An East Sussex Beach with cliffside views and unspoiled coastline has been ranked as one of the best to visit in the UK – and it’s within two hours by car from south east London.

The Times recently published a list of the top beaches to visit in the UK, with a number of beaches in the south east England region making the list.

Birling Gap, a National Trust owned beach in East Sussex, was featured on the list on account of its “flinty foreshore and chalk reef” along with its “dazzling views“ of the famous Seven Sisters.

Sunrise over Birling Gap and the Seven Sisters, East SussexThe National Trust owned beach in East Sussex was featured on account of its “flinty foreshore and chalk reef”  (Image: National Trust Images/Laurence Perry)

With its coastguard cottages and striking white cliffs, this location makes for a picturesque area for photographers and artists alike.

There are a number of trails, whether you want a shorter two-mile walk up Belle Tout offering views of the Seven Sisters or a longer four-mile walk from Birling Gap towards the South Downs.

If you fancy a challenge, head to one of the Smugglers Trails on Lookout Hill, where you’ll have a chance to follow clues to find the smugglers barrels and enjoy views of the Sussex coastline.

It is a picturesque location for photographers and artists alike.It is a picturesque location for photographers and artists alike. (Image: National Trust Images/Laurence Perry)

The beach is also dog-friendly, and dogs are able to join their owners on a beachside walk on a lead.

Alongside the scenery there’s also a bookshop and café on site, which opened following a recent refurbishment, where you can stop off for a book and a drink after a walk by the sea.

Birling Gap and Seven Sisters is located in East Dean, near Eastbourne, East Sussex, BN20 0AB. They can be contacted by phone on 01323 423197 or by email at birlinggap@nationaltrust.org.uk.