Swell Otter
Tynemouth Longsands surf guide city surf on the Metro
Longsands at Tynemouth is a wide sandy bay a Metro ride from Newcastle, with friendly North Sea peaks and a big surf school scene. Here's when it works and how to make the most of it.
Live Tynemouth Longsands forecast, tides and camsOverview
Positives
- City surf on the Metro
- Surf schools and hire
- Lively seafront
- Good for learners
Negatives
- Cold water
- Busy when it's good
- Needs an east or north-east swell
- Few waves in summer
Not many cities have a surf beach at the end of the train line. Newcastle does. Hop on the Metro, ride it to Tynemouth and walk down to Longsands, a wide sandy bay at the mouth of the Tyne that turns North Sea swell into friendly, rolling peaks. It's urban surfing at its best, with coffee on the promenade, surf schools on the sand and a crowd that turns up the moment it's good.
Longsands won't blow your mind, but it'll give you plenty of waves. And when the west coast is blown out by the usual south-westerly, it can be the cleanest beach in the country.
The break lowdown
The wave
Longsands is a sand-bottomed beachbreak with peaks spread along the bay. The waves are usually soft and friendly, which makes them great for learning and fun for longboarding. On a good, long-period swell, the banks can throw up some punchy, shapely waves.
It picks up swell from the North Sea and turns it into friendly peaks.
Because it's a wide bay, there's plenty of room to spread out, even when it's busy. Walk away from the surf schools and you'll usually find a quieter peak.
Who it suits
Beginners and intermediates. It's a great place to learn, with surf schools on the promenade and friendly waves. Intermediates will enjoy the bigger, cleaner days. Experienced surfers will find more challenge on the nearby reefs.
When to go
Swell, wind and tide
Longsands needs swell from the ENE, the east or north-east, which comes from storms in the North Sea. The wind you want is W, which blows offshore. It works at low to mid.
The best days come when a North Sea low is followed by a westerly or south-westerly. That combination gives clean, groomed waves.
Season by season
Over three years (2023 to 2025), Longsands had a surfable session on about 62% of winter days and 39% of summer days. The best months are usually January, March and November. The sea is cold, from about 7°C to 16°C.
Autumn and winter are the seasons, when the North Sea storms send swell down the coast. Spring can still be good, but the water is freezing. Summer is mostly flat, a time for paddleboards and swimming.
Weather and water
| Winter | Spring | Summer | Autumn | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Surfable days | 62% | 58% | 39% | 67% |
| Typical surf | 2ft | 2ft | 1ft | 2ft |
| Offshore days | 56% | 26% | 47% | 45% |
| Sea temp | 7°C | 9°C | 15°C | 12°C |
| Wetsuit | 5/4, hood | 5/4, hood | 3/2 | 4/3 |
| Air, day high | 8°C | 12°C | 19°C | 13°C |
| Air, night low | 4°C | 6°C | 12°C | 8°C |
| Rain a month | 64mm | 59mm | 80mm | 95mm |
| Wet days a month | 11 | 13 | 15 | 15 |
Pack a 5/4 with hood, boots and gloves for winter and a 3/2 for summer. Seasonal averages from three years (2023 to 2025) of Open-Meteo history for this break.
Travel information
Getting there and where to stay
Take the Tyne and Wear Metro to Tynemouth or Cullercoats, both a short walk from the beach. By car, follow the A1058 coast road. There's pay and display parking along Grand Parade and in car parks behind the beach. Stay in hotels and B&Bs in Tynemouth and Whitley Bay, or in Newcastle.
Getting around
The Tyne and Wear Metro takes you straight from Newcastle to Tynemouth or Cullercoats, both a short walk from the beach. You don't need a car, and parking along the seafront fills up when it's good.
Off the water
Tynemouth Priory and Castle sit on the headland above the river mouth. The weekend market in the old station is worth a wander. The seafront has cafes and fish and chips, and Newcastle's city centre is twenty minutes away on the Metro.
Hazards
Rips form on bigger days, and there are rocks at the north end of the bay. The water is cold in winter and spring, so bring a thick wetsuit, boots, gloves and a hood. The line-up gets busy when it's good, so share the waves and be patient with the learners.
Handy hints
- The best days come after a North Sea low, followed by a westerly or south-westerly wind.
- Walk away from the surf schools to find a quieter peak.
- Bring a thick wetsuit for most of the year.
- Watch out for the rocks at the north end of the beach.
Nearby breaks
If it's too busy at Longsands, King Edward's Bay just to the south is a smaller, more sheltered option. Cullercoats, to the north, is another small bay worth checking. Further south, Saltburn picks up swell from a slightly different angle. And for a road trip, Pease Bay in Scotland is a couple of hours north.
Check the live Tynemouth forecast for the next North Sea swell.
Tom Otto
Tom Otto built Swell Otter, the free surf forecast for the UK, and writes its spot guides. Every guide is checked against years of wave, wind and sea temperature history for the break, so the advice matches the numbers and not just the postcards.