Situated on the southeast coast of England, Whitstable is the best place to visit for all things ocean related. If you’re a boat lover, seafood enthusiast, or passionate about your watersports, this is a dream location! A traditional English seaside town, Whitstable is famous for its oysters, known for its historic Grate Thames Sailing Barge, and holds many historical remnants from World War II.
With a fantastic community, the best time of the year to visit is during the summer, which is full of festivals, sailing races and the opportunity to enjoy its quiet beaches! Read on to learn more about the best things to do in the area!
1. Greta Thames Sailing Barge - Private tours
The first and probably one of the best experiences on this list is the Greta Thames Sailing Barge. A historic ship, that was built in 1892, Greta was initially used as a cargo ship, to transport goods down the Thames Estuary. More impressively though, Greta took part in the evacuation of Dunkirk, and is the oldest ‘Dunkirk Little Ship’ that is still working today!
On this amazing sailing trip, you can sail out to the Maunsell Army Forts, that date back to World War II. One review likened these strange structures to something you would see in an alien war movie! The sailing trips on the Greta can be up to 6 hours long, so make sure to pack a lunch, though tea and coffee are provided! Prices for this activity are 62 USD per person on weekdays and 70 USD per person on weekends.
Greta Thames Sailing Barge - Private tours
Address: South Quay, The Harbour, Whitstable CT5 1AB
Phone: +44 1795534541
Opening Hours: By appointment
2. Whitstable Stand-Up Paddle Boarding
Editor's Note: There's no photo available at the time of writing
Being a very active seaside town, you can expect to spend a lot of time on the water, if you visit Whitstable! Whitstable Stand-Up Paddle Boarding offers lessons in the sport, and whether you’re just starting out, or an experienced paddle-boarder, they welcome people of all ages and ability levels! The instructor, Lucy, has worked hard at her company and says that SUP can be exhilarating, but also extremely meditative.
She offers 2-hour private lessons for two people, at 90 USD, or a one-on-one lesson at 58 USD. If you’ve already been paddle boarding and would like a refresher lesson, she also offers a 1-hour lesson for only 32 USD.
Whitstable Stand-Up Paddle Boarding
Phone: +44 7922035723 (Text for a call back).
Opening Hours: By appointment
Website: Whitstable Stand-Up Paddle Boarding
3. Whitstable Yacht Club
Posted by Whitstable Yacht Club on Tuesday, April 3, 2018
If you love sailing, or simply the idea of learning how to sail, the Whitstable Yacht Club has over 20 years of experience in teaching water sports! Whether it’s to sail or windsurf, the Whitstable Yacht Club has it all. They have a weekly schedule of the various programmes that they run and by joining this community, you are guaranteed to make some new friends and learn some new skills!
If you’re already an avid sailor and want the rest of your family to join in, they also welcome families to come and join in on the seasonal races, every year, for an amazing learning and bonding experience! Prices for all of their activities can be found upon contacting the organisation.
Whitstable Yacht Club
Address: 3-4 Sea Wall, Whitstable CT5 1BX
Phone: +44 1227 272942
Opening Hours: Monday-Saturday: 8am-11pm, Sunday: 8am-9am
Website: Whitstable Yacht Club
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4. Tankerton Slopes
This natural wonder provides excellent views of the ocean and is a perfect place to bring the dogs, provided they are kept on their leads, during the summer months. If you want to have a picnic, without the threat of sand getting everywhere, this is a great compromise, as the Tankerton Slopes roll gently down into the beach!
With cannons sitting at the top of the slopes, it hints at its history, when it worked as part of the Coastal Defense. Sitting at the top, you can spend all day watching boats, surfers, and ships go by!
Tankerton Slopes
Address: Marine Parade, Whitestable CT5 2BQ, England
Phone: +44 1227282800
Opening Hours: Open 24 hours daily
Website: Tankerton Slopes
5. Tankerton Beach
With picturesque, multi-coloured beach huts setting the backdrop for this tranquil place, Tankerton Beach is a beautiful place on the southeast coast of England! At low tide, you can walk out on a natural causeway, locally know as the ‘Street’, and see the hidden rock pools along the way! A traditional shingle beach, you are sure to have a great time here, at the height of summer!
Tankerton Beach
Address: Tankerton Rd, Whitstable CT5, England
Phone: +44 1227378100
Opening Hours: Open 24 hours daily
Website: Tankerton Beach
6. Whitstable Harbour
Famous for its oysters, the best time to go to historic Whitstable Harbour is during Harbour Day, which is on the 5th of August. During this celebration, which has a maritime theme, everyone celebrates Whitstable’s past and future with the sea. You can watch the amazing Thames Barge Race here and visit 20 other stalls and exhibits by local organisations, that will make the day even more memorable!
Whitstable Harbour
Address: Harbour St, Whitstable CT5 1AB, England
Phone: +44 1227274086
Opening Hours: Open 24 hours daily
Website: Whitstable Harbour
7. Crab and Winkle Way
If you don’t feel like spending a day on the sea, you can always have an adventure on Crab and Winkle Way, an extremely popular cycling route, which runs between Canterbury and Whitstable! If you want to get your kids out and about, or just love the outdoors, this will prove an awesome and surprisingly challenging experience! Starting from Canterbury, you have an incline of about 200 feet (61 meters), with hills coming and going after the initial climb. Many have said that it is well worth it, however, as it gives spectacular views from its high points!
Crab and Winkle Way
Website: Crab and Winkle Way
8. West Beach
Another traditional shingle beach, that is highly rated among tourists, is West Beach. If you are looking for something picturesque, that isn’t crowded with arcades and fairs, the quiet nature of this place is sure to win you over! Although it is not a sandy beach, the water quality is amazing and you are guaranteed a nice dip in the ocean and some wonderful pictures! If you don’t feel like laying on the pebble beach, there are a few cafes and other facilities, only a few minutes walk away!
West Beach
Address: Marine Terrace, Whitstable CT5 1FB, England
9. Whitstable Castle & Gardens
Built in the late 18th century, Whitstable Castle was originally called the Manor House and helped run one of the first copper industries in the country. In the decades since, the castle underwent a 3 million GBP (3.9 million USD) refurbishment and restoration and is now run by the Whitstable Castle Trust. This place is so beautiful it is commonly used for weddings and various events!
The most popular feature of the castle is Whitstable Gardens, which is completely free to enter! Many praise it for its beauty and the high standards to which the gardeners keep it! If you are looking to do a group tour of the gardens and castle it will set you back around 15 USD per person.
Whitstable Castle & Gardens
Address: 15 Tower Hill, Whitstable CT5 2BW, UK
Opening Hours: Monday-Sunday: 10am-5pm
Phone: +44 1227 281726
Website: Whitstable Castle & Gardens
10. The Horsebridge Arts and Community Centre
At the heart of the Whitstable community lies the Horsebridge Arts and Community Centre, where you can view the work of local artists in their various free exhibitions. Described as a small and pleasant place, many have enjoyed their time spent here, as it is also equipped with a nice, reasonably priced cafe and cinema space, with varied weekly showings, usually priced at only 7 USD!
The Horsebridge Arts and Community Centre caters to adults and children alike and it also provides a play area with plenty of toys for the kids! They also have a range of classes through the week, in literature, fitness, well-being and even language classes!
The Horsebridge Arts and Community Centre
Address: 11 Horsebridge Road, Whitstable, Kent CT5 1AF
Opening Hours: Monday-Saturday: 9am-6pm, Sunday: 10am-5pm
Phone: +44 1227 281174
Seaside life!
Whitstable can offer you a unique experience on the water, with a close-knit community, full of fishing, surfing and sailing. You’ll feel like an entirely different person by the end of this holiday in the southeast of England! Whether you become more active by learning a new sport, or take some much needed TLC on their relaxing beaches, Whitstable is a paradise for sea lovers!
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