Summer holidays on Hayling Island: a family break at Sandy Point

Summer is the main family window on Hayling Island: six weeks of school holidays, long daylight, warm sea air, and beaches at their liveliest. A summer stay at Wittering Sands, our exclusive-use house at Sandy Point, Hayling Island (14 Wittering Road), suits a family or friends-with-kids group that wants space, a real kitchen, and the shore within walking distance. This guide covers how the Hampshire summer holiday works and what a Sandy Point week looks like.

When is the summer holiday in Hampshire in 2027?

For Hampshire local-authority maintained schools in 2026/27, the summer term ends on Wednesday 21 July 2027, and the summer holiday runs from Thursday 22 July to Tuesday 31 August 2027. The Summer Bank Holiday falls on Monday 30 August 2027, near the end of that break. Schools typically resume in early September — check your own school for the exact return date.

Other local authorities may run similar or slightly different dates, and academies and independent schools set their own calendars, so confirm your school's terms before you book.

Why does Sandy Point work in high summer?

Sandy Point sits where Chichester Harbour meets the Solent, and in summer the shoreline and lagoon a few minutes on foot are at their best: warm water for paddling, space to spread out, and long evenings for a walk on the harbour edge after supper. Peak weekends are the busiest time on the island; midweek stays feel noticeably quieter.

The house suits that kind of family break:

• Exclusive-use, so the whole group has the house to themselves.
• Four bedrooms and five beds sleeping up to nine, three bedrooms ensuite.
• A proper kitchen and dining space for self-catering a full house.
• Off-road parking for four cars, useful when people arrive from different directions.
• Dogs welcome, kept off beds and sofas, with a boot brush by the back door.

What is there to do in the summer holidays?

• Sandy Point shoreline and lagoon: the from-the-door walk and swim spot. Best at lower tide; watch the current at the harbour entrance.
• Eastoke seafront and Beachlands: the proper family beach day, with cafes along the front and the Funland amusements nearby (seasonal opening — check before you go).
• Hayling Billy Coastal Path: flat and sheltered when the wind is off the sea — the best longer walk or ride on the island.
• Hayling Island Sailing Club area: a few minutes on foot, with plenty of sailing and watersport activity on the harbour to watch through summer — visiting sailors should check hisc.co.uk for what is running.
• Portsmouth or Chichester: a short drive for a change of scene — Historic Dockyard, the Mary Rose and the Spinnaker Tower in Portsmouth; the cathedral and Novium in Chichester. The South Downs are within reach for a day in the hills.

My Around Hayling guide has honest walk and drive times. For beaches in more detail, see the beaches guide. If you are comparing school holiday weeks, see May half-term — a separate, shorter week in late May — and October half-term.

Can you bring the dog?

Yes. Dogs are welcome at the house (off beds and sofas, boot brush by the back door), and summer is a good season for them here — early mornings and late evenings on the shore, when the beach is quieter and cooler. Keep dogs on leads where signs ask, especially around the lagoon, where the current runs fast. The dog-friendly weekend guide covers the practical side.

What if it rains?

Even high summer throws in a mixed day. The house has space to spread out and games in the cupboard by the stairs. Further afield, Portsmouth Historic Dockyard and the Mary Rose fill a full day indoors, and Chichester has the cathedral and the Novium. Venue hours are seasonal — check before you set off.

How do we get there?

Hayling Island is an easy drive from London and the home counties, and reachable by train via Havant. The travel guide covers both routes in detail.

What are the stay details?

Check-in is from 4pm and checkout is by 10am. Minimum stay is usually two to three nights. Nightly rates typically fall between £750 and £1,850 depending on season and length of stay — the live calendar shows the current figure for your nights. Guest practicalities are on the guest information page.

How do you book?

Check your dates on the direct booking calendar. If your group is large, has dogs, or needs more than one car, get in touch and we can talk it through. More on the house itself is on the accommodation page.

School dates vary by school and venue opening times are seasonal, so please check locally and on the live calendar before you travel.