WHITSTABLE - KENT
THE OLD KENTISH COAST
Whitstable is like no other town by the sea. Its traditional charms, rich maritime history and strong arts culture complements the modern town.
Part of the Canterbury District, Whitstable's main claim to fame is its oysters which remain an intrinsic part of this sea town's character and are celebrated every July at the Oyster Festival
We first visited Whitstable in the Summer of 2022 as an attempt to escape the soaring temperatures at home in the French Alps, we did not succeed on this count. It was equally as hot in this British seaside resort and we baked for the 7 days that we were there. But we did fall in love with its somewhat dilapidated charm and Best of British appeal.
It is very easily accessed via car if you are driving over from France (via Calais/Dover) as it lies only about 40 minutes from Folkestone. That was the first win for us as we normally have to drive all the way over to the Welsh coastline to visit family!
The historic fishing village immediately felt nostalgic to me and I was taken in by it’s charm as my Dad’s family originate from the South East and my great great grandparents were fishermen, so I grew up being woken at the crack of dawn to take the nets and cages out to catch shrimp and cockles under the pretext of ‘fun’. In hindsight they were great adventures, but at the time I was miserable about the early morning alarm clock and the razor sharp rock pools.
When we arrived in Whitstable, at our fabulous airbnb that is owned by a family friend (I will attach the details at the bottom), we were thrilled to be only a stones throw from the seafront. We barely unpacked the food shop before we scuttled down to the Neptune for a sundowner, kids and buckets in tow.
The Neptune is a well renowned local favourite that visitors seek out for their fresh fish, great atmosphere and cold local beers. Cold beers in hand, sun going down, temperatures dropping (only slightly) and kids running awkwardly along the pebble beaches, we were happy as clams.
My husband was a little mystified as to exactly why I smiled so broadly at the nostalgic charm of the slightly sticky pub floor that smelt like spilt ale and pork scratching looking like they were dated back from the 70s hanging from the wall. But these things felt and smelt like home to me, or at least life with my grandparents when I was young.
He also found it odd that pebble beaches were in anyway celebrated. ‘But surely people are just constantly uncomfortable and in pain’ he would say. Yes but that’s the charm I think, that British embracing of all things slightly awkward and uncomfortable, that’s in our make up..
The gorgeous airbnb that we stayed in offered our family of 4 plenty of space. With a stunning renovation to the kitchen with sweeping glass and plenty of sitting space. The kitchen opens out onto a long garden with garden furniture and BBQ. This space was ideal for a family with young kids. It is all contained by hedges and fences/gate so you don’t need to worry about the loiter ones escaping.
The kitchen is well equipped and light and breezy with a tasteful and appropriate nautical touch popping up here and there, in a subtle and not over whelming style.
There is also a lounge room with flat screen tv and a log fire. Ideal for hiding yourself or your kids away if you need a little space.
Upstairs here are 3 bedrooms and 1 bathroom. The master Bedroom that has plenty of storage, a beautiful dressed Kingsize bed and a seafront view. You can see the sea but there is one row of terraced houses over the street.
The second bedroom has built on cupboard space and a lovely cosy Double bed (this was actually my favourite bedroom). The duvet, sheets & pillows are of high quality and very comfortable. It was a real treat to go to bed at night in such a lovely bed.
The third bedroom is a TRIPLE bunk room. It has 2 triple bunks, all of which are large single bed size so the kids were in for a real treat in this exciting adventure of a room.
The house has a small front garden and sits on the quiet street just behind the seafront. It is a 5 minute walk into town and offers a little succession from the hustle and bustle. It is adjoining the next door house and it is a peaceful and friendly neighbourhood.
We loved our first visit to this fab airbnb and we went back the following year and have recommended it to friends.
@whitstablebeachsideescape
The town of Whitstable is charming and feels still very much like people live in and not just holiday in. The high street is a mix of trendy and aesthetically pleasing shop front and the comforting and familiar local locations. From a beautiful curated Blueprint Coffee & Books to the more traditional Tudor Restaurant, the highstreet offers options for the younger and older alike.
In the Summer we came across the fabulous Grain & Hearth Sourdough Bakery. This bakery & cafe is a real gem. It is clearly popular with visitors and locals alike as daily there was a long queue out of the doors for coffee, pastries & of course Sourdough. The wait was worth it. The coffee was delicious, as were all the breads and pastries. We made this our daily morning stop and each day we were met with a smile and a warm welcome.
Whitstable beaches are pebbles beaches and it is necessary to keep an eye on the tide timetable as at times the seas is very far out and all the mud and oyster & lobster cages are on show. Not ideal for a trip to the seafront with the kids if you are looking for a swim. In the summer months, the beaches are adorned with brightly coloured wind shelters, buckets & spades and picnic boxes. Just like when I was young with my grandparents. Nip off of the beach to grab a cold beer from the near by Seafarmers Dive Taproom or oysters and chips from The Forge.
There are a number of great near by locations also, easily accessed from Whitstable. One place that we were fortunate to visit twice was The Pig at Bridge Place. This is a stunning countryside hotel, offers beautiful accommodation and delicious food. It is animal and children friendly and a really great little escape. In the Summer they hold a great music festival called Smoked & Uncut and as it fell while we were there we decided to pop along for the day. It was brilliant, albeit VERY hot, family festival. Offering a wealth of kids activities, delicious food & drink options and a stunning setting.
We have enjoyed Whitstable in the Winter months also and it still holds it appeal for us. Cold water dips in the chilly ocean, warm hot chocolates in the wealth of cafes and brisk walks along the seafront wrapped up in your winter warmers.
TOP TIP for food lovers is to try to get a table at The Sportman in Seasalter near Whitstbale. It has a very good reputation and is very popular. We have still not managed to get a table ourselves but one day!
We did however make it to The Rose in Deal. A near by town that offers up more pebble beaches and some gorgeous little shops but in particular the wonderful Rose Hotel, Bar & Restaurant. A bar, restaurant and hotel located in the heart of Deal, on the east Kent coast. Once a pub with a spirited past, The Rose has been lovingly restored into a chic seaside destination brimming with artistic charm, homely comfort and seriously good food.
It was incredibly hot but we opted to sit outside on their lovely little deck, under a sunshade thank goodness. It was buzzing with a lovely selection of people. All enjoying the sunshine, cold drinks and delicious food. The menu was fresh, seasonal and exciting. A wonderful meal with delicious cocktails to boot.
We followed up this levelly meal with a much needed dip in the sea.
If you are looking for a seaside escape in the UK, and you aren’t headed over to Cornwall with the rest of the UK, then try out this part of the country. The beaches may not offer the same appeal as the stunning sandy expanses that you can find over in the South West, but there is so much to enjoy over in the Kent area. I would highly recommend it.