Kentish Coast - where to choose?
 

Hello, In the planning stages for a trip to Kent area in June 2018. I will already have spent a week in Wales / Shropshire. I am splurging and spending 2 nights at Sisinghurst Castle but I have 2 more nights accommodation to book. I would like to go to the sea for a change of scenery before I head back to the gardens that are my passion. I had looked at Rye area but now I have been fascinated by the Margate / Broadstairs area. Does anyone have any positive experiences along the Kentish coast? I have talked to a couple of British expats living in Canada who say they can't imagine why they would go to that area so perhaps I am blowing smoke?! Thanks for any input. K

Very nice places to go are Whitstable (famous for oysters), Broadstairs, Ramsgate with it's beautiful harbour, Deal, Dover castle are a few places that come to mind.

http://www.visitthanet.co.uk/attract...tal-trail/8676

This is one of the pubs we visited earlier this summer, the surrounding area is beautiful too.

https://www.zetlandarms.co.uk/

Margate is an interesting place but possibly not what you’re After. The beach is stunning and Turner painted it. Margate was a very popular holiday resort with Londoners back in the days before foreign holidays but then became very rundown. For the last few years it’s been on the verge of a comeback - there are new art galleries and cafes - but it hasn’t quite “taken” and it remains a bit down-at-heel. This is why most Brits would turn their noses up.

Broadstairs is nicer, but still a very old-fashioned seaside resort.

Whitstable is dead trendy - full of wealthy London weekenders, and famed for its oysters. The beach is shingle/pebbles and north-facing.

Deal is worth a look - quite an up-and-coming seaside town.

Rye is slightly inland these days as the sea has retreated and the harbour has silted up, but the town itself is a historic gem - absolutely gorgeous place. The coast in that part is a bit bleak - Camber Sands, leading down to the power station at Dungeness. It has its fans but it has a very particular atmosphere of being at the end of the world...

Deal Castle is fascinating and nearby Walmer Castle and its beautiful gardens are both very worth visiting. The Dymchurch/Hythe railway is great fun.

Ghyston has described the various towns exactly. I'd maybe look in the Deal/Walmer area.

Dover Castle is one of the wondrous castles of Britain -especially so since perched part way up Cliffs of Dover. You can walk up to the cliffs too and see remains of under tunnels used for defense in WW2. St Margaret's at the Cliff is a really cute small seaside resort - snuggled right under the cliffs.

Dover is really blah IMO as a city but don't miss Dover Castle (and you can also day trip to France by fast ferries!)

Sandwich, one of the famous Cinque Ports, is also a cute town:

https://www.google.com/search?q=sand...w=1920&bih=949

I have talked to a couple of British expats living in Canada who say they can't imagine why they would go to that area so perhaps I am blowing smoke?!>

Yes Kentish resorts are passe for Brits who now fly to Spain or go to southern France - weather often rather cool - but for your purposes these old Victorian resorts could have charm. Went thru area on bike trips for years - Broadstairs could be nice - Dickens had a home there:

https://www.google.com/search?q=broa...w=1920&bih=949

I too was going to suggest Sandwich, but really Rye is lovely.

[BTW, I know that this is a little off topic, but if gardens are your passion, I hope that you are going to Great Dixter - definitely the stand out garden in that area].

Yes I liked Rye a lot - cuter than Sandwich IMO - and the Rye-Dymchurch Heritage Railway is neat too: http://www.rhdr.org.uk/

Thank you so much for this great information. It is just what I needed to know. I will look forward to Dover Castle and area as well as visiting some of those great little towns. I have decided to stay in Broadstairs. I just can't resist those chalk stacks at Botany Bay.

It does seem weird that there are many accommodations to choose from in Broadstairs, including BleakHouse for the real Dickens fans but only the Botany Bay hotel out by the stacks.
K

It looks as if has the makings of a great trip, Kinloch.

I hope you have a wonderful time.

check out Chillham if possible -cute small town near Canterbury with a neat castle:

https://www.google.com/search?q=chil...w=1920&bih=949