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by Jack Price / Day Out Guides
Despite being best known as the Garden of England, Kent is also home to some of the best beaches in the UK. From bustling seaside towns to serene hidden bays, join us as we go through the best beaches in Kent!
With over 350 miles of coastline, it’s unsurprising that Kent is home to countless beautiful beaches. With an array of landscapes from golden sandy beaches, chalky cliff-tops and shingle shores, you’re sure to find a beach perfect for your trip to the seaside. Look forward to quintessential British experiences by the sea as well as unbeatable views across the English Channel.
Read on to discover our picks for the best beaches in Kent…
Known as a perfect picture spot along the Kent coastline, with its combined Blue Flag and Seaside Award 2024, Botany Bay showcases its stunning white cliffs and rock pool formations. Head out with the whole family and explore the number of rock pools around this Kent beach. It is also a great setting for fossil hunting as well, a perfect day of exploration!
Look forward to taking a walk along the sandy bay; at low tide, you can even walk to Kingsgate Bay! Please check the tide times though because if the tide is in you will have to leave the beach via steps or a steep slope. There is a little café providing tea, coffee and snacks, so don’t worry if you’ve forgotten the picnic.
You can also hire windbreakers and deck chairs from the beach if you are sensing the perfect opportunity to sit out and soak up the sun on one of the best beaches in Kent!
Please note: This area is very popular for filming and photo shoots so please check before setting out.
Key Information about Botany Bay Beach
Type of beach: Sandy
Parking: Car parking is limited. Parking is advised at Palm Bay Avenue, with over 200 free parking spaces, (CT9 3PP) for Palm Bay Beach and a short cliff-top walk to Botany Bay
Parking Charge: Free
Dogs Friendly: Dog ban in place from 1st May until 30th September, dogs not permitted between 10am to 6pm
Postcode: CT10 3LG
Lifeguards: 2024 Seasonal Lifeguards: Daily Saturday 25th of May – Sunday 1st of September 10am-6pm
Next up on our guide to the best beaches in Kent is Deal Castle Beach. What used to be one of the busiest ports in England, Deal is now a small town along the Kent coastline just a few miles north of Dover.
Deal Castle Beach is adjacent to the Kent Coastline Walk and allows you to walk in both directions and explore this beautiful part of the county. The beach is shingle, with some small fishing boats parked up along the seafront, have your camera ready as there will be some fantastic picture opportunities.
This Kent beach has access to many great bars and restaurants close by, why not head out onto Deal Pier and enjoy a meal at the Deal Pier Kitchen, offering breakfast, brunch and lunch dishes for everyone? Nothing beats a spot of fish and chips at the seaside; be sure to head to Sea View just off the Promenade, but watch out for those seagulls!
Key Information about Deal Castle Beach
Type of beach: Shingle
Parking: There are a number of car parks in Deal and some close to the seafront
Parking Charge: Middle Street – Maximum stay 3 hours – £5.40
Dogs Friendly: Dog ban in place from 1st May until 30th September
Postcode: CT14 7BA
Lifeguards: No lifeguards on this beach
Dymchurch Beach stretches across the Kent coastline for around 3 miles and is a Blue Flag award-winning beach, perfect for family outings! The flat and mainly sandy beach allows you to make the most of the space by building huge sandcastles with buckets and spades.
This beach can be hugely popular in the summertime and is one of the best beaches in Kent for outdoor activities such as kite surfing, paddleboarding and kayaking. But be mindful, that the tide can quickly come in due to the beach being flat.
The sea wall around Dymchurch was updated in 2011, allowing you to walk along the beach from the Hythe Military Rifle Range to St Mary’s Bay. This showcases the fantastic scenery of the Kent coast, looking across to Dover on one side and Dungeness on the other.
The town offers a wide variety of activities, from the local amusement park, with rides such as the teacups and the ghost train, perfect for younger children. There are also cafes and pubs in the town, enjoy a nice cold drink and some classic pub grub on a warm summer’s day.
Just a short walk from the beach is a station for the Romney, Hythe and Dymchurch Railway, this small line runs the length of the coast from Hythe all the way to Dungeness at the very point of the Kent coast. Whether you are a fan of trains or not, this is an exciting alternative transport to see this part of the county. Dogs are welcome on board, allowing the whole family to enjoy!
Key Information about Dymchurch Beach
Type of beach: Mainly sandy
Parking: Dymchurch Central and Martello
Parking Charge: 2 hours – £3.60
Dogs Friendly: Dog ban in place from 1st May until 30th September, dogs are not allowed on the beach between Sycamore Gardens and the Martello car park
Postcode: TN29 0TJ
Lifeguards: No lifeguards on this beach
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Greatstone Beach is a personal favourite of mine, having been there on many occasions growing up over the years. Starting from Dungeness to the North and moving all the way along the coast to New Romney, this two-mile sandy beach in Kent provides a perfect setting for most beachgoers.
The majority of the beach comprises flat, soft sand, which makes it perfect for kids looking to play games or build sandcastles as well as being a perfect location for watersports. The fresh winds that occur along Greatstone Beach, combined with the flat sandy beach make this a popular beach for a whole range of sports including kite buggies, paddleboarders and kitesurfers, with waist-deep water for hundreds of metres along the beach.
You have access to some great eateries around this beach in Kent, from the Jolly Fisherman and Demetrios close to the main Greatstone car park to the Pilot Inn and Dungeness Snack Shack a little further along the coast road towards Dungeness.
As with Dymchurch Beach, the location offers a chance to head to Dungeness and New Romney via the steam railway which has a station based at Romney Sands Holiday Park, close to the beach. Head to Dungeness and visit the End of the Line café and to view the Dungeness National Nature Reserve.
This stretch of sand is a must for anyone wanting to enjoy some time with the family, flying high with a wide range of outdoor sports activities or just wanting to let their dogs roam free, Greatstone Beach is one of Kent’s best beaches!
Key Information about Greatstone Beach
Type of beach: Mainly sandy
Parking: There are two main car parks available along the beach road – Coast Drive and the Lade
Parking Charge: 2 hours – £3.60
Dogs Friendly: Dog ban in place from 1st May until 30th September with dogs are not allowed on the beach around the Romney Sands Holiday Park and from the main car park next to the Jolly Fisherman – All areas should be signposted
Postcode: TN28 8NX
Lifeguards: Nearby RNLI station at Littlestone but no lifeguards on patrol
Other information: There are public toilets on-site at the main Greatstone car park. They are open 8am to 7pm from 1 May to 30 September, and 8am to 5pm from 1 October to 30 April.
Herne Bay Beach is a shingle beach and a prime example of a quintessential British seaside resort, as one of the best beaches in England, our guide to the best beaches in Kent wouldn’t be complete without it.
With Victorian architecture dotted around the beach, it is a perfect location to enjoy a traditional ice cream on your deck chair looking out to the North Sea. Find your favourite spot for the day on this 2-mile stretch of beach and take in the vibrant colours of the beach huts dotted along the seafront.
After spending the day upon the shores of this idyllic Kent Beach, venture into tome where you can challenge your loved ones to a spot of mini golf in Herne Bay Mini Golf or travel further along the central parade to the amusement arcade to try your luck at classic seaside games.
No trip to the seaside would be complete without indulging in fish and chips. Park yourself on a bench along the promenade or take a stroll along the pier to enjoy a fantastic view of Herne Bay and this fantastic Kent Beach.
Key Information about Herne Bay Beach
Type of beach: Shingle
Parking: There are a number of spaces along the seafront and a main car park to the right-hand side to Herne Bay beach – Neptune and Market Street car parks
Parking Charge: 2 hours – £3.80
Dogs Friendly: Dogs are not allowed on the beach and must be kept on a lead on the promenade from Herne Bay Pier and Westward to Lane End
Postcode: CT6 5HZ
Lifeguards: Lifeguards – June to September 10am-5pm
Despite being a relatively small beach compared to some of the others on this list, Kingsgate Bay is still considered one of the best beaches in Kent.
Accessible via steep steps, Kingsgate Bay is a sandy beach that houses one of the best examples of sea caves in Kent and perhaps even the whole of the UK. This sheltered cove does get cut off by the sea, so please check the tide times before arrival. There is also no parking at Kingsgate but there is nearby at Joss Bay beach if you fancy the 10-minute walk.
The beach gained its name after King Charles 1 was forced to land on this part of Kent’s coast during a bad storm. Overlooking the bay is Kingsgate Castle, which was built in the 1760s, and on the other side of the cove is Captain Digby Pub, which was also built by the same owner of the castle, Lord Holland. A perfect location to enjoy a meal and a drink after a day at Kingsgate Bay!
This Kent beach is the perfect choice for beachgoers longing for a quieter experience at one of the best beaches in Kent.
Key Information about Kingsgate Bay Beach
Type of beach: Sandy
Parking: Parking is limited at this beach, Captain Digby pub has parking but it will be used for visitors to the pub only
Parking Charge: Joss Bay car park – 2 hours – From £2.40
Dogs Friendly: Dogs are welcome all year round
Postcode: CT10 3QL
Lifeguards: No lifeguard provisions or public toilets
Minnis Bay is a popular spot and an easy choice on this list of the best beaches in Kent. But don’t just take my word for it, hear from our Social Media Lead, Kirsty.
‘With lots of free parking along the seafront, Minnis Bay is a great spot for a budget-friendly day at the beach. No trip to Minnis Bay is complete without a visit to Minnis Bay Bar & Brasserie, a dog-friendly cafe overlooking the bay serving a delicious range of dishes using locally sourced ingredients and an array of drinks. Be sure to book ahead as it’s a popular spot at peak times. Top Tip: Be sure to check the tide times before visiting as only a small amount of beach remains at high tide’
At low tide, a wide expanse of sand is exposed, this is a perfect location for walking, building sandcastles and sunbathing. A stone promenade surrounds the bay, which is used regularly for cyclists and joggers, the path itself is connected to the Viking Coastal Trail, which is a 25-mile multi-user route around the Isle of Thanet.
This sandy beach in Kent has perfect opportunities for a wide variety of watersport activities, from sailing, windsurfing and kayaking, to beach games, there is even a paddling pool area for the youngsters to enjoy as well as picnic areas and kiosks selling warm and cold drinks as well as ice creams.
Key Information about Minnis Bay Beach
Type of beach: Sand
Parking: Minnis Bay car park
Parking Charge: 2 hours – From £2.40
Dogs Friendly: Dog ban in place from 1st May until 30th September with dogs not allowed on the beach
Postcode: CT7 9QY
Lifeguards: Lifeguards – 13th of July to 1st of September 10am-6pm
Other Information: There are public toilets and disabled access toilets in Minnis Bay car park open all year round
This Kent beach is particularly popular, especially during the summertime, Ramsgate is a long sandy beach with a wide variety of attractions and eateries close by to keep the whole family entertained throughout the day.
The beach is adjacent to the picturesque Royal Harbour and marina, enjoy a walk along the East Pier and take a look back at the views of the beach and marina. Why not take a look at the Royal Harbour Brasserie at the end of the harbour wall too?
The town itself offers a wide collection of pubs and restaurants, so you’re sure to find something for everyone. And if you’re looking to end your day at this Kent beach with something traditional, you will find fish and chips as well as ice cream stalls close by. There are also kiosks around the beach offering deck chair and lounger hire.
There are a variety of children’s amusements and arcades close to the beach, the kids will be in their element. See if you can help them win a prize to remember their day at Ramsgate Beach, one of the best beaches in Kent.
Key Information about Ramsgate Beach
Type of beach: Sand
Parking: Parking is available close to the beach but with a low amount of spaces – Marina Esplanade is the best choice (CT11 8NA)
Parking Charge: 2 hours – From £2.40
Dogs Friendly: Dog ban in place from 1st May until 30th September with dogs not allowed on the beach
Postcode: CT11 8LU
Lifeguards: Lifeguards – June to September 10am-6pm
Tucked away on the outskirts of Folkestone is another of the best Kent beaches, Sandgate Beach. A beautiful pebble beach ideal for relaxing, taking a picnic and enjoying the stunning views out towards the English Channel. Take a walk along the sea walls to Folkestone, which is around 1.5 miles away, count the amount of ships you can see out to sea and on a lovely sunny day you may even be able to spot France.
Or you can head to Hythe, which is around 3 miles in the other direction. You can easily access Sandgate High Street from the beach and it has good transport access if you are not travelling via car. The town itself offers a number of great pubs, shops and restaurants for you to stop off at after your day at the beach.
This stretch of the Kent coastline also has good water sports potential, with kayaking, windsurfing and sailing just to name a few activities done along here. This may not be a sandy beach but it is still one of the beaches in Kent and one you have to tick off the list.
Key Information about Sandgate Beach
Type of beach: Shingle
Parking: Parking available near Sandgate Castle (CT20 3AG)
Parking Charge: Up to 4 hours – £3.90
Dogs Friendly: Dogs are not allowed between Sandgate Castle to Battery Point during peak season, which runs from May to the end of September
Postcode: CT20 3AN
Lifeguards: No lifeguards
Viking Bay Beach is another classic British seaside beach and is one of the most popular beaches in the town of Broadstairs, so of course it had to make our list of the best beaches in Kent!
This beautiful Kent beach is famed for its distinctive horseshoe shape as well as its vast sandy shores. Viking Bay is also home to a delightful boardwalk and promenade where you can stretch your legs after a long day of sunbathing. There are also plenty of changing huts available so you can change into your swimmers ready for a dip in the azure waters of the beach. If you’re feeling peckish after a day of fun at the beach then you are in luck as you’ll find a variety of cafés and shops nearby, perfect for grabbing an ice cream.
Surfing is also extremely popular at Viking Bay Beach, perfect for thrill-seekers looking to catch their next wave. As one of the best surfing spots in the UK, the beach is home to Kent Surf School where you can hire surfboards, body boards, kayaks, stand-up paddle boards and wetsuits. If you’ve always fancied trying these sports then you can take lessons with experienced instructors, you’ll be gliding through the sea in no time!
In summer months a corner of Viking Bay Beach is dedicated to the little ones in your family. You’ll find bouncy castles, swings and other rides that are sure to keep everyone entertained. Do’n’t just take my word for it though, this beach in Kent was one of Charles Dickens’s favourites, he frequented the beach on his holidays; you’ll even find a quaint museum dedicated to him close to Viking Bay.
Key Information about Viking Bay Beach
Type of beach: Sand
Parking: Broadstairs Harbour and Albion Street
Parking Charge: 2 hours – £5.80
Dogs Friendly: Dogs are not allowed at any time from the beginning of May to the end of September
Postcode: CT10 1EU
Lifeguards: 2024 Seasonal Lifeguards – Daily from 25th May – 1st September 10am-6pm
Last but certainly not least on our list of the best Kent beaches is Sheerness Beach on the Isle of Sheppey. Located on the northern side of the Island, you can see views across the Thames estuary as it connects with the North Sea, you can even spot Southend-on-Sea on the other side of the estuary. It overlooks a busy shipping lane into London and is a great spot for watching huge cargo ships heading in and out of the estuary.
This mainly shingle beach is regularly awarded the Blue Flag status and is popular among families, the beach does have small pockets of sand for the kids to dig in and during low tide, you may even find creatures, such as crabs in the little rock pools that are exposed. There is also a family amusement centre where you can enjoy a range of other fun activities; this is a particularly great activity to do when it inevitably rains at the seaside.
It may be best to come prepared with food on your trip to Sheerness Beach because there are no facilities along the seafront apart from a large Tesco superstore. There are a number of pubs and takeaways a little further into town though, with the main high street around a 10-15 minute walk.
This Kent beach is enclosed by a large seawall with steps and ramps at regular points along the front. However, during hide tide the sea will cover the majority of the beach, so be sure to check those tide times before you set out for your day by the sea.
Sheerness Beach offers plenty of attractions for a great day out by the sea and is a perfect choice to end our list of the best beaches along the Kent coastline.
Key Information about Sheerness Beach
Type of beach: Sand and Shingle
Parking: Beach Street (ME12 1RE)
Parking Charge: 4 hours – £5.60
Dogs Friendly: Dogs are not allowed at any time from the beginning of May to the end of September
Postcode: ME12 2TF
Lifeguards: Lifeguards on duty at the beach from May for weekends and bank holidays – Full time: Mid-July to Early September, 10am-5pm
Has this blog inspired you to book your next adventure in Kent and to visit one of the best beaches in Kent? Then Secure your stay at one of these Kent Coastal Cottages to ensure you’re in a perfect position to enjoy these Kent sandy beaches! For further inspiration, check out more of the best beaches in the UK.
by Jack Price / Day Out Guides
I joined the Sykes team in November 2021, helping to produce content for existing and potential owners. I love a good film, tr...
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