Whitstable Beaches
By Whitstable
Whitstable’s beaches are one of the great pleasures of the town — beautiful in every season, and never quite the same twice. On a cold winter’s day there’s nothing better than a bench and the choppy view; on a summer evening the shingle fills with people watching the sun go down. When the tide is in there’s swimming and kayaking; when it’s out, the wide mud flats are perfect for crabbing (and leave you with surprisingly smooth feet once you’ve rinsed off). Here’s a guide to the best of them, stretch by stretch — and how to enjoy them safely.
Two things worth knowing first. Whitstable’s beaches are almost all shingle, not sand — this is a traditional working seaside, not a bucket-and-spade resort, and all the better for it. And the town faces broadly north-west out over the Thames Estuary, which is why Whitstable is famous for its sunsets over the water — a rarity on the English east coast.
Marine Crescent and Long Rock
About two miles east along the shore, Long Rock is the spot for dog-walking and quiet exploring. At high tide it’s a long way round; at low tide a quick hop across the mud takes you to a wild, relatively untouched stretch of coast. Just up from it, pebbled beaches divided by groynes are a favourite with kite-surfers — on a windy day it’s worth going down just to watch the jumps. There’s on-street parking here, and grassy slopes to sit on if shingle isn’t your thing.
Tankerton Beach
One of the loveliest stretches — a shingle beach edged by Tankerton’s famous colourful beach huts and backed by the gentle grassy slopes that make it so good for families. Seasonal lifeguards operate here in summer, and there are two pubs close by, the Royal and the Marine Hotel, for when the thirst strikes. Above the beach are Tankerton Slopes, home to the Whitstable Regatta in August and an open-air cinema during the Oyster Festival. There’s free on-street parking and a public car park on Tankerton Road at Pier Avenue.
The Street
The most extraordinary of all Whitstable’s beaches only appears when the tide goes out: The Street, a natural shingle spit that runs around half a mile straight out to sea. Walk it at low tide and you’ll find shells and mother-of-pearl perfect for skimming, and the strange thrill of standing far out in the estuary on dry shingle. But treat it with real respect. The tide comes in fast and from both sides, and people are cut off on The Street every year — if you feel water lapping at your feet, it’s already time to turn back. Don’t linger, keep an eye on the water, and don’t swim from the beaches around The Street, where the currents are particularly strong.
Cushing’s View and the town beach
Closest to the town centre, and quite possibly the busiest, this is the beach most visitors mean when they say “Whitstable beach.” It’s the perfect spot to eat fish and chips warm from the paper and watch a Whitstable sunset, and it’s the heart of the grotter-building on the night of the Oyster Festival, with outdoor music through the summer. It’s also home to Cushing’s View, the bench the actor Peter Cushing gave to the town. Note that much of the central beach is privately owned by the Whitstable Oyster Fishery Company; the public are welcome to use it, but access is by their permission, so do heed any local notices.
West Beach and towards Seasalter
West Beach begins, unmistakably, at the Old Neptune — very possibly the only pub in Britain with a beach for a beer garden. With painted cottages on one side and the sea on the other, it’s a picture, and it stays quieter through the summer than the town beach. Keep walking towards Seasalter and your chances of finding a stretch of empty shore grow with every step; the path here forms part of the Saxon Shore Way. It’s a favourite for a long, restorative walk — and, facing west, a front-row seat for the sunset.
A word on safety
Whitstable’s beaches are gentle-looking but the estuary is not to be underestimated. The tides are strong and fast, and the flats and spits — especially The Street — can cut you off quickly, so always check the tide times before you go out. Lifeguards cover Tankerton in summer only; the central and west beaches are unpatrolled. Take care swimming or paddle-boarding, keep children and dogs in sight near the water, and when in doubt, stay ashore and enjoy the view.
If we’ve missed your favourite spot, do share it with us.