British Beaches

Visitor information for every beach in the UK

"I'd like to be under the sea in an octopus's garden in the shade"

Selsey East Beach

West Sussex, England


Rate this beach!

We don't have any photos of this beach yet. Why don't you be the first to upload one?

Upload Photo
Approximate Location Map

Use two fingers to pan or zoom the map

Selsey East Beach, located on the south coast of England in West Sussex, is a popular destination for families and beachgoers alike, offering a unique combination of shingle and sand, along with a range of facilities and activities.

The beach is situated on the east side of the Selsey Bill low headland, which stretches 3 miles out to sea. The groyne-ribbed beach to the east is the most popular, backed by a sea wall with shingle stretching towards Pagham Harbour. The bathing water faces southeast and is primarily a groyned, shingle beach, but with some sand exposed at low water. To the north of the bathing water, there are underwater rock formations that are exposed at low water.

Selsey, located at the southernmost point of the Manhood Peninsula, south of Chichester, is known for its crabs, lobsters, and varied bird life. The land is low-lying and at risk from flooding, with many submerged rock formations off the headland. A long spit of shingle, of significant geological interest, can be found towards the top end of the beach, just south of Pagham Lagoon.

The village of Selsey has a long history of fishing and still has its own fleet. Some limited facilities can be found here, with more extensive facilities available in Chichester, a few miles inland. Selsey East Beach is a popular destination for families, with children's facilities including a playground and family cafe behind the seawall. A promenade runs from East Beach to Selsey centre, which is great for an afternoon stroll. Visitors can also enjoy local seafood, including some of the best fish and chips on the south coast.

There are no lifeguards on this beach, and dog owners should be aware that there are restrictions between Groynes E26 & E33.

Shingle

Weather and tides for Sunday 20 July

Tonight
Chance of rain 62%
Min temp. 16°C
(feels like 15°C)
Wind 11mph
Tomorrow (Monday)
Chance of rain 55%
Max temp. 23°C
(feels like 19°C)
Wind 11mph
Max UV Index

The tide at Selsey East Beach is currently falling. Low tide will be at approximately 2:11 AM tomorrow, and the next high tide will be at approximately 8:45 AM tomorrow.

Today's air pollution levels are forecast to be Low

Approximate sea surface temperature:   18.3°C  

Detailed weather and tides »
  • Facilities

    Food available Toilets Litter bins Slipway
  • Popular Activities

    Bird watching Sailing Sunbathing Swimming Walking Wind surfing
  • Features

    Nature reserve
  • Parking

    There is parking by the beach and a slipway which gets covered in shingle making launching difficult.

  • Dogs

    Dogs not permitted in designated area May-Sept.

  • Beach Cleaning

    Beach cleaned regularly.

  • Lifeguard

    No lifeguard cover at this beach

  • Awards

    Marine Conservation Society Recommended

  • Water Quality

    Good water quality

    Good water quality

Recommended holiday cottages near Selsey East Beach

Things to do and see in the area

RNLI Selsey Lifeboat Station and Museum (0.4 miles)
Jungle Paradise Adventure Golf (0.9 miles)
The Crab Pot (1 miles)
The Seal (1 miles)
Pagham Harbour Local Nature Reserve (2.2 miles)
Marine Park Gardens (4.8 miles)
Fluid Adventures (4.9 miles)
The Complete Worx (5.1 miles)
Bognor Regis Museum (5.3 miles)

All distances are approximate

Other beaches nearby

Location: Selsey

Location type: Urban

OS Grid: SZ868933

County: West Sussex

Country: England

Local Authority: Chichester

Parish: Selsey

Nearest postcode: PO20 0ES

(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.

Stuff you might want for the beach!

(Or après-beach. Or pre-beach. Or, just because you might want stuff)

Visitor information for Selsey East Beach, West Sussex, England. Weather, tides, visitor comments, beach facilities, photos, nearest postcode, beach information and nearby accommodation.

British Beaches is a Good Stuff website.

18.97.14.83 Sun, 20 Jul 2025 21:05:30 +0100