelchairs and sand:

Standard electric wheelchairs like the Verpal E100y are designed for pavements, paths, and firm ground – not soft sand. They’re perfect for getting you to the beach, along the promenade, and through the town. But to go onto the sand itself, you‘ll need a specially adapted beach wheelchair (which most beaches offer for hire). So plan ahead: use your E100y to get there, then switch to a beach chair for the sand.

The Verpal E100y is your travel companion – lightweight, folds quickly, fits easily in the car boot, and the seat stays comfortable all day. It gets you to the beach, the promenade, the café, and back home again.

👉 Explore Verpal’s powerchairs: Verpal E100Y
👉 Questions? Contact us: service@verpal.uk

Sand, sea, and freedom.