On the rare occasion the sun shines for longer than half an hour, thoughts naturally turn to weekends lying lazily on a seaside deckchair or enjoying a relaxing stroll along a sunny seafront, ice cream in hand...
But do you know where Croydon's nearest beach is?
We give you the run down of the closest beaches to the town and how long it will take to get there.
Get those wind breakers out and make sure your kids have their i-Pads charged up!
(All distances calculated from the centre of the borough by using AA Route Planner )
Going south (quicker for those who live in the south of the town)
1) Brighton
Distance: 44.5 miles
Time: 1 hour 10 minutes
No surprise that this popular seaside resort is one of the closest beaches to Croydon, especially if you live in the south of the borough. Although heavy traffic on the A23 can result in long delays. Check traffic reports before you go.
2) Worthing
Distance: 52.5 miles
Time: 1 hour 13 minutes
Further west than Brighton, Worthing is worth a day out if you don't fancy the crowds and the parking fiasco and expense of Brighton.
3) Hastings
Distance: 56.3 miles
Time: 1 hour 37 minutes
Hastings is east of Brighton and will take you slightly longer in the car, but is well worth the time, especially if history is your thing.
4) Eastbourne
Distance: 64.2 miles
Time: 1 hour 35 minutes
Eastbourne is 20 miles east of Brighton and is determined to shake off its 'God's waiting room' image of being a seaside resort just for the elderly. This town has loads of attractions for the kids and a blossoming nightlife for adults to enjoy.
Going east (quicker for those living to the east of the town)
1) Gravesend:
Distance: 25.8 miles
Time: 53 minutes
Situated on the bank of the River Thames, Gravesend doesn't strictly have a beach (although it used to up until the late 1950s) but it does have a pier and open green space for riverside picnics and lazing in the sun. It's technically the closest 'beach' to Croydon but it might be worth driving a bit longer for a better selection.
2) Canvey Island:
Distance: 42.6 miles
Time: 1 hour 14 minutes
If it's sand that you want, then Canvey Island in Essex has some and is just over an hour away but its beaches aren't exactly renowned.
3) Sheerness:
Distance: 50.7 miles
Time: 1 hour 18 minutes
Sheerness will take a bit longer than Canvey Island but after winning a Blue Flag award for its beach earlier this year, it may be worth those few extra minutes in the car.
4) Southend-on-sea:
Distance: 46.8 miles
Time: 1 hour 20 minutes
This Essex seaside spot has something for everyone. With funfair attractions for youngsters and history and nightlife for the adults, it's easy to see why this resort gets busy when the sun shines.
5) Whitstable:
Distance: 59.7 miles
Time: 1 hour 23 minutes
A fishing and harbour town, Whitstable has a unique charm and swathes of beach to enjoy. Don't forget to try its famous oysters .
6) Folkestone
Distance: 66.1 miles
Time: 1 hour 26 minutes
You have a choice of two main beaches in this Kent seaside town, one is a sandy beach, popular with visitors , and one is a quieter pebble beach where the locals tend to go.
7) Margate
Distance: 74.4 miles
Time: 1 hour 43 minutes
Pack snacks in the car for this one as it's not around the corner from Croydon but may be worth the journey for the adventurous who will have a choice of 15 sandy beaches in the area, an abundance of rides for the kids , funky places to eat and cultrure to boot.
Botany Bay, close to Broadstairs, is a particularly beautiful beach which is worth the extra effort to get to.
Just don't forget the in-car entertainment!
