A Guide to the Seaside Town of Whitstable, Kent
WHERE TO EAT, SHOP & EXPLORE IN WHITSTABLE
Whitstable is a quintessentially English town and one of my favourites since I was a child.
The coast is lined with multi-coloured beach huts and it may as well be a law that you have to eat fish and chips on the seafront. The smell of the salty sea breeze and the feel of the summer warmth is what I crave. Add in a slow sunset and good friends and you’ve created the perfect day for me.
Growing up we’d spend the summers paddling in the sea, we’d go charity shopping for bargains and we even had our wedding right here on the pebbled beach.
So this travel guide is here to inspire you to visit Whitstable, have a delightful day out or two and visit this wonderful town for yourself.
WHAT TO DO
You can’t come to Whitstable and not take a trip to the beach. Walk along the seafront to Tankerton to admire the multicoloured beach huts. On a hot day the beach can get quite crowded, if that’s the case then usually Tankerton beach is much less busy, so take a 5-minute stroll east and sit in front of the huts or the grassy banks above.
On your way to the beach from the High Street make sure you squeeze through "Squeeze Gut Alley”, a very narrow passage leading to a road that backs onto the seafront!
Love the sea but hate the typical cold English water? Then paddleboarding is a great idea (just don’t fall in!)
You can rent a paddleboard or kayak to see the town from the sea. You can take a paddleboarding lesson if you’re a newbie, rent a wetsuit and find your new favourite hobby.
Bring your bicycles and ride along the scenic Crab and Winkle Way, a 7.6-mile cycle path between Whitstable Harbour and the Historic town of Canterbury. Along the traffic-free trail, you’ll go through the lush woodlands of Blean Woods Nature Reserve, home to the rare Heath Fritillary Butterfly.
Fancy another seaside day trip in Kent, not far from Whitstable? Read our article “10 THINGS TO DO IN HERNE BAY, KENT”.
Sitting just behind the seafront on Tower Hill is the Whitstable Castle and Gardens. Right in the middle of both Whistable and Tankerton beaches, it’s a great place to visit if you’re walking between the two.
You can sit in the heart of the gardens and have an afternoon tea once you’ve taken a guided tour around the historic building.
SEASONAL
Visiting Whistable and not having oysters is apparently just as absurd as going to Italy and not eating pasta. That being said, we aren’t actually fans of the slimy suckers!
As you can probably tell quite quickly on your visit, Whitstable is known for its world-famous oysters. The town is home to The Whitstable Oyster Company, who say they’re one of the oldest companies in Europe, dating back to the 1400s.
Every year, to mark the towns celebrated delicacy, the town holds the Whitstable Oyster Festival over a weekend in the summer. Thousands of people travel far and wide to experience the oysters and the most hardened mollusc enthusiasts even go on the “oyster crawl”.
WHERE TO EAT
Whitstable is packed with mostly independent, cute and quirky places to eat, drink and shop. Even their Wetherspoons (one of the few chain businesses along the high street) is a beautiful one. The building is a converted art deco cinema and worth a visit.
Sandwiched in-between a hairdressers and an estate agents is a pastel-coloured building that has become a rather iconic icon for Whitstable. Wheelers Oyster Bar is the place to go for oysters and anything seafood-related. Have a seat inside and indulge in a 3-course meal or take a “ready to eat” picnic hamper to the beach.
If you want something on the go then head to The Forge Oyster Shack, a hut sitting on the seafront. They also serve an amazing fish and chips and their signature “doughnut soufflé”, consisting of ice cream sandwiched between sugared-ringed doughnuts.
We always have to eat fish and chips when we come to Whitstable. There is no better setting than the beach and that calm sound of the waves. Sitting on the cold pebbles, with the sea breeze, while eating paper-wrapped chips with a ridiculous amount of vinegar is a must.
Our favourite place is V.C Jones, a family run business serving chips since 1962. Or if you fancy a walk along the seafront and end up in Tankerton then head to Ossies. Both are within a short walking distance to the seafront so you can eat in or take away and they’ve both been voted in the top 10 of the best fish and chip shops in Kent.
If it’s a chilly day and you don’t fancy sitting on the beach then head to The Tudor Tea Rooms. This quaint restaurant has always been a family favourite and we’d usually visit for a cream tea or roast dinner!
WHERE TO DRINK
The Old Neptune is one of only a handful of pubs in Britain that sits right on the beach. So take a seat outside, watch the waves roll in and try one of their local ales, with the apt name “Whitstable Bay”. They also hold free live music events on the weekend, so you can chill to tunes by the sea.
Another favourite of ours is the Pearson Arms. This classic and cosy pub is just off The Highstreet and also offers live music on Tuesdays and Sundays.
Or if you fancy a hot drink there are so many cute and quirky cafes along The High Street and Harbour Street. A hot chocolate in a mason jar you say? I don’t mind if I do.
WHERE TO SHOP
Whitstable is the perfect place for a good ol’ rummage when it comes to antiques, second-hand bargains and finding your new favourite independent business.
Most of the shops are situated on Harbour Street and The High Street. We love The Whiting Post, for coastal and vintage-inspired clothing and Flory & Black for unique gifts, lighting and interior homeware.
While in the town browse the many art galleries dotting along the High Street, soak up the local talent and keep an eye out for upcoming exhibitions.
The Whitstable Antiques & Vintage Fair, which is held once a month in the Whitstable Umbrella Centre has an eclectic mix of antiques and vintage from over 20 dealers. If second-hand is your thing then there are many charity shops dotted along the town, but mainly in The Highstreet. We love a good bargain!
Buy some local artisan produce to take home with you from the farmers market, at The Old Coal Yard, open on the 2nd and 4th Saturday of the month.
While you’re by the Harbour, stroll through the Harbour Market. Consisting of a cluster of identical wooden huts, each hut offers something different, being British-made, premium and hand-crafted. With a wonderful mixture of artwork, sweet treats and textiles, you can find something to take home to remind you of your visit.
WHERE TO STAY
Stay at one of the pointed black fisherman huts, situated right on the seafront with a big sea view. These converted huts are 150 years old, but certainly don’t look like that from the inside with their calm and spacious decor. With 14 to choose from, ranging in size and location, a hut is a perfect way to extend your stay.
➜ Booking.com Links: Fisherman huts & all other accommodation in Whitstable
TRAVEL
Everything suggested in this article is within walking distance, so once you’ve made it to whitstable you dont need to worry about transport for the rest of the day.
By coach
For our recent trip to Whitstable we got the coach with National Express. We went from Bluewater, Dartford, the journey takes just 50 minutes and it’s about £13 for a single ticket. On entry to the coach everybody’s temperature was taken and everyone was required to wear masks and social distancing was in place.
There are multiple locations in London to catch a coach to Whitstable. You can go from Victoria Coach Station which is a 2-hour journey. Although this is longer than getting the train, it is on average half the price so much cheaper.
By train
The quickest way to get to Whitstable from London is by train from St Pancras International station directly to Whitstable. This takes 1h 15 minutes but it’s rather expensive.
A cheaper but slightly slower alternative is to get the train from London Victoria Station, which takes 1h 20 minutes.
Whitstable train station is a 10-minute walk to the seafront.
By Car
If you’re driving into the town there are multiple car parks to choose from. If you're visiting for the whole day then Gorrell Tank Car Park is in a great location, or if you’re just visiting in the evening for fish and chips then Keam’s Yard Car Park is perfectly situated in the middle of the fish and chips shop and the seafront.
If you’re spending most of the time at the Tankerton end of the beach then there are free parking bays at the top of the grassy banks.
This post was in association with National Express promoting their coach trips! Showcasing one of their day trips which is easily accessible by coach. National Express is the largest operator of scheduled coach services in the UK, so when you’re booking in your next day trip check out their locations!
Please leave us a comment below if you have any questions or if you’ve been to Whitstable. Tell us about your experience! We would love to hear from you.
