A beach day is a happy day, whether you’re heading to a British shore or somewhere further afield. Sun, sea and (hopefully) sand: it’s just the tonic our screen-overloaded eyes are crying out for.
But whether you’re travelling by road, rail or air, there’s one essential you can’t go to the seaside without. SPF.
But also, a decent beach bag to chuck in said SPF, plus all the other bits and pieces that will make your trip more enjoyable. A good read, the paper kind rather than reading memes off your feed, sunglasses to reduce the glare of the sun, and a towel to dry off after a dip in the water are the first things that spring to mind.
Given all this, the list of requirements for beach bag shopping is as follows:
What to look for in a beach bag
- Size: You’ll want something that can accommodate everything comfortably, ideally leaving a hand free for an ice lolly or a cocktail.
- Durability: A design that you can shake sand out of easily or doesn’t accumulate much of it in the first place is desirable for obvious reasons (mesh and straw bags are ideal).
- Pockets: It’s much easier to avoid upending the entire contents of your bag onto the sand if you have dedicated nooks and crannies to stash all your things. I’m talking about those smaller items that tend to sink to the bottom, like keys, coins and headphones. Pockets, compartments and sleeves make it easy to grab what you need quickly.
The nice-to-haves-but-not-strictly-necessities include some sort of insulated cooler space to keep valuables and cans so you can have a refreshing drink without risking your spot on the sunlounger. And, of course, because everything should be done with a degree of style, a great design that’s versatile enough to use for a beach-city break or picnicking is great too.
But you can leave the checklist to us, because we’ve rounded up the best bags to take on your next beach break below.
From designer totes made from palm leaf and raffia to folding options for foreign holidays and a backpack designed for rugged coastal adventures, find the best of the bunch here.
Shop now
LOEWE Anagram Large Palm Basket Bag
Okay, so it may cost about as much as a weekend away, but if you’re the sort to turn left upon entering an aircraft, you may not mind making a splash of this kind on a beach accessory.
From Loewe comes this gorgeous palm leaf basket bag, finished with a striped panel and an anagram design appliqué. Carry it by its twin handles or sling it over your shoulder if you need to keep your hands free for other things.
Buy now £895.00, Selfridges
Chloe Summer Banana embellished raffia tote
A simple square tote given luxe leanings thanks to the house of Chloe. It’s crafted from crocheted raffia, finished with cursive brand embroidery and a cute couple of charms. There’s just enough room here to slip in some sunscreen, sunnies and a hot summer read.
Buy now £890.00, Net-A-Porter
UYLIA Large Tote Mesh Beach Bag with Cooler
If you’re planning to spend the whole day at the beach, taking drinks and snacks is non-negotiable - sunbathing is hungry work, after all.
This mesh look comes with a pocket cooler lined with PEVA insulation at the base to keep cans and essentials, like SPF and aftersun, out of the heat. External slip pockets let you dangle things like sandy shoes and wet swimwear off the sides, leaving the main compartment free to hold your towel.
Buy now £19.97, Amazon
AWAY Beach Tote
In a cheerful seaside blue, AWAY’s tote has all the hallmarks of a great beach bag.
The mesh construction means sand and water are easy to shake out, and it will dry much faster than a solid design. There are multiple pockets for sunglasses, keys, books, tech and more, plus exterior front loops allow you to push in a rolled up towel - wet or dry - keeping your stuff free from moisture.
It’s a handy thing, though, and can hold a rolled-up yoga mat or jacket for other kinds of excursions.
Buy now £100.00, AWAY
Damson Madder canvas tote - red stripe
Save your holiday money for souvenirs. Damson Madder has beach-ready accessories in the literal bag with this striped design, which comes with an internal pocket and is partly made from recycled cotton. Just as useful to the beach as it will be at the park and farmers’ markets.
Buy now £38.00, Damson Madder
AllSaints Afan Spacious Recycled Tote Bag
You can take the beach bum out of London, but can you take London out of the beach bag? Take a slice of East End cool whichever shore you wash up on with AllSaints’ recycled tote in a goes-with-everything black.
There’s loads of room to keep your beachside essentials, and they’ll remain as free of sand as they can thanks to the zipped top.
Bonus points for the internal slip pocket and a credit card slot to keep crucial things at your fingertips.
Buy now £89.00, AllSaints
JACQUEMUS Le Panier Soleil palm-leaf tote bag
Shore-side style goes beyond swimwear - accessories matter too.
Jacquemus offers it in buckets and spades with its chic tote, made from palm leaf and finished with cow leather trims. Twin carry handles and an adjustable and detachable strap mean you can carry it in different ways. The roomy main compartment is perfect for keeping the bulk of your stuff, while the slip pocket on the front means you can stash away small, easily lost bits - earbuds, ice cream money - without them disappearing into a corner.
Buy now £415.00, Selfridges
HOMESPON Large Foldable Beach Tote Bag
It may not be much of a looker, but then, if you’re headed to a public beach, you may not want something that screams for attention.
Besides, this zipped design is perfect for beach holidays, with outer pockets to keep ice-cold water bottles, parasols and flip-flops to stop sand from infiltrating the main compartment.
It’s both water- and tear-resistant and can hold a whopping 25L across eight pockets, so it’s super easy to organise all your things. Best of all, it folds down into a neat, flat square, meaning it will easily slip into an underseat bag.
Buy now £14.99, Amazon
YETI Panga 28L Waterproof Backpack
A waterproof backpack is ideal if you're a coastal hiker, into watersports, or simply want to keep your hands free for picking up pretty shells and cracking open fossils.
YETI's comes in an unmissable shade of orange - called King Crab, natch - and a neon yellow, although less shouty options are also available in black, grey and a light tan.
The rugged build is airtight - not a drop of water will get inside this baby when properly closed - keeping your belongings safe and dry, no matter what's on the agenda.
Buy now £300.00, YETI
Anya Hindmarch Small Paper Eyes Basket Bag
Anya Hindmarch has encouraged adventurous dressers for years. The designer’s surrealist eye designs have garnered a cult following among women of all ages and for good reason. This beach babe basket crafted from seagrass is ready for holidays and chic office days in. Fill up with the essentials and allow all eyes to fall on you.
Buy now £425.00, Anya Hindmarch
