Sandhaven Beach in South Shields is well worth a visit this summer (Image: Getty)
While there’s no denying the excitement of a summer trip abroad, there’s a spot in the North East that rivals the best of them when the sun shines and temperatures hit the 20s.
This place has even been compared to , thanks to its sandy , seafront bars, and stunning sunsets.
Enter South Shields beach, or Sandhaven to be precise, which was crowned Beach of the Year by The Sunday Times in 2022.
While comparing a stretch of sand and sea in South Tyneside to the party-centric White Isle might seem far-fetched, a sunny afternoon in July or August can create an atmosphere that’s very much like a beach party.
During these months, free Sunday concerts draw tens of thousands to Bents Park – and despite often being marred by poor weather, when the sun does make an appearance, the festivities shift closer to the sea.
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Sandhaven Beach in South Shields boasts some breathtaking views (Image: Andrea Fyall)
Venues like The New Sundial, Platform 33, and The Sanddancer are packed to the rafters, both inside and out, as DJs and live bands provide some open-air entertainment, reports .
Order a frozen strawberry daiquiri and imagine you’re on holiday without even needing to board a plane.
South Shields shares more than just great beaches and live music with Ibiza – it also boasts its own Ocean Beach.
Instead of day beds, Moet and sushi platters, think of a waltzer, slushy and a carton of chips.
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Rather than being an expensive beach club, Shields’ Ocean Beach is a popular theme park that attracts visitors all year round and has even featured on the hit show Vera.
Despite their aesthetic differences, both Ocean Beaches share a celebrity clientele. In a recent chat with The Chronicle, Perrie Edwards revealed that she took her son Axel to the Shields’ O Beach, which has just reopened for 2025, during her last visit home to South Shields.
The sunsets at Sandhaven beach are spectacular (Image: Getty)
Sandhaven Beach, boasting a near perfect 4.5/5 score on Trip Advisor, has been hailed as an ‘amazing’ spot. The UK Beach Guide also rates it highly with four stars.
One happy reviewer wrote: ‘I have travelled far and wide but never seen such beauty as sunset in South Shields.’
Another equally impressed visitor penned: ‘A first class beach with lovely soft clean sand.”