The easiest family beach on the north coast — a sheltered curve of golden sand tucked right between Portrush harbour and the seafront promenade, with the amusements, chip shops and the station all a two-minute walk away.
What you'll do — build sandcastles and paddle on the soft, sheltered sand, walk the promenade around to the harbour to watch the boats and the RNLI lifeboat, then wander into town for the amusements and an ice cream. An easy half-day the whole family can do.
How long & who for — allow one to three hours on the sand, longer once you fold in the town. Brilliant for all ages, and one of the calmest, most sheltered beaches around for little ones.
Cost & parking — the beach is free. There's seasonal charged parking nearby (1 April–30 September, 8:30am–6:30pm), plus disabled parking bays — or use the town car parks and walk down.
Bring the lot — buckets and spades, a towel and swim gear, water and a hat for a sunny day, and a windbreak if it's breezy. Everything else — food, toilets, cones — is right there in town.
Food & toilets — you're spoiled: public toilets, cafés, chippies, ice cream and the amusements are all on the promenade and in the streets just above the sand.
Lifeguards in summer only. RNLI lifeguards patrol in July and August, 10am–6pm. Outside those months there's no cover — mind the tide and keep an eye on the kids in the water.
Dogs on a lead in season. Dogs are welcome, but must be kept on a lead from 1 June to 15 September. Clean up after them.
Plan your visit
Can I just turn up? Yes — it's free.
There's no ticket and no booking — the beach is open and free all year. The only cost is parking, and only in season: charged seasonal parking runs 1 April to 30 September, 8:30am to 6:30pm, with disabled parking bays and cycle parking too. Out of season, or if the nearby spaces are full, use one of the town car parks and stroll down — you're never far from the sand here. The beach regularly earns the international Blue Flag award for its water quality and facilities, and RNLI lifeguards patrol in July and August (10am–6pm). It's one of the most sheltered, family-friendly beaches on the coast, and because it sits right in town, everything you need is a short walk away.
Public toilets (incl. accessible)Seasonal charged car parkingDisabled parking & beach rampPromenade, cafés & amusements
Good to know:
Lifeguards only cover July and August (10am–6pm) — take extra care with the water at any other time, and always mind the tide. Dogs must be on a lead 1 June–15 September. Check parking charges and lifeguard cover on the day.
Before you set off
What to wear & bring
🪣Buckets, spades & a towelSoft, sheltered sand — this is the one for sandcastles and a proper paddle.
🩱Swim gearThe bay is gentle and sheltered. Stick to the flagged area when the lifeguards are on in summer.
🧢A hat & water for a sunny dayLittle shade on the open sand — pack a hat, plenty of water, and a windbreak if it's breezy.
🍦Barely anything elseChippies, cafés, ice cream and the amusements are all right there in town — no need to pack a full picnic.
Good to know
Everything before you go
Cost
Free to visit. The only charge is seasonal parking — charged parking runs 1 April to 30 September, 8:30am to 6:30pm, with disabled bays and cycle parking. Out of season, or when spaces are full, park in a town car park and walk down. Confirm current parking charges on the day.
Opening
The beach is open all year — you can walk it any time. Lifeguard cover and seasonal parking are summer-only (see below).
Lifeguards
RNLI lifeguards patrol in July and August, 10am to 6pm. There's no cover outside those months, so take extra care with the water and always mind the tide.
Awards
West Strand regularly attains the international Blue Flag award, recognising water quality, safety and facilities — most recently in 2024.
Dogs
Dogs are welcome but must be kept on a lead from 1 June to 15 September. Clean up after them. Check the signs on the day for any current restrictions.
Toilets & food
Public toilets (including accessible) are on hand, and cafés, chippies, ice cream and the amusements are all a short walk up on the promenade and in the town.
Accessibility
Better than most beaches for access — there's disabled parking, accessible toilets and a concrete ramp down onto the sand. Soft sand is still hard going for wheels once you're on the beach itself.
How long
Allow one to three hours on the sand, and easily a half-day or more once you add in the promenade walk, the harbour and a wander round the town.
Questions
Before you go
Is it free?
Yes — the beach is free to visit, any day of the year. The only cost is seasonal parking (charged 1 April–30 September, 8:30am–6:30pm), and you can always use a town car park and walk down instead.
Is there a lifeguard?
RNLI lifeguards patrol in July and August only, 10am to 6pm. Outside those months there's no cover, so take extra care in the water and mind the tide. When lifeguards are on, swim in the flagged area.
Can I bring the dog?
Yes, dogs are welcome, but they must be kept on a lead from 1 June to 15 September, and you'll need to clean up after them. Check the signs on the day for the current rules.
Is it good for young children?
It's one of the best around — a sheltered, gentle curve of sand right in town, with soft sand for sandcastles and the amusements, toilets and food all a short walk away. Just keep an eye on the water and the tide, especially when the lifeguards aren't on.
Are there toilets and somewhere to eat?
Yes — public toilets (including accessible) are on hand, and Portrush is packed with cafés, chippies and ice cream right above the beach, plus the amusements on the promenade.
What's the difference between West Strand and East Strand?
West Strand is the shorter, sheltered town beach by the harbour — the easy family one. East Strand is the long open surf beach on the other side of the peninsula, better for a proper walk and the waves. Both are a short stroll from the town centre.
Getting there
West Strand, Portrush, Co. Antrim — right in the centre of Portrush, running along the seafront between the harbour and the promenade. It's a two-minute walk from Portrush railway station and the town's car parks, with seasonal parking and disabled bays close to the sand.
Portrush grew up as a Victorian seaside resort, and West Strand is the beach at the heart of it. The town wraps right around this sheltered bay — the harbour on one side, the long seafront promenade on the other — so the sand has always been just a few steps from the amusements, the shops and, once the railway arrived, the platform itself. It's still the same easy set-up today: park or step off the train, and you're on the beach in minutes.
There's more to the sand than meets the eye. West Strand is a protected site — beneath the beach lie buried peat and ancient sands holding the remains of trees that grew here around 9,000 to 7,000 years ago, a snapshot of a long-gone coastal forest. Look out to the water too: a resident pod of harbour porpoises works this stretch of coast and can sometimes be spotted from the shore. A proper day out, wrapped up in one small, friendly bay.