THE SUN is shining, temperatures are heating up and we're in for another weekend of hot weather.
Last month was a miserable one with constant rain and heavy showers, so it's about time that we deserve to bask in some sunshine.
And this means taking a trip down to the coast to breathe in that sea air and feel the sand in between your toes.
Berkshire is blessed to be close to the south coast, where you can visit some of the UK's most beautiful beaches in under a two-hour drive.
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Here’s our pick of some of the best beaches you can get to this week in just over an hour.
West Wittering
This family-friendly beach in West Sussex takes 1 hour and 50 minutes to drive to and there's plenty of parking too.
You have to book your slot in advance and there is plenty of availability this weekend with an all-day parking ticket costing £9.
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It is a beautiful beach with white sand and a grassy area behind for you to take in the views of Chichester Harbour and Hayling Island.
Bournemouth Beach
Ranked as the best beach in the UK and the fifth best in Europe, Bournemouth is definitely a go-to seaside destination.
This large beach in Dorset has stretches of golden sand and a shallow blue sea. The lower gardens are beautiful to walk through and the squirrels are friendly enough that you can feed them from your hand!
Bring a picnic, lay your beach towels out and enjoy the sunshine at this beautiful beach, which is only 1 hour and 49 minutes away from Berkshire.
Hayling Island
Another beach that is close to get to is Hayling Island. It's a great family day-out with cheap parking and arcades to play on too.
Hop on the Hayling Seaside Railway and take in the fresh sea air as you ride along the beach. If you fancy a walk, you can visit the Billy trail which takes you from Langstoke all the way to beach front.
Calshot
This beach is home to one of the UK’s biggest outdoor and water sports centre where you can take part in a range of activities including windsurfing, kite surfing sailing and climbing.
If these activities don’t take your fancy you can have a look at the 16th-century fort or walk down the mile-long shingle spit which reaches out into the mouth of the Southampton water.
Southsea
Southsea is a vibrant seaside town and is the perfect place for activity lovers with a popular Canoe Lake and great spots to go crabbing.
Situated less than a mile away from Portsmouth city centre you can also visit shops and restaurants as well as the Blue Reef Aquarium.
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