The Blue Flag beach is close enough for a day trip from Birmingham and you can be home in time for tea
The Blue Flag Beach is reopening for summer 2025(Image: Rutland Water)
Birmingham’s closest beach is opening soon for summer 2025.
Rutland Water was given Blue Flag status in 2024 – first inland bathing water to be given this prestigious award – which is great news for land-locked Brummies as it’s only 90 minutes from the city.
Set upon a picturesque lake, ideal for swimming and paddling, there’s a beautiful sandy beach with plenty of space to play.
Best of all, it’s free to use, you just have to pay for parking at this Anglian Water site.
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You’ll find 140 metres of golden sands where families can sunbathe, play beach games and build sandcastles.
Rutland Water boasts a beautiful Blue Flag Beach and lovely walks(Image: Rutland Water)
You can take a barbecue or pop into the cafe for food and ice-creams with panoramic views of the lake.
Families can enjoy a round of Pirate Cove Mini Golf near to the beach. Just pick up clubs and balls from the visitor centre.
And kids can climb, jump and scramble on the adventure playground.
If they’re full of energy, there’s an aqua park with 40 inflatables, including 20 new ones for 2025 plus a 10-metre long Sea Dragon plus a 3.5 metre slide, blast bag, monkey bars and a diving tower.
There’s also a nature reserve for lovely walks and bike rides plus grassy areas for picnics. Look out for ospreys as you walk.
You can also book a session on the laser tag adventure.
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When does Rutland Water Beach open for 2025?
The beach is due to open on Saturday May 24 in time for May half term and the long Bank Holiday weekend.
The beach will be open everyday for the May half term from 12pm until 5pm until Sunday, June 1.
It will then only be open on the weekends from 12pm until 5pm for the month of June.
From Monday June 30 to Friday July 18, the beach will open from 12pm-5pm on weekdays and from 10am to 6pm on weekends.
Then, for the summer holidays from July 19 to August 31, it will be open every day from 10am to 6pm.
After that, opening times revert back to just being weekends until September 24 when it closes for winter.
Dogs are not allowed on the beach but there are lots of dog-friendly places to walk around the park.
Find out more via the Anglian Water Parks website.
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How to get to Rutland Water from Birmingham
The drive to Rutland Water from Birmingham takes around 90 minutes via the M6, traffic permitting. It’s around 78 miles.
The address for the beach is Sykes Lane, Empingham, Leicestershire, LE15 8QL.
Alternatively, you can catch a train from Birmingham New Street to Stamford Station and then a taxi to the park.