Best Beaches in Kent: Where to Take a UK Staycation by the Sea

If you’re yet to explore Kent’s coastline, you might be surprised by how dramatically it changes as you travel along it. Some beaches sit beside lively seaside towns with cafés, harbour walks, and art-filled streets, while others stretch into quiet, open landscapes built for watching the sunset fall over the horizon. Whether you’re looking for somewhere sociable for a classic seaside day or somewhere peaceful for a long coastal walk, the county offers an impressive variety of shoreline within relatively short distances.

From the bustling sandy bays of Broadstairs and Margate to the wide open horizons of Romney Marsh or the dramatic landscapes of Dungeness, Kent’s beaches each have their own character. Some are ideal for swimming and traditional seaside days, while others reward walkers, photographers, and those simply looking for space to slow down beside the sea.

Find your favourite below, with our round up of some of the most distinctive beaches across Kent – many of them remarkably close to Bloom Stays homes.

Botany Bay (Broadstairs)

Of all the beaches around Broadstairs, Botany Bay is usually the one people seek out the most for its landscape. Tall, white chalk stacks rise from the sand, creating natural arches and rock pools that appear when the tide drops. At low tide, the beach opens out into wide swathes of sand, making it ideal for exploring pools, photographing the cliffs, or paddling along the coast towards nearby Kingsgate Bay.

There are steps down from the clifftop and relatively few facilities compared with Broadstairs’ main beaches, which keeps the atmosphere quieter. It’s best visited around low tide when the rock formations and sandy shoreline are fully visible. Dogs are restricted on the central beach from May to September, but permitted along neighbouring sections.

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Hythe–Sandgate Beach

Between Hythe and Sandgate runs one of the most enjoyable seafront walks in Kent, with open views of Dungeness and the English Channel. The long shingle beach is backed by a broad promenade where locals cycle, walk dogs, and stop at small cafés and restaurants along the way.

The historic town of Hythe sits directly behind the beach, complete with its medieval high street, canal path, and the Romney, Hythe & Dymchurch Railway, so a seaside walk easily blends into café visits or a browsing of independent shops. Sandgate has become equally known for its independent coffee spots and relaxed seaside atmosphere.

With a shelving shoreline, this stretch of beautiful beach is suited well to walkers, paddleboarders and swimmers, and dogs are welcome year-round along much of the promenade and shoreline.

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Tankerton Beach

Just east of Whitstable harbour, Tankerton Beach offers one of Kent’s most distinctive coastal features: a natural shingle causeway known locally as ‘The Street’, which appears at low tide and stretches far out to sea. Visitors appear to walk the ridge as the water recedes, explore rock pools, or sit on the sandy patches revealed below the huts, while the grassy Tankerton Slopes above the beach are ideal for picnics with sea views. Calmer than central Whitstable, Tankerton is a true favourite of locals (including those of us at Bloom Stays), and remains a short walk from cafés and restaurants. Dogs are restricted on the main hut section in summer but welcome along neighbouring stretches.

Visitors often walk along it as the water recedes, with views back towards the colourful line of beach huts and the gentle slopes of Tankerton.

The grassy clifftop lawns above the beach make this a good place for picnics and relaxed afternoons overlooking the sea. Whitstable’s cafés, seafood restaurants, and independent shops are a short walk away, so it’s easy to combine time on the beach with exploring the town. Dogs are generally welcome here throughout the year.

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