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Minster Leas Beach

Kent, England


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Minster Leas Beach is a popular seaside destination located on the north coast of the Isle of Sheppey in Kent, offering a unique combination of natural beauty and historic charm.

Minster Leas Beach is a long sand and shingle beach facing north-east on the Isle of Sheppey, backed by marshes and the small historic town of Minster. The beach is gently sloping, flattening to a wide expanse of sand and mud that is exposed when the tide retreats. The bathing water contains numerous groynes and is backed by a promenade and a wide, grassy bank.

The beach offers fantastic views of the estuary from the wide, long promenade, making it a lovely tranquil place to come and relax. A grassy area with park benches slopes down to a long, shingle beach where a number of groynes stretch out into the sea. When the tide is out, a good expanse of sand is revealed with some patches of mud. The beach is well-maintained and has won a variety of awards, including a Blue Flag award in 2016.

The promenade is popular with dog walkers and families looking for somewhere for little ones to ride bikes and scooters. There is an outdoor gym on the promenade with free exercise machines for those who want to tone up their muscles. Between Little Oyster and Shingle Bank there is a designated bathing area, although there is no lifeguard service outside of the seasonal lifeguard service running from May to September. It is easy to access the beach and there is plenty of parking nearby, including car parks at Little Oyster and Seathorpe Avenue.

The nearby village of Minster has a historic Saxon Abbey built on the only high ground on the Isle of Sheppey. In the 9th century the Abbey was ransacked by Vikings and was rebuilt by William the Conqueror. The remains of the 1000-year old Gatehouse adjoining the abbey now houses an interesting museum where visitors can learn more about the area's fascinating history.

Minster Leas Beach is a traditional seaside resort on the Isle of Sheppey, with views over the Thames Estuary. This pebble beach is safe for swimming and there are lifeguards on duty in the holidays. If you like beachcombing, keep your eyes peeled for bits of sea glass and bits of pottery - you never know what you might find. The beach is dog friendly with restrictions during the summer.

Minster Leas Beach is adjacent to the Kent Coastline Walk.

Sand Shingle Pebbles Mud

Weather and tides for Saturday 19 July

Today
Chance of rain 81%
Max temp. 24°C
(feels like 23°C)
Wind 7mph
Max UV Index
Tonight
Chance of rain 14%
Min temp. 17°C
(feels like 17°C)
Wind 9mph

The tide at Minster Leas Beach is currently rising. High tide will be at approximately 7:32 AM, and the next low tide will be at approximately 1:17 PM.

Today's air pollution levels are forecast to be Low

Approximate sea surface temperature:   20°C  

Detailed weather and tides »
  • Facilities

    Campsite Food available Toilets Shops Litter bins Slipway
  • Popular Activities

    Bird watching Boating Sunbathing Walking Water sports
  • Features

    Golf Museum Nature reserve Promenade
  • Parking

    Two adjacent car parks & parking along The Leas road & the adjacent Shingle Bank beach.

  • Dogs

    Dogs not allowed May 1st to September 30th.

  • Beach Cleaning

    Daily cleaning every day throughout year.

  • Lifeguard

    Daily - 9th July - 4th September

  • Awards

    Blue Flag Beach

    Marine Conservation Society Recommended

  • Water Quality

    Excellent water quality

    Excellent water quality

Recommended holiday cottages near Minster Leas Beach

Things to do and see in the area

Elmley National Nature Reserve (0.6 miles)
Minster Abbey Gatehouse Museum (0.8 miles)
Barton's Point Coastal Park (1.1 miles)
Blue Town Heritage Centre (1.9 miles)
Whelan's (2.4 miles)
Admiral's Arm Micropub (3 miles)

All distances are approximate

Other beaches nearby

Location: Merryman's Hill, Minster

Location type: Urban

OS Grid: TQ950741

County: Kent

Country: England

Local Authority: Swale

Parish: Minster-on-Sea

Nearest postcode: ME12 2NL

(for sat-nav purposes only, a beach does not have a postal address!)

Important! Beach information is compiled from a variety of different sources and is correct to the best of our knowledge at the time of compilation. However, information may be incorrectly supplied by our sources or go out of date after publication. BritishBeaches.uk makes no warranty as to the accuracy of any information on this page.

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Visitor information for Minster Leas Beach, Kent, England. Weather, tides, visitor comments, beach facilities, photos, nearest postcode, beach information and nearby accommodation.

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18.97.14.84 Sat, 19 Jul 2025 03:24:57 +0100