Stokes Bay

A family-friendly shingle bay with free parking, D-Day heritage, water sports, and a flat grassy foreshore ideal for picnics and games.

Stokes Bay lies to the east of Lee-on-the-Solent, stretching along the coast towards Gosport. It is one of the most popular family beaches on the Gosport peninsula, with a long shingle foreshore backed by open grassland where children can run and play. The bay faces south across the Solent and the views to the Isle of Wight are excellent, particularly at sunset. A cafe and ice cream kiosk operate during the summer months, and there is a large free car park just behind the beach, which makes access straightforward. The shallow, sheltered water is suitable for paddling, and the consistent onshore breeze draws windsurfers and kitesurfers throughout the warmer months. Stokes Bay Sailing Club operates from the eastern end of the beach and welcomes visiting sailors. The bay has historical significance too. It was used as an embarkation point during the D-Day landings in June 1944, and remnants of wartime structures can still be seen along the shore. A memorial near the car park commemorates those who left from this beach. The Solent Way long-distance path passes along the back of the bay, connecting walkers to Lee-on-the-Solent in one direction and Gosport in the other, making it a natural stopping point on a coastal walk. A nine-hole golf course sits behind the beach, and the Alverbank Hotel nearby offers afternoon teas and meals. For families with young children, Stokes Bay is arguably the most accessible and relaxed beach in the area, with fewer crowds than the main Lee seafront during peak times.