Discover the ‘stunning’ beach just 50 minutes from Stevenage

Just a 50-minute drive from North Hertfordshire is Ruislip Lido, an attraction offering a beach, play area, woodland walk and even a miniature railway.

The Lido even offers a boathouse that has a community room, the chance to fish during select months, a woodland centre and an area designated to feeding birds and ducks. 

Ruislip Lido is open daily, however, different selections of the attraction follow a range of opening times, which can be checked on the Ruislip Lido website.

@yusba11 #kidsactivites Britain’s Longest Toy Train Ride - to a Hidden Beach in London! Guess what? This magical experience is right here in London! For just £3.50, you can hop on Britain’s longest 12-inch toy train and embark on a journey through enchanted forests, tunnels, and lakeside tracks. And the best part? You’ll reach a hidden sandy beach! 🚂 A scenic toy train ride through the woods 🏖️ A peaceful sandy beach with swings, a lake, and plenty of space for kids to play 🌊 Lovely nature walks, ducks, and picnic spots 🍵 A cosy pub and cafe by the lake Train Ticket Prices: Kids: £1.80 (one way) / £2.50 (return) Adults: £3.50 (one way) / £5.00 (return) All-Day Rover Pass: Adults £10 / Kids £5 (Under 3s ride free!) 📍 Take the Metropolitan Line to Ruislip Station and hop on bus H13 or take a 20-minute walk to Ruislip Lido. 📌 Ruislip Lido Railway, Reservoir Rd, Northwood, Ruislip HA4 7TY Don’t miss out on this incredible experience! Save this reel for this summer and May bank holiday weekend. #maybankholiday #kidsactivities #kidsactivitiesinlondon #summeractivities #kidsfree #dayoutwiththekids #summerholidays #ruisliplido #sandybeach #splashpark #kidsfun #londonkidswithmom #londonkids #ruisliplidorailway #ruislip ♬ original sound - shielaa78

The beach is just 50 minutes from North Hertfordshire, you need to visit

Ruislip Lido was first created to be a reservoir for the Grand Junction Canal in 1811, and while it is still a reservoir, an artificial beach was added for attraction purposes.

Set within the London Borough of Hillingdon, the lido has a troubled history, and during the 1970s and 80s, it entered a state of disrepair.

But over the years, the Lido underwent renewal works and in January 2010 was reopened, revealing the return of boating and swimming in the reservoir.

Now, the Ruislip Lido is a popular place for locals to visit at all times of the year, with so much on offer.

The Lido is a 60-acre lake, and although the water looks inviting, guests can not enter the water due to a change in weather, at the time of writing.

You can check updates on entering the water via the website. 

Although you can't take a swim, you can still spend time on the beach enjoying the weather, along with many attractions.

If you have a furry friend, you can take them to the Dog Beach, which is separate from the main beach and allows dogs to enjoy the space freely.

Away from the beaches are several play areas, including an outside gym, a pirate ship play area and the splash pad, a water park.

Ruislip Lido even has its own Miniature Railway which travels around the lido from the car park, through the woods, to the beach. 

You can bring your own food to the lido, but if you choose not to, you can buy some treats at nearby cafes and restaurants.

@visitlondon Did you know London has a beach with beautiful golden sands? Ruislip Lido is a 60-acre lake sat on a stunning nature reserve in North London with all the fun of the seaside just closer to home ☀️ From golden beaches to wonderful woodland, Ruislip Lido is the perfect spot to soak up the rays in London this summer. Will you add London’s only beach to your must-visit list? #LetsDoLondon #VisitLondon #london #ruisliplido #londonbeach #beach #londonlife #londontiktok #londonlife #londonhotspots #londontok #londonguide #londonrecommendations #ruisliplondon #ruislip #londontraveltips #londontravel #londontravels #londontravelguide #londontraveldiaries #londontravelblogger #londontravelvlog #londonexplore #travel #traveltiktok #travellife #traveltok ♬ original sound - Visit London

The Lakeside Cafe is within the lido's grounds and has both inside and outside eating areas.

There is also the Water's Edge restaurant on the grounds, which is a Stonehouse Pizza & Carvery restaurant.

At Ruislip Lido, there are three car parks: Willow Lawn for Hillingdon First Card Holders, Water’s Edge and the main car park at the end of Reservoir Road.

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On Tripadvisor, Ruislip Lido has a 4.1/5 rating with one guest sharing: "A lovely place to walk and pleasant woodland, a train, a picturesque lake, and a restaurant/bar and cafe."

Another visitor added: "Ruislip Lido provides everything for a family day. Lake, Beach, Children's beach play equipment. A cafe, walks and a fantastic small railway for all to enjoy."

A third happy guest said: "We had a lovely walk in the Lido today,it is so lovely with all the beautiful Nature and trees that surround the Lido. Also, they have a fantastic beach too with an amazing mini-train too."