The route along the Kent Coast will take you on an ancient Saxon shoreline and through charming towns and bountiful fruit farms. Of course, when you explore the Kent coast, it doesn’t lack iconic pretty beaches and lovely seaside resorts, very popular with both the British holidaymakers and travelers. Those who explore the Kent Coast discover a region where maritime history, castles, and old churches shine into the sun side by side with sea-card chalk cliffs and clifftop paths that lead to breathtaking views. A trip to the Kent Coast is a wonderful occasion to experience the authentic English way of life step by step, village by village. So what are you waiting for? Discover the best of the Kent Coast:
Ramsgate – if you’re looking for maritime history
The only Royal Harbor in Britain, Ramsgate gravitates around its maritime past and traditions. Expect to find wrecks offshore on the Goodwin Sands, as well as plenty of seafaring history, and locals who are proud of their past and the role the town played in the Dunkirk evacuations. History aficionados will often meet at Ramsgate Maritime Museum for their share of historic tales and courageous heroes, and in front of The Grange, Augustus Pugin’s home, the architect behind the legendary Big Ben and the interior of the Houses of Parliament.
However, there is more than history to discover in Ramsgate. The town boasts a beautiful sandy beach, excellent cafes, and plenty of cliff tops that ask to be climbed. The waterfront is adorned with restaurants and bars and invites visitors to relax in an elegant ambiance while admiring the luxury yachts. A boat trip from the harbor will take you face to face with seal colonies, while a descent into the Ramsgate Tunnels unravels stories about WWII and the underground network that housed 1000 people during the raids.
Whitstable – if you’re looking for oysters and funky vibes
Bohemian and hip, Whitstable is one of the most popular towns in Kent. You’ll find plenty of Londoners coming here to escape the hustle and bustle of the capital but they add nor take nothing from the town’s irresistible charm. Carrying a long history with grace and nonchalance, Whitstable still whispers stories about fishermen who venture onto the seas and were once the spine of the local economy.
Many have changed since then but the Oyster Festival at the end of July continues to celebrate the town’s past. However, you don’t have to visit during the festival to indulge in fresh shellfish. The local menus abound in lobsters, oysters, and prawns, often present on tables next to some ice-cold beer. Once you finish your feast, you can enjoy a long walk on the town’s picturesque lanes, admire the colorful beach huts, or visit one or two art galleries that illustrate the artistic facet of the lovely Whitstable.
Margate – if you’re looking for vintage boutiques and sandy beaches
The place to visit if you worship the sun and love to swim all day long. Margate has the vibes of a hipster village and the attitude of a rebel teen. If Botany Bay and Joss Bay keep both locals and tourists busy with sunbathing and swimming, the local amusement park, Dreamland, is a fun destination for the little ones and grow-ups who refuse to grow up. Moreover, Joss Bay makes sure water sports enthusiasts have their share of fun, while Botany Bay creates an idyllic atmosphere for a romantic rendezvous.
The acclaimed Turner Contemporary gallery is the place to visit to feed your appetite for art while Peony Vintage and Margate Retro Fort Road Yard cater to the needs of shopaholics with a passion for vintage design. The surprise comes from the local beaches that boost your adrenaline with various water sports, including surfing. Cornwall may very well be the UK’s surfing capital but it has (almost!) nothing on the Kent Coast.
Broadstairs – if you’re looking for an old-world charm
Close by to Margate, awaits the charming Broadstairs. Not as famous as the latter, Broadstairs surprises with delightful scenery and an impressive cultural scene. Framing the beautiful horseshoe-shaped Viking Bay, the town is home to a sheltered beach and doesn’t lack the iconic colourful beach huts for which the Kent Coast is rather famous. It is also the capital of surfing in Kent which is a joy to watch on an incoming tide.
If you’re not convinced yet, just know that Charles Dickens loved the town and you can see this for yourself on a tour of the Dickens House Museum or during the Dickens Festival that takes place every June. A Dickens fan? Don’t miss a visit to the Bleak House where the author spent his holidays in the 1850s and 1860s and where he wrote David Copperfield. “The freshest, freest place”, as Dickens described the town, Broadstairs lures visitors with splendid gardens, clifftop strolls, and mouthwatering homemade ice cream.
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