Over half of disabled people excluded from UK beaches, new national survey finds

With around 16.8 million disabled people in the UK – 24% of the general population – and almost 50% of people living with a long-standing health condition, access to everyday spaces remains a significant issue. New research, one of the first national surveys of its kind, shows that many disabled people and people with long-standing health conditions are unable to access the coastline in practice, despite the vital role beaches play in wellbeing, recreation, and family life.

The findings reveal a clear gap between demand and access. Of the 1,071 respondents to the survey, from across the UK, 54% said they could not access the beach at all during their most recent visit. While 98% said they wanted to visit beaches more often and 85% hoped to reach the water’s edge, only 23% were able to reach the shoreline on their last visit, highlighting the scale of accessibility barriers along the UK coastline.

For wheelchair users and those with limited mobility, the challenges were even more pronounced, with just 13% able to reach the water.

One respondent said: “I was able to watch from the promenade, my children and dogs playing. It's very upsetting, I can't access the beach at all. There are no accessible beaches for me as a paraplegic wheelchair user. I enjoy watching but, actually, would love to spend the day on a beach with the family.” (A wheelchair user, Essex).

Will Behenna and Sadie Rockliffe

The research – led by Will Behenna at the Beach Access Project in collaboration with PhD researcher Sadie Rockliffe and Dr Catherine Kelly from the University of Brighton – was formally presented at a parliamentary event on 18 May 2026, bringing together policymakers, disability advocates, and coastal organisations to discuss how UK beaches can become more accessible. You can access the report 'A Coast for All' here.

The findings show that while some essential facilities are relatively common – such as accessible parking (70%) and nearby food and drink outlets (68%) – the features that genuinely enable people with medical conditions and disabilities to move safely across sand and reach the shoreline remain rare. 

Only 8% of beaches had beach matting or boardwalks, 16% offered beach wheelchairs, 7% had accessible beach platforms, and just 3% provided staff support to access the beach environment.

This highlights a wider problem: many coastal environments are not designed with accessibility in mind. While essential amenities may be present, the infrastructure needed to access the beach and access the water itself is often limited, creating practical difficulties and emotional strain for individuals and families.

One respondent said: “At most beaches that have beach wheelchairs to hire, there is no hoist. A lot of people with carers require a hoist to transfer. More people would be able to use them if there was a changing room (to wash if they get sandy) or a mobile hoist to transfer back into the wheelchair. It’s very disappointing that not all disabilities are catered for.” (A wheelchair User, Oxfordshire)

Will Behenna

Sadie Rockliffe, Will Behenna and Catherine Kelly

Yet, the demand for accessible features is overwhelming. Ninety per cent of respondents said beach matting would improve their experience, while 72% said access to beach wheelchairs would make a meaningful difference. Where accessible equipment or organised support is available, people are up to three times more likely to reach the water.

One respondent said: “We hired a beach wheelchair with friends. It completely changed the experience.” (Wheelchair user, Cornwall)

The research also highlights the emotional and social impact of inaccessible environments, with many respondents describing frustration, exclusion, and being unable to share everyday experiences with family and friends. 

For some, this extends to parenting, as families with disabled and non-disabled children cannot always use the same spaces, and disabled parents face barriers to safely taking their children to the beach.

One respondent said: “My daughter had to stay on the promenade while the rest of the family went onto the beach. Very upsetting.” (Parent of a wheelchair user, Dorset)

The survey was designed and carried out by the Beach Access Project, founded by wheelchair user and paddleboarder Will Behenna, who drew on his own experience of being unable to reach the water’s edge to go paddleboarding from his local beach in Dorset. 

Working closely with Sadie Rockliffe and Dr Catherine Kelly from the University of Brighton, the project transformed a grassroots dataset into a robust research report aimed at informing policymakers, local authorities, and coastal organisations.

The University of Brighton has a strong track record in researching inclusion in blue spaces – such as seas, lakes, rivers and pools – studying the wellbeing benefits of interacting with water and developing projects that improve coastal and aquatic access for visually impaired people.

Will Behenna said: “Beach life is part of British culture. Everyone has so many positive memories being by the seaside, yet for millions of individuals and families, they are forced to sit at the back of the beach and are unable to play a meaningful role.

“We can look at what they do in Spain and France and see that we can radically improve access to beaches and blue space in the UK. These changes will make these spaces more accessible for everyone. Being on, in, and near water has so many wellbeing benefits. We are reimagining the beach environment as a space for everyone.”

“I am indebted to every one of the 1071 individuals that took the time to fill out the beach access survey. Your views and experiences are now collated into 35-page document that will change the way we look at beach access. Every conversation, comment and message sent to me, has only reinforced my drive to make beaches and blue space more accessible for everyone.”

Sadie Rockliffe said: “We’ve heard again and again from people who can reach the coast, but not the beach itself. Parents separated from their children. Families unable to spend time together. People left watching instead of participating. This isn’t a niche issue - it reflects a systemic failure to design our coastal spaces for everyone.

“But it doesn’t have to be this way. The solutions are already there, and when they are put in place, access improves dramatically. This is an opportunity to rethink how our beaches are designed, so that everyone - regardless of disability, health condition or circumstance - can experience the coast in a way that is safe, inclusive and meaningful.”

Dr Catherine Kelly said: “Blue spaces are natural places of joy and wellbeing for many humans. These benefits must be afforded to all, equally, and without delay.”

This partnership places disabled people’s experiences at the centre of discussions about access to blue spaces. By combining lived experience with research, the project aims to support new approaches that make beaches and other coastal environments genuinely accessible and inclusive, benefitting families, carers and local communities across the UK.

The Beach Access Project and the University of Brighton are calling for coordinated action across the UK, urging councils and coastal organisations to prioritise changes that enable more people to safely reach the water and fully enjoy the beach.

Sadie Rockliffe said: “The message is clear. People want access. The barriers are known. The solutions already exist. What is needed now is coordinated action.”