How to Find Tide Times for Beaches Not Listed

Not seeing your local beach in our tide station list? Don’t worry — here’s why, and what to do instead.

We use official tide stations rather than listing every beach. These stations are placed and maintained where precise measurements can be taken reliably. While your favourite beach may not appear by name, there’s almost always a nearby station providing highly accurate tide data.

How accurate are nearby tide stations?

Tide times change gradually along the coast — often by just a few minutes over 10 to 15 miles. So even if your exact beach isn’t listed, the closest tide station on the map will still give you accurate readings for planning your trip.

Example:

• Brighton and Newhaven (only 9 miles apart) have tide times that differ by just 1–4 minutes.
• In more complex areas like estuaries, the difference can be slightly larger (up to 10–15 minutes), but still very usable for most activities.

Why not just list every beach?

Many beaches don’t have official tide measurements. Listing them would mean estimating times using nearby stations — which is essentially what we already encourage users to do manually. By sticking to real, measured stations, we ensure the highest accuracy possible.

What should I do if my beach isn’t listed?

Simply use the map to find the nearest tide station. That station’s data will be reliable and close enough for most practical uses — whether you’re planning a beach walk, surf session, or checking for low tide access.

Tip: If your beach is on open coastline and within 10–15 miles of a station, tide times will usually only differ by a few minutes.

Will more beaches be added?

We’re always looking to improve our coverage — but we only add locations when official data is available. This keeps the quality of our information high and avoids confusion from unreliable estimates.

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FAQs

Q: Can I request a specific beach to be added?
A: You can suggest it, but unless there’s an official tide station there, we’ll still direct you to the nearest reliable source.

Q: How far is too far from a tide station?
A: In most cases, anything within 10–15 miles is close enough. In unique areas like inlets or harbours, you may notice a bigger difference — but even then, nearby data is still very useful.

Q: Will this affect the accuracy of my tide times?
A: Only slightly, if at all. For the vast majority of users, the difference is under 5 minutes and won’t impact activities like walking, fishing, or general planning.