Britain's best urban beaches

Summer's finally here and you don't have to travel too far to experience the best of British beach life as some of the UK's biggest urban spots have fantastic beaches for city dwellers to sit back on a deckchair and soak up the rays.

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Whether they're pop-ups for the summer season or classic coastal destinations you can visit into late summer and autumn, these urban beaches are just the ticket for escaping to sun-kissed sands without the long drive.

Located in market squares, shopping centres and even the Olympic Park, the pop-up beaches offer everything from beach bars, fairground rides and hundreds of tons of sand. Visitors can relax in deckchairs, enjoy ice creams and build sandcastles for a perfect day out at the beach without ever leaving the city.

In Britain's traditional seaside towns and cities, such as Margate and Brighton, you can enjoy holiday town charms, cafe culture and take a dip in the sea to cool off. Meanwhile, non-bathing beaches, like Crosby Beach in Liverpool, offer just as much appeal, with art installations and galleries to check out while you're there.

Discover the great outdoors this summer and make the most of the sunshine at these urban beaches...

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