Stokes Bay Beach Guide
A family beach with a cafe, watersports and views towards Portsmouth
Stokes Bay is the most popular family beach on the Gosport peninsula, lying roughly two miles east of Lee-on-the-Solent and accessible either by a coastal walk through Browndown or by a short drive along the Stokes Bay Road. It is a wide, south-facing shingle beach backed by open grassland, with views across the Solent to the Isle of Wight.
The big practical advantage of Stokes Bay is free parking. A large car park sits directly behind the beach, and unlike many south coast beaches there is no charge. On warm summer weekends the car park fills by mid-morning, but on a typical day there is room without difficulty. This makes Stokes Bay a straightforward destination for families arriving by car.
The beach itself is shingle, though not as steeply shelving as the Lee-on-the-Solent foreshore. The gentler gradient makes it more suitable for young children paddling at the waterline. At low tide some sand appears, and the shallow water is warm enough for comfortable paddling from June through September. Swimming is possible but, as with all Solent beaches, there is no lifeguard cover and swimmers should be mindful of the tidal currents and shipping traffic.
A cafe operates from the beach during the summer months, serving hot and cold drinks, sandwiches, ice cream and basic meals. There are public toilets near the car park. The grassy area behind the beach is flat and spacious, ideal for ball games, kite flying and picnics. On sunny weekends the grass fills with families, and the atmosphere is relaxed and welcoming.
Water sports are well represented. Windsurfers and kitesurfers use Stokes Bay regularly, drawn by the consistent onshore breeze and the relatively sheltered water. The Stokes Bay Sailing Club at the eastern end of the beach caters for dinghy sailors and welcomes visiting crews. Kayakers and stand-up paddleboarders launch from the beach throughout the warmer months.
The bay carries significant wartime heritage. It was used as an embarkation point during the D-Day landings on 6 June 1944, when troops and equipment were loaded onto landing craft bound for the Normandy beaches. A memorial near the car park records this history, and sections of wartime infrastructure, including remains associated with the Mulberry Harbour construction, can still be identified along the shore. The Solent Way long-distance footpath passes along the back of the bay, connecting Gosport to Lee-on-the-Solent.
Stokes Bay Golf Club, a nine-hole links course, sits behind the beach and is open to visitors. The Alverbank Hotel nearby offers afternoon teas and meals in a more formal setting.
The beach faces south and catches the sun throughout the day. The views are excellent: the Isle of Wight dominates the southern horizon, with the Spinnaker Tower and Portsmouth Harbour visible to the east. On a clear evening the sunset behind the island, seen from the grassy bank above the beach, is one of the finest free shows on the Hampshire coast.
For families visiting Lee-on-the-Solent, Stokes Bay makes an excellent alternative beach day, particularly if you want free parking, easier access for young children and a large grassy area for running around.