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Littlehaven Beach, South Shields: dogs all year, art and the river mouth

Last checked: 10 November 2026. Sources are linked after each fact.

Littlehaven is the smaller beach at the mouth of the Tyne, on Sea Road, NE33 2LA, just north of the funfair and Sandhaven Beach. It is sheltered by the South Pier and backed by an award-winning promenade, and it's a good spot to watch ships and boats going in and out of the river. (Visit South Tyneside: Littlehaven Beach; checked 10 Nov 2026)

Dogs on Littlehaven Beach

Dogs are allowed on Littlehaven all year, including in summer when they are banned from Sandhaven between 8am and 6pm. (Visit South Tyneside (council): Visiting our beaches; South Tyneside Council: Dogs on the beach; checked 3 Nov 2026; checked 10 Nov 2026)

Dog litter bins are provided along the seafront. (Visit South Tyneside (council): Visiting our beaches; checked 10 Nov 2026) Across the borough you must clean up after your dog and walk no more than four dogs at once. (South Tyneside Council: PSPO review 2026; checked 3 Nov 2026) More: Beaches and dog rules.

Water quality

Littlehaven's bathing water is currently rated "poor". Northumbrian Water, the Environment Agency and the council are holding a public drop-in about improving it on Thursday 12 November 2026, 4–7pm, at the Little Haven Hotel. (Shields Gazette, 31 Oct 2026: Littlehaven water quality information event; checked 3 Nov 2026) More in our news note.

Public art on the promenade

The Conversation Piece by Juan Muñoz, at the north end: a group of figures, known locally as "the weebles", spread out in small groups but seeming to talk to each other. (Visit South Tyneside: A walk by the seaside; checked 10 Nov 2026)
The Eye by Stephen Broadbent, looking out over the entrance to the Tyne, with a verse from Blow the Wind Southerly on each side and words from the poem along the promenade. (Visit South Tyneside: A walk by the seaside; checked 10 Nov 2026)
The Sail, at the other end of the promenade, about a ten-minute walk away. (Visit South Tyneside: Littlehaven Beach; checked 10 Nov 2026)

History you can still see

In the First World War the beach was used as an air base for seaplanes, land planes and airships. On a clear day you can still make out faint traces of the old landing strip near the Herd Groyne lighthouse at the north end of the beach. (Visit South Tyneside: Littlehaven Beach; checked 10 Nov 2026)

Rock pools, kayaks and the pier

Visit South Tyneside suggests Littlehaven for rock pools and looking for crabs. (Visit South Tyneside: Family fun; checked 4 Nov 2026) Go at low tide and check the tide times first: see our tides and rock pooling FAQ. (Admiralty EasyTide (UK Hydrographic Office); checked 10 Nov 2026) The pier next to the beach makes it a good spot for kayaking, canoeing and boating, and a beach safety zone keeps watercraft away from swimmers. (Visit South Tyneside: Littlehaven Beach; South Tyneside Council: Staying safe at the coast; checked 3 Nov 2026; checked 10 Nov 2026) South Shields Surf School ran guided rock-pooling sessions from May to August 2026; 2027 dates are not yet announced. (South Shields Surf School: rock pooling sessions; checked 4 Nov 2026)

Toilets, parking and food

The accessible toilet at Haven Point car park is open 24 hours. Other seafront toilets open 9am–4pm until 24 March 2027. (South Tyneside Council: Public toilets and opening times; checked 3 Nov 2026)
The council lists Harbour Drive North (River Drive, NE33 1LH) and Harbour Drive South as long-stay seafront car parks near here. Their prices are on the council pages. (South Tyneside Council: South Shields seafront car parks; checked 10 Nov 2026) See Parking.
The Little Haven Hotel on River Drive has a restaurant overlooking the beach; restaurant hours: check with the hotel. (The Little Haven Hotel (venue website); checked 3 Nov 2026)

Next door

Across the road are North Marine Park and South Marine Park, and the Haven Point leisure complex. (Visit South Tyneside: Littlehaven Beach; checked 10 Nov 2026) North Marine Park has a themed play area, a fitness trail and a viewing platform over the river mouth, open at all times and free. (Visit South Tyneside: North Marine Park; checked 4 Nov 2026) Heading south, the promenade leads on to Sandhaven Beach.

Sources for this page

Visit South Tyneside: Littlehaven Beach, checked 10 Nov 2026
Visit South Tyneside (council): Visiting our beaches, checked 10 Nov 2026
South Tyneside Council: Dogs on the beach, checked 3 Nov 2026
South Tyneside Council: PSPO review 2026, checked 3 Nov 2026
Shields Gazette, 31 Oct 2026: Littlehaven water quality information event, checked 3 Nov 2026
Visit South Tyneside: A walk by the seaside, checked 10 Nov 2026
Visit South Tyneside: Family fun, checked 4 Nov 2026
Admiralty EasyTide (UK Hydrographic Office), checked 10 Nov 2026
South Tyneside Council: Staying safe at the coast, checked 3 Nov 2026
South Shields Surf School: rock pooling sessions, checked 4 Nov 2026
South Tyneside Council: Public toilets and opening times, checked 3 Nov 2026
South Tyneside Council: South Shields seafront car parks, checked 10 Nov 2026
The Little Haven Hotel (venue website), checked 3 Nov 2026
Visit South Tyneside: North Marine Park, checked 4 Nov 2026