London's best beaches

Southbank Centre, until Sep 8

The Festival of Neighbourhood's pop-up plage has arrived at the South Bank. This riverside urban beach will be along the Queen's walk, opposite the South Bank Centre. As well as an installation by James Bowthorpe: a series of village building decorated with materials reclaimed from the Thames. Loungers, sunbather and sandcastle-builders, you can go all out without leaving Zone 1.

Southbank Centre, Belvedere Road, SE1 8XX, southbankcentre.co.uk

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Camden beach

Roundhouse, Jul 27-Aug 24

Come the end of July, the terrace at the Roundhouse will morph into an urban beach. Take 150 tonnes of sand, deck chairs and beach beds, end-of-pier amusements, Tiki bar cocktails, ice-creams and candy floss, and you've got an entire seaside resort, just a few minutes walk from Chalk Farm tube. Peckish sunbathers can munch on the American BBQ and fish restaurant offerings and there'll even be free beachside gigs every Friday.

Roundhouse, Chalk Farm Road, NW1 8EH, roundhouse.org/camden-beach

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Bishop's Park urban beach

Bishop's Park, open all year

Fulhamites, there's no need for a mass exodus to the Cornish coast, there's plenty of sunbathing to be done alongside the Thames in Bishop's Park. Historical buffs will be interested to know, this this urban beach (the only London park to boast one) was restored in 2012 to its Edwardian glory, when London families descended on 'Margate Sands' every summer. It's the ideal place to decamp to during a heatwave ? just bring your towel, a good book and pretend you're on holiday.

Bishop's Park, Bishop's Avenue, SW6 6EA, lbhf.gov.uk

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Thames beach

Gabriel's Wharf, open all year

You've probably stopped here to gawp at the sand sculptors that appear at low tide. We think it's the ideal spot ? and a natural beach no less ? to stop off for a champagne picnic, pre or post-walk down the Southbank. We wouldn't advise a swim though, the river isn't the cleanest body of water...and mind the tides.

Gabriel's Wharf, Riverside Walkway, South Bank, SE1 9PP

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Corona Beach Volleyball Court

Covent Garden Piazza, Sat Jul 27

You can't lie down on this beach, but who's up for a game of volleyball? On Saturday July 27, exactly one year since the Olympics kicked off, Covent Garden Piazza is being converted into London's very own beach volleyball court. Come watch the pros (Team GB members including Zara Dampney will be there) spike and smash on the sand or get involved on the court yourself. There are free Coronas for everyone too in the Punch and Judy pub.

Covent Garden Piazza, 29 Floral Street,?WC2E 9DP facebook.com/CoronaUk

Source: http://www.standard.co.uk/goingout/attractions/londons-best-beaches-8677227.html

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